As the main treatment for a sluggish thyroid, levothyroxine is meant to be taken for life. Stopping this medication may result in a return of symptoms such as:
Fatigue
.
Weight gain
.
Can you stop taking levothyroxine suddenly?
Do not suddenly stop taking this medicine
without first checking with your doctor
. Your doctor may want you or your child to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping completely. Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you or your child are using this medicine.
What are the side effects of stopping levothyroxine?
- Debilitating weight loss.
- Dramatically increased appetite and thirst.
- Nervousness, anxiety, panic attacks.
- Heat intolerance, sweating.
- Fatigue or muscle weakness.
How long can you go without thyroid medication?
However, without thyroid replacement medication, a person with overt hypothyroidism cannot function optimally and will suffer from the physical and mental symptoms of hypothyroidism. The half-life of levothyroxine is 6-7 days, which means it takes
about 4-5 weeks
for your body to rid itself of levothyroxine.
Can you stop taking levothyroxine safely?
Treatment with
levothyroxine is usually lifelong
. If you stop taking levothyroxine your symptoms are likely to come back. Is levothyroxine safe to take for a long time? Yes, it's safe to take levothyroxine for a long time, even many years.
Can I stop taking levothyroxine 50 mcg?
Take thyroxine EXACTLY as directed by your doctor. Taking too much can result in toxicity and potentially fatal side effects; taking too little may mean that you are not taking enough to supplement your low thyroid levels.
Do not discontinue or take any other dose without your doctor's advice
.
What are the symptoms of too much levothyroxine?
- Change in consciousness.
- cold, clammy skin.
- disorientation.
- fast or weak pulse.
- lightheadedness.
- sudden headache.
- sudden loss of coordination.
- sudden slurring of speech.
How do you know when your thyroid medicine needs adjusting?
In general, the most indicators that your doctor needs to adjust your levothyroxine dose is that you start having signs and symptoms of an overactive thyroid. These include:
Racing or irregular heartbeat or palpitations
.
Increased blood pressure
.
Can you ever get off thyroid medication?
Discontinuing any prescribed medication on your own is never a good idea- unless you are having significant side effects, and will be speaking to your physician shortly. In the case of Synthroid, discontinuing the medication
results in
a worsening of hypothyroid symptoms such as those that you listed.
Why levothyroxine is bad for you?
For people with heart problems:
Levothyroxine can increase your risk of serious heart problems
, such as heart attack, abnormal heart rhythm, and heart failure. This risk is increased if you've already had these problems. Tell your doctor if you have heart problems or a history of heart problems.
Can you skip thyroid medication for one day?
For your medication to work properly, you need to take it regularly and consistently. Skipping doses,
taking your medication in the morning one day
and in the evening the next, or taking it with food some days and on an empty stomach other days can affect how the medication is absorbed.
What vitamins should not be taken with thyroid medication?
4. Vitamins and supplements. “You should also avoid any drugs or supplements that contain
iron, calcium, or magnesium
for at least four hours after taking your thyroid medications,” says Dr. Jaiswal.
Is there an alternative to levothyroxine?
Armour Thyroid
is considered the natural alternative to levothyroxine.
Can you take levothyroxine every other day?
Alternate day dosing schedule may be plausible because practitioners generally recommend giving
doubled dose of thyroxine next day
in case of a missed dose. Daily life-long administration may be quite burdensome for some families and can lead to non-adherence to therapy (11).
Can stopping levothyroxine cause weight gain?
Withdrawal and Overdose from Levothyroxine
Symptoms include
rapid weight gain
, depression, low energy, and dry skin. People who abuse levothyroxine may develop insulin resistance during withdrawal, which can trigger diabetes.
What does a thyroid storm feel like?
Symptoms of thyroid storm include:
Feeling extremely irritable or grumpy
. High systolic blood pressure, low diastolic blood pressure, and fast heartbeat. Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
