Posted on 04/07/2023 11:15:04 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
As many as 90% of those who take levothyroxine [Synthroid] may have been unnecessarily prescribed the hypothyroidism medication.
Providers diagnose hypothyroidism by first measuring TSH levels in the blood. If the level is elevated, they will conduct a second test examining Free T4 levels. If TSH is high and Free T4 is low, the provider diagnoses the patient with hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine works by supplementing low hormone levels with exogenous T4.
Some patients, however, have mildly elevated TSH and normal Free T4. Providers diagnose this as subclinical hypothyroidism, and sometimes this is also treated with levothyroxine to lower TSH. This practice may do more harm than good. "Study after study has shown that there is greater risk when you overtreat with levothyroxine in patients who may not need it," says El-Khoury.
A 2021 study found that out of the 23 million Americans who are taking levothyroxine, approximately 21 million [~90%] likely don't need the prescription. Because levothyroxine can cause side effects including anxiety, heat intolerance, and diarrhea—and in extreme cases, cardiovascular morbidity and death, especially in those over 80—this finding is alarming, says El-Khoury.
According to El-Khoury, a major reason for inappropriate diagnoses is seasonal variation. Typically, TSH is higher in the winter. Because current screening measures do not consider the natural variation, many patients presenting with hypothyroidism-like symptoms are getting tested at a time when their TSH levels are naturally higher and being prescribed levothyroxine.
El-Khoury hopes to raise awareness about the extent of this problem and encourage providers to re-test their patients at least 3 months later before initiating levothyroxine treatment.
The assay used at Yale defines the normal limit for TSH as between 0.27 and 4.2 mIU/L. However, recent research suggests levothyroxine has no benefit in patients who initiate treatment when their levels are naturally under 7.0 mIU/L.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Do note many people do not get enough iodine and selenium, which directly effects the thyroid, making hypothyroidism. Please double-check your diet and supplements.
This is great. Pharmaceuticals companies need more profits.
I used to take it but once I got my sugars in order I didn’t need it anymore.
CC
You’ve likely never had Graves’ disease or thyroid cancer or know much about it
Levothyroxine is absolutely essential after radioactive iodine nukes your thyroid or most of it or it’s surgically excised
If you refuse supplemental thyroid replacement of which there are only two variations..pill or organic ..the latter I find problematic and is rarely used or prescribed
Then you can bloat to enormous weight and be sluggish with thickened skin edema and visual issues and reduced mental acuity and peripheral neuropathy myxedema coma or goiter and on and on
Or maybe just let Graves run it’s course and go blind with Marty Feldman eyes and petit mal tremors in extremities and weight loss at Dachau levels and eventual neuro and cardio collapse via possible thyroid storm
Or ignore the nodules on your thyroid which will become cancerous and spread to your brain and lungs
Or treat the disease and take the replacement
It’s your call
Anyone here wish to live with advancing hypothyroidism be my guest
Not me
bttt
I was given thyroid drugs when I complained about feeling tired all the time. It did perk me up for a short time then nothing. The doc would say you need a bigger dose. The problem was my diet. Too much sugar and junk food.
I gave up drinking 4 to 6 cans of Coke a day <-yep! and fast food. Only time I get tired as before is after eating chips and drinking a soda. I try to avoid anything with high fructose sugar or msg in it. Lots of food has it like breakfast sausage, in soups, frozen dinners etc etc.
My second oldest sister ended up having most of her thyroid removed because she was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. They never put her on any thyroid medication until she was in her 60's. I've been told thyroid problems are hereditary, and that they occur mostly in women, but men can, and do develop problems. Neither parent was ever diagnosed with thyroid issues. My niece (brother's daughter) was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when she was in her teens. I have two sons in their 50's. Neither has beed diagnosed with thyroid issues.
They aren’t making much on levothyroxine. A script for 90 pills is $10 at Walmart.
I take 50MCG, since they removed most of mine. 😊😆
“”and death, especially in those over 80””
When someone over 80 passes away, they have to chose something as the cause.
Reminds me of people living into their 90s. They lived a long, productive, fulfilling life. They have lived long enough, they close their eyes, go to sleep, and do not wake up. They pass away, the medical people cannot state definitively just what ‘caused’ this specific death. In the end, the heart is no longer pumping, so they choose ‘heart’ problems. Perhaps they just wanted to be reunited with their loved ones who already went home.
Bttt
Bump
Yep - wife is on Synthroid - as her thyroid went, she bloated and her breath had a strong chemical smell...I hope this article doesn’t get any who need it to decide to try going without it.
That's not a recommendation to my mind.
Not anynore.
I can’t quite get used to the term “provider” as in doctor. I’m guessing that PC change took place with obama-care. Literally taken, the term “provider” could mean anyone, such as Cynthia down at Mabel’s Whorehouse.
Back to the subject at hand, I do not have a thyroid gland, thus I must take synthroid daily.
About 30 years ago I enjoyed great health then I began to get muscle aches mostly in my shoulders, couldn’t hardly raise my arms. I got so fatigued I could barely drive home from work. I could not concentrate. I thought I had some kind of flu. Went to a walk-in clinic and doc took a blood test. Thyroid numbers were so low he said I was almost close to a coma. Put me on synthroid. You’re not suppose to switch from brand to generic. My Bcbs Medicare supplement decided that they’re not covering brand anymore. They want everybody to go generic. Doc says no, pharmacist says no. Brand is about 150.00 for 90 day supply. So I’ve found out that synthroid has a program to go direct and that costs me half of what the drug stores get. Synthroidelivers.com if anyone else is having the same issue. Check it out.
“Ask your doctor if levothyroxine is really right for you”
That was a knee-slapper. Ask your doctor if he really knows what he’s doing. What will he say?
“Anyone here wish to live with advancing hypothyroidism be my guest”
No thanks, been there done that. Interestingly, my Grave’s was diagnosed by Dr “Killian”. I was in the advanced stages, the doc could tell just by looking at me for a few seconds from a distance of 20 feet. He said I either had throat cancer or Grave’s disease. My thyroid was nuked.
This was a doctor at a VA clinic run by the USAF, the doc was a USAF captain. Contrary to the general public, I have gotten better health care from the VA than the civilian outfits.
” Ask your doctor if he really knows what he’s doing. What will he say?”
She’ll say, “I have 7 years of medical school!”
Then I say, “Yeah, but were you an ‘A’ student or that chick who got passed through?”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.