Synthroid is a medication prescribed to treat people with a condition, called hypothyroidism that causes your thyroid gland to not be able to produce enough thyroid hormone, which regulates the body’s metabolic rate and energy levels.

Levothyroxine, the active ingredient of Synthroid, helps to produce more of the hormone when your thyroid gland is unable to produce enough of it on its own.

Uneven hormone levels, radiation therapy, surgical operation, or cancer can cause your thyroid gland to be enlarged. This condition is called goiter and it can be treated or prevented by the use of Synthroid.

Synthroid is recommended to be taken a half an hour to an hour before your first meal of the day as it is known to be most effective on an empty stomach. Try to take the medication on a set schedule while following your prescribing doctor’s instructions carefully.

Tell your doctor if your weight increases or decreases substantially from when you were prescribed Synthroid, as your dose may need to be revised based on your updated weight.

Do not stop taking Synthroid even if you feel well or do not notice any effect from the medication as it could take up to several weeks for your body to become responsive. It is a possibility that you may need to be prescribed to Synthroid for the remainder of your life.

When using Synthroid, you may be required to have medical tests administered on a frequent basis. It is important for you to notify the operating doctor or dentist of your Synthroid treatment.

This medication should only be used by you and only you, even if someone you know may be experiencing similar symptoms.

Synthroid must be stored in a cool and dry environment away from children and pets, so storing this medication in your bathroom is not recommended.

Be mindful of your doctor’s directions, the directions of your prescription bottle label, and all other instructional information. Use Synthroid exactly as prescribed to you.

Synthroid is not an effective treatment for obesity or overweight issues. It is important to talk to your doctor before taking Synthroid with other weight-loss supplements due to dangerous or even fatal side effects can occur if Synthroid is used improperly.

Because thyroid hormone is a natural hormone created by your body, most people should not have any issues taking Synthroid, but specific medical conditions could complicate the situation. It is recommended to speak to your doctor if you a certain thyroid disorder called thyrotoxicosis, an adrenal gland disorder that has yet to be treated, or if you are experiencing signs of a heart attack.

Disclose your full medical background to your doctor, especially if you have had heart disease, a blood clot/blood-clotting disorder, diabetes, kidney disease, anemia, a thyroid nodule, osteoporosis, complications with your pituitary gland, any food or drug allergies, or radiation therapy with the use of iodine.

Synthroid should not be given to a child without the orders from a doctor; however it is important to not stop taking it even if you become pregnant, as it could be extremely harmful for both the child and the child’s mother if she were to have low levels of thyroid hormone. Your doctor may need to prescribe you for a different dose while you are going through your pregnancy and while you are nursing after pregnancy.

If you experience symptoms such as hives, breathing difficulties, face swelling, lips swelling, tongue swelling, or throat swelling, you could be allergic to Synthroid. Get yourself emergency medical assistance at once.

Some side effects are more common than others. More common side effects include muscle weakness, anxiety, sleeping difficulty, headache, leg cramps, diarrhea, partial hair loss, and skin rash.

More uncommon side effects could be dangerous, so notify your doctor immediately if you notice quicker or irregular heartbeats, fever, sweating, hot flashes, short breaths, pain in the chest, tremors, insomnia, fatigue, weakness, muscle aches, headache, irritability, depression, memory issues, anxiety, dry skin, hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden weight changes, or changes to your menstrual cycle.

Keep in mind that this is not a total list of all the possible side effects you may experience while taking Synthroid. If you are searching for a complete list, please contact your doctor for assistance.

Do I need to avoid eating any foods while taking Synthroid?

There are quite a few food products you should stay away from while you are on treatment, such as grapefruit juice, soybean flour, infant soy formula, walnuts, cotton seed meal, and other foods that are high in fiber. It is best to avoid these entirely because you body will not absorb as much of the levothyroxine.

What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is a condition when your thyroid gland is not producing enough of the correct amount of thyroid hormone. This butterfly-shaped gland sits at the base of the front of your neck and it has a massive effect In the early stages of the condition, you may not experience any apparent signs or symptoms, but several health implications can occur if left untreated. Hypothyroidism can lead to obesity, joint pain, infertility, and heart disease. The find the correct dose needed through the use of synthetic thyroid hormone is dependent upon the seriousness of the hormone deficiency.