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Levothyroxine, also known as L-thyroxine, is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T 4). [5] [8] It is used to treat thyroid hormone deficiency (hypothyroidism), including a severe form known as myxedema coma. [5]
The team behind the recent study had previously shown that levothyroxine use, particularly in people it is used in unnecessarily, can have an array of unwanted side effects.
Levothyroxine is the chemical name of the manufactured version of T 4, which is metabolised more slowly than T 3 and hence usually only needs once-daily administration. Natural desiccated thyroid hormones are derived from pig thyroid glands, and are a "natural" hypothyroid treatment containing 20% T 3 and traces of T 2, T 1 and calcitonin.
It is used to treat hypothyroidism, [1] but less preferred than levothyroxine. [1] It is taken by mouth. [1] Maximal effects may take up to three weeks to occur. [1] Side effects may occur from excessive doses. [1] This may include weight loss, fever, headache, anxiety, trouble sleeping, arrhythmias, and heart failure. [1]
For patients taking levothyroxine, TSH may be boosted by discontinuing levothyroxine for 3–6 weeks. [6] This long period of hormone withdrawal is required because of levothyroxine's relatively long biological half-life, and may result in symptoms of hypothyroidism in the patient. The shorter half-life of liothyronine permits a withdrawal ...
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Adding liothyronine to levothyroxine has been suggested as a measure to provide better symptom control, but this has not been confirmed by studies. [9] [16] [66] In 2007, the British Thyroid Association stated that combined T 4 and T 3 therapy carried a higher rate of side effects and no benefit over T 4 alone.
For the first time in two decades, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new class of medication that provides an alternative to addictive opioids for patients looking to manage ...