- Remedies for Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism Remedies
- Symptoms that can arise with treatment
- Do you take thyroid medicine?
Medicines such as levothyroxine, propylthiouracil or methimazole, are used to treat thyroid disorders, as they help to regulate the functioning of this gland.
The thyroid can suffer from diseases that cause its functioning to be exaggerated, generating hyperthyroidism, or that cause its functioning to be insufficient, generating hypothyroidism, which can be caused by inflammation, immune system diseases or infections. Learn more about diseases that can affect the thyroid.
Thyroid remedies can help regulate these changes, and should be indicated by the doctor, especially the endocrinologist, and the type of medicine, the dose and the duration of treatment depend on the cause, the type of the disease, as well as the symptoms presented.
Remedies for Hyperthyroidism
The drugs used to treat hyperthyroidism are called antithyroid drugs because they are responsible for inhibiting the production of thyroid hormones. Some of them are:
- Propylthiouracil (Propylracil); Methimazole.
These remedies have an antithyroid action, responsible for inhibiting the production of thyroid hormones. The dose of the medicine can be reduced gradually, as the values are normalized. Alternatively, high doses can be administered in combination with levothyroxine, in order to avoid drug-induced hypothyroidism.
The doctor may also prescribe a beta-blocker, such as propranolol or atenolol, for example, to control adrenergic symptoms, especially in the early stages, while antithyroid drugs have no effect.
In some cases, the use of medication may not be sufficient to treat hyperthyroidism, and therapies such as radioactive iodine or even thyroid surgery may be indicated by the doctor. Learn about other treatment options.
Hypothyroidism Remedies
The drugs used to treat hypothyroidism are responsible for replacing or supplementing thyroid hormones:
- Levothyroxine (Puran T4, Eutirox, Tetroid or Synthroid) - is a drug capable of replacing the hormone that is normally manufactured by the thyroid gland, thus allowing its replacement.
Levothyroxine should always be started with low doses and adapt according to the exams of each person, to avoid excessive doses that cause side effects or even hyperthyroidism, especially in older patients, who may be more sensitive to the effects of the medication.
Symptoms that can arise with treatment
Medicines to treat thyroid disorders can lead to symptoms, while your dose is not yet properly adjusted. The main symptoms are:
- Weight changes; Increased sweating; Loss of appetite; Dizziness; Weakness in the legs; Sudden changes in mood and irritability; Nausea, vomiting and / or diarrhea; Hair loss; Itching; Drowsiness; Trembling; Trembling; Headache; Insomnia; Fever.
The dose of thyroid remedies is not certain and linear, with significant differences between patients. There are people who can find well-being with low doses, while others need higher doses. Thus, it is normal to have the need to change the dose of the drug over time and, therefore, the endocrinologist requests blood tests regularly, and evaluates the symptoms presented, in order to find the ideal dose for each case. This adjustment can take 3 to 6 months to reach and, even after reaching the ideal, it can be changed months or years later.
Do you take thyroid medicine?
When taking medication to treat hyperthyroidism, the person may gain weight, as it slows down the metabolism. On the contrary, people undergoing treatment for hypothyroidism may lose weight, as the medicine increases metabolism, causing the body to burn more fat, even without increasing daily activities, but there is no general rule that fits everyone.
When the person has a considerable weight loss, above 10% of the initial weight, they can ask the doctor to perform tests again, as being underweight can be risky for health.
Watch the following video for guidance from the nutritionist on how food can favor thyroid function:
