Many patients ask how long it takes to feel better on thyroid medication, but the answer is always: it depends. Every patient is different, but thyroid hormone replacement therapy, which is administered through injections, is a long-lasting medication. This means that it generally takes multiple weeks for the effects of the therapy to take hold and for the symptoms of hypothyroidism to subside, according to a study published in the Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal.
If you have begun thyroid hormone replacement therapy or are experiencing signs of hypothyroidism and are curious as to how long it takes to feel better on thyroid medication, then there are some things that you should take note of.
Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy Targets Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
People who suffer from an underactive thyroid gland have hypothyroidism. This condition can have several possible causes, as well as many possible symptoms that vary on a case-by-case basis. According to Mayo Clinic, some of the possible signs of an underactive thyroid include:
- Gaining weight
- Lack of energy
- Thinning hair
- Abnormal cold sensitivity
- Elevated blood cholesterol level
- Aching muscles
- Depression
The range of symptoms is so wide because the thyroid gland plays a critical role in human health. It impacts a lot of the body’s functions, from fertility to your ability to maintain a healthy weight. When the thyroid is not functioning properly, its negative effects are unavoidable.
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How the Thyroid Works, and What it Does
The thyroid gland’s biological function is the production and secretion of hormones. Mayo Clinic reports that the most notable hormones produced by the thyroid gland are triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4). Hormones act as catalysts for some significant bodily functions like metabolism. Without the thyroid’s normal functions, our biological processes may be seriously inhibited.
How Hypothyroidism Impacts Human Health When Untreated
The thyroid plays a role in many of our bodily functions, and when a thyroid strays from its normal course the health effects become quickly and painfully apparent. There is a high likelihood that they will get worse and even cause more serious health problems. Mayo Clinic reports that some of the more long-term effects of untreated hypothyroidism include:
- Obesity
- Joint pain
- Infertility
- Heart Disease
If you desire to treat these symptoms, then you should check with a medical professional to explore whether hypothyroidism is their cause.
Possible Causes of Hypothyroidism
Some of the possible causes of your hypothyroidism may include:
An Overcorrected Hyperthyroidism Treatment
Some people are afflicted with hyperthyroidism, a condition that is the flipside of hypothyroidism. Sometimes correcting hyperthyroidism by lowering hormone production unintentionally leads to hypothyroidism.
Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto’s disease may turn the body’s immune system against itself, with the thyroid as the central target. Such disorders may cause hypothyroidism.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is sometimes necessary to treat certain cancers of the head and neck, some of which may impact the thyroid gland and cause hypothyroidism.
Thyroid Surgery
If you have to remove some or all of your thyroid gland for health reasons, it is likely that you will experience a decrease in hormone production characterized as hypothyroidism.
Adverse Reaction to Medication
You probably know that many medications cause side effects, one of which may be the inducement of hypothyroidism.
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Consider Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy
Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is one solution to an underactive thyroid. The most common treatment entails taking synthetic replacement hormones.
How Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy Works
An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) fails to produce the necessary hormones to kick the body into motion. By ingesting synthetic replacement hormones, you may be able to replicate the hormone production that your once normally-functioning thyroid gland provided.
According to MedlinePlus, your doctor will test your blood to gauge the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and other hormones in your system. They will then determine which and how much replacement thyroid hormones to prescribe. Your doctor will monitor you periodically to see if the therapy is effective and make any necessary adjustments to your dosage.
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Call HealthGAINS Today to Learn More About Thyroid Hormone Replacement
You may be suffering unnecessarily if you have not sought treatment for your hypothyroidism because you are unsure how long it takes to feel better on thyroid medication. The team at HealthGAINS administers thyroid hormone replacement therapy in a safe setting, and may be able to help you.
Call our team today for a free consultation to discuss whether your circumstances make you a candidate for thyroid hormone replacement therapy. You do not deserve to be uncomfortable. Contact our team today to see how we may be able to help with your hypothyroidism. We have offices in Florida, Virginia, Kentucky, Washington, Connecticut, Illinois, Texas, South Carolina, California, and New Jersey.
You can only obtain legal hormone therapy through a doctor’s prescription. Our team will work with you to establish a treatment plan that is right for you. We are a wellness clinic prepared to recommend lifestyle and diet changes and supplements to correspond with your hormone replacement injections.
A typical male patient in his 50s can expect to pay about $1500 a month on the cost of prescription growth hormone. This may not be the exact price you may pay, as your plan and treatment will be tailored just for you, but it is an indicator of the quality care you can expect from us.
We want to help you in any way that we can. We offer a free consultation, which means you have nothing to lose by placing a call to us at (305) 912-8828.
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