Synthroid Levothyroxine Sodium: Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Interactions, Warnings
Some people might use their levothyroxine prescriptions for this reason, but it’s important to know that the use of levothyroxine for weight loss can result in dangerous and potentially life-threatening side effects. Thyroid hormones can also be present illicitly in some over-the-counter weight loss products. These dietary supplements can contain varying amounts of thyroid hormones, which can be dangerous and cause adverse effects. Because of this, people should not take over-the-counter weight loss supplements. Published studies report that levothyroxine is present in human milk following the administration of oral levothyroxine.
- Because thyroid function can fluctuate during pregnancy, a doctor might need to adjust the dosage of levothyroxine taken during pregnancy.
- We present the case of one such patient who presented with an acute confusional state due to Hashimoto’s encephalopathy.
- The thyroid is a major gland in the body that is involved in important functions such as metabolism, growth, development, and regulation of body temperature.
- Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can also cause cognitive problems that can mimic symptoms of mild dementia.
Impact of nonstandard thyroid hormone therapy on mood and cognition
No adverse effects on the breastfed infant have been reported and there is no information on the effects of levothyroxine on milk production. Adequate levothyroxine treatment during lactation may normalize milk production in hypothyroid lactating mothers with low milk supply. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for SYNTHROID and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from SYNTHROID or from the underlying maternal condition.
- Thyroid hormones, including levothyroxine, should not be used either alone or with other therapeutic agents for the treatment of obesity or weight loss.
- Published studies report that levothyroxine is present in human milk following the administration of oral levothyroxine.
- By Esther Heerema, MSWEsther Heerema, MSW, shares practical tips gained from working with hundreds of people whose lives are touched by Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia.
- Do not store the crushed tablet/water mixture and do not administer it mixed with foods that decrease absorption of levothyroxine, such as soybean-based infant formula.
- Pseudotumor cerebri and slipped capital femoral epiphysis have been reported in pediatric patients receiving levothyroxine therapy.
Levothyroxine interactions: What foods and medications should be avoided while taking levothyroxine?
Animal and human studies provide evidence that specific cognitive domains dependent on the hippocampus and/or frontal lobes are affected, including attention, memory, processing speed, and executive function (17). This has been found in studies assessing patient-reported symptoms (18) and those using objective test measures assessing mean level performance as well as variability (19–23). This study represents a laudable endeavor to characterize brain fog in people with hypothyroidism. Limitations include the survey instrument was not validated, it was not known whether symptoms were related to underlying hypothyroidism or other medical or psychiatric comorbidities, and lack of information on thyroid hormone levels. Therapy for overt hypothyroidism is always indicated, and symptoms of mood or cognitive deficits improve (although perhaps not completely resolve) with therapy.
Nonspecific electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities are seen in 90 to 98 percent of patients with the most common finding being nonspecific slowing of background activity 9. Again, in the case of our index patient, no diagnostic abnormalities synthroid ashwagandha were found. Magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Hashimoto’s encephalopathy is usually normal.
Do not store the crushed tablet/water mixture and do not administer it mixed with foods that decrease absorption of levothyroxine, such as soybean-based infant formula. With your support we can help people to live better with thyroid disease. Some side effects of levothyroxine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. This section will review information on associations between overt hypothyroidism, mood, and cognition.
What Is Known About Hypothyroid-Associated Brain Fog
Synthroid is a thyroid medicine that replaces a hormone normally produced by your thyroid gland to regulate the body’s energy and metabolism. Over and underactivity of the thyroid may put a strain on personal relationships. Once the conditions have been stabilised and treated, your emotional state and relationships are likely to improve. Along with its needed effects, levothyroxine (the active ingredient contained in Synthroid) may cause some unwanted effects.
BACKGROUNDHypothyroidism is common and is diagnosed with increased TSH and low FT4 levels. Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include feeling tired, cold, and sluggish along with weight gain, dry skin and constipation. These symptoms often resolve on thyroid hormone replacement therapy and return of the FT4 and TSH back to the normal range. Brain fog in survivors of cancer has been most studied in breast cancer, where it is commonly reported as “chemobrain” or “chemofog” by patients during or following chemotherapy (8).
4 Acute Adrenal Crisis in Patients with Concomitant Adrenal Insufficiency
In addition, many drugs and foods affect T4 absorption see DRUG INTERACTIONS. Assess compliance, dose of medication administered, and method of administration prior to increasing the dose of SYNTHROID see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and Use In Specific Populations. Use the serum free-T4 level to titrate SYNTHROID dosing until the patient is clinically euthyroid and the serum free-T4 level is restored to the upper half of the normal range see Recommended Dosage And Titration. However stress can aggravate symptoms that are caused by a thyroid condition and make them much worse and take longer to settle. It is understandable and not unusual to have an emotional reaction before, during, or after treatment.
However, you may not be able to take this medicine if you have certain medical conditions. Atypical symptoms that raise the question of alternate etiologies or structural neurological disorders should be evaluated as potential separate diagnoses. If symptoms are more severe, appear progressive, or are interfering with activities of daily living, referral to a neuropsychologist is an underutilized approach that should be considered. Highlighting this issue, there is a remarkable quote from a hypothyroid patient during the recent joint thyroid association conference (16). Improved patient education could address these expectations and motivate patients to engage in other interventions that could improve their symptoms, as summarized in the next section. The term brain fog is broadly used to describe what individuals experience when their cognitive functioning is not as sharp as usual, but there is no standard definition nor diagnostic criteria.
For adult patients with primary hypothyroidism, titrate until the patient is clinically euthyroid and the serum TSH returns to normal see Recommended Dosage And Titration. SYNTHROID is indicated in adult and pediatric patients, including neonates, as an adjunct to surgery and radioiodine therapy in the management of thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated thyroid cancer. SYNTHROID is indicated in adult and pediatric patients, including neonates, as a replacement therapy in primary (thyroidal), secondary (pituitary), and tertiary (hypothalamic) congenital or acquired hypothyroidism.