|  | Conditions Treatments | Thyroid Disease

Hypothyroid Treatment With Thyroxine

Hypothyroidism is a common condition in which the thyroid -- a 2-inch gland in the front of your neck -- doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone. This condition can have various causes and typically results in a range of uncomfortable and troubling symptoms. Fortunately, once hypothyroidism is diagnosed, it is easily treated with the synthetic hormone thyroxine.

  1. Causes and Symptoms

    • One of the most common causes of hypothyroidism -- or an underactive thyroid -- is a faulty immune response that causes the body to attack the cells in the thyroid gland as if they are foreign invaders. This autoimmune response causes a condition called thyroiditis, which leaves the thyroid gland inflamed and unable to produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormone, according to the Mayo Clinic. For reasons that aren't fully understood, this condition seems more common in women than men. Other causes of an underactive thyroid gland include certain medications, improper levels of iodine in the diet and surgical removal of the thyroid gland due to thyroid disease. The thyroid gland produces two hormones -- T3 and T4 -- that control several key functions in the body such as heart rate, breathing, body temperature, metabolism, muscle function and cholesterol levels, according to the National Institutes of Health. For this reason, a person with an underactive thyroid typically experiences a range of symptoms that may include extreme fatigue, constipation, feeling cold, dry skin and thinning hair, weight gain and depression.

    Diagnosis and Thyroxine Treatment

    • If your doctor suspects that you may have hypothyroidism, he or she will likely perform a simple blood test to check the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood, according to the Mayo Clinic. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland in your brain. This hormone signals your thyroid gland to produce adequate quantities of thyroid hormone to be released into your bloodstream. In general, a TSH level above normal indicates hypothyroidism. This is because the pituitary gland in the brain produces large quantities of TSH in an attempt to get the thyroid gland to increase its production of thyroid hormone, according to the National Institutes of Health. Once you've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, your doctor will likely prescribe a synthetic form of thyroid hormone called thyroxine. The Mayo Clinic states that this substance is made in a laboratory and is identical to the T4 hormone your thyroid gland secretes into your bloodstream.

    Treatment Side Effects and Concerns

    • Taken daily, thyroxine treatment will restore your thyroid hormone levels to normal. It should also eliminate the troublesome symptoms associated with underactive thyroid, according to the Mayo Clinic. Side effects from thyroxine can occur when the dosage provides either too much or little T4 hormone -- resulting in symptoms of overactive or underactive thyroid. If your dosage of thyroxine is too high, you may experience symptoms of overactive thyroid such as sleeplessness, racing heart, weight loss, shakiness and becoming hot easily. Your doctor may closely monitor thyroid hormone levels in your blood initially to make certain you're receiving the correct dosage. If you have symptoms of overactive or underactive thyroid while taking thyroxine, speak with your doctor right away. Your dosage of thyroxine may need to be adjusted to arrive at the correct level.

Thyroid Disease - Related Articles