Thyroid disorders are medical conditions that affect the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a smallgland located in the neck, just below Adam’s apple. It produces hormones that regulate many essential body functions, including metabolism, heart rate, and growth.
There are several different thyroid disorders. The most common among them are hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid). Other less common thyroid disorders include Hashimoto’s disease, Graves’ disease, goitres, and thyroid cancer.
Symptoms of thyroid disorders can vary depending on the type of disorder. However, common symptoms of thyroid disorders include fatigue, weight gain or loss, anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, and irritability.
Thyroid treatment and its medications
Thyroid treatment depends on the type of the disorder. However, thyroid treatment options may include medication, surgery, or radiation therapy. However, unlike many diseases, thyroid medicines need to be taken carefully and correctly. The following should be kept in mind while taking medication for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
- Common hypothyroidism drugs like levothyroxine and T4/T3 combination therapy work best when taken simultaneously every day.
- Levothyroxine must be taken in the morning on an empty stomach.
- Missing even a day or two of your thyroid medicine can aggravate symptoms.
- Avoid taking calcium-rich foods within 3 hours of the consumption of the medicine, as calcium interferes with medicine absorption.
- Food items like broccoli, cabbage, sprouts, soy, spinach, strawberries, etc., have similar effects to antithyroid drugs. So including these in your everyday diet can help control symptoms.
- Some common symptoms of an overdose of these medicines are nausea, chest pain, diarrhoea, fever, and headache. If you forget a dose of your thyroid medicine, don’t overdose the next day. Instead, ensure you follow the doctor’s guidelines and avoid overdosing.
- If you have a thyroid condition and become pregnant, consult your doctor. Your dose is likely to be increased by 20%.
- The medicines are considered safe while breastfeeding.
Side-effects of anti-thyroid medicines
Anti-thyroid medicines may cause serious side effects. So watch out for the potential symptoms. The most common side effects include:
- Liver toxicity:Symptoms include pain in the abdomen, jaundice, yellowish skin, nails, eyes, and dark urine.
- Low counts of WBC: Symptoms include sore throat, fever, headache, cough, and pain while urinating.
Ensure that you are well immunised while you are taking anti-thyroid medicines.
It’s critical to understand how and when to take your thyroid medication to get the most out of it. It will ensure that the medicine enters your bloodstream and performs its function.If you believe your thyroid medication isn’t working, look at how you’re taking it and see if you can make any changes. Examine the list of side effects and interactions to see if anything is interfering.
Contact your healthcare provider if you don’t see a problem you can remedy. They’re your partner in making sure your meds are safe and effective so they can help you feel better.
Even missing a day or two of your thyroid medication can cause symptoms to flare up.If you have a thyroid disorder and medicines aren’t working well in your view, seek a second opinion from award-winning internal medicine doctors. Thyroid disorders, left untreated, can lead to serious health complications. Contact us today!
