Thyroid medication is a really hot topic. It’s something that I get asked about a ton on social media and by my clients.

So that’s what we’re going to dive into today.

But before we get there, I have a quick disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. I am not encouraging anyone to stop their prescribed medication. I’m also not encouraging anyone to start a medication they haven’t been prescribed.

What I am doing is simply trying to educate you on what medication options are out there and why things work differently for different people, so that you know the questions to ask your doctor, and so that you can take control of your health and advocate for yourself. 

With that, let’s answer some common questions about thyroid medication.

Q: If I’m prescribed thyroid medication, am I on it for life?

A: There’s no one answer here, as everyone will be different, and this is definitely something to talk to your doctor about. 

What I’ve typically seen is that it can be hard to come off thyroid medication completely once you start it. It’s not impossible, but it’s hard. 

For myself, I started on thyroid medication when I was 22. I’m still on it today and probably will be for the rest of my life.

But, because I was able to work with my doctors to find the best medication for me, I’m now on a much lower dose than I was on the beginning. 

So, instead of focusing on how long you’ll have to take the medication, focus on optimizing the medication to figure out what works for your body so you can start feeling like your best self again. 

Q: Is Synthroid (or Levothyroxine) the best medication for hypothyroidism?

A: Synthroid (the brand name) or Levothyroixine (the generic name) are T4-only medications. 

T4 is your inactive thyroid hormone. Your body has to convert T4 into T3 - which is the active thyroid hormone. T3 is the hormone that your body actually uses.

Your body only makes about 20% of the T3 it needs to function properly, and the rest is made by converting T4 into T3. 

The majority of women with a slow thyroid have a difficult time converting T4 over to T3. So, when they’re only prescribed T4 through Synthroid or Levothyroxine, that’s not actually fixing anything. That’s not helping the body get the T3 it needs to function properly.

So, to answer this question, no. For most women with hypothyroidism, T4-only medications like Synthroid or Levothyroxine are not the best medications to be on. Read this post I made about thyroid medication to learn about the other options available to you.

Q: How does my doctor determine my medication needs?

A: When your doctor suspects you might have thyroid issues, they’ll ask for a thyroid test.

Now, here’s where we often run into problems.

The reason why so many women are put on the wrong type of medication is because their doctors are ordering the wrong tests.

The hallmark test for most conventional doctors is to check your TSH levels, which is your thyroid-stiumulating hormone. While it’s important to know what your TSH levels are, this does not show the complete picture of your thyroid health. This means, you may get put on the wrong medication.

When you’re getting tested for hypothyroidism or other thyroid issues, make sure you ask for a full thyroid panel. Read more about testing for hypothyroidism here.

Q: Why do I feel worse on my medication?

A: Your thyroid symptoms can get worse when you are taking the wrong medication because it might not be treating the actual cause of your symptoms. 

If you don’t feel any better after being on your medication for a while, go back to your doctor and ensure they’ve conducted a full thyroid panel, and then talk to them about other thyroid medication options. 

Then, if that still doesn’t make you feel better, there are a few other things you can investigate if you don’t think your thyroid medication is working. 

No matter what, if something doesn’t feel right or if you don’t think you’re being taken seriously, it’s important that you ask questions, demand proper attention, and ensure you have all the right information.

If you need help with any of this, you can also always reach out to me.