Various hormone diseases require hormonal adjustment or hormone replacement therapy. This also applies to a thyroid disease. In the case of an underactive thyroid, the administration of artificial thyroid hormones is necessary. For example Levothyroxine for use.
What is an underactive thyroid?
Levothyroxine is a thyroid hormone. Strictly speaking, it is about the hormone form T4.The hormone T4 is converted to T3 in the thyroid using iodine and selenium.
T3 is the metabolically active hormone that controls all functions of the body. For example hair and nail growth, appetite and digestion, fertility in women, concentration and memory, body temperature regulation, etc.
Pharmacological effect on the body and organs
Levothyroxine is used for therapy in people with a thyroid dysfunction such as hypofunction. The hormone form T4 contained in the drug replaces the missing hormones that can no longer be produced by the thyroid itself.
The administration of T4 in the form of levothyroxine tablets affects the body functions already mentioned above. It influences:
- the regulation of body temperature
- the fertility of women when they want to have children
- Hair and nail growth
- Mental stability
- sleep
- Digestion and body weight
- Fat metabolism
- Blood sugar etc.
A lack of sufficient T4 therefore affects the whole body in thyroid disease. The patient feels tired, exhausted, depressed and gains body weight. Blood lipids also rise with a healthy diet and many patients suffer from hair loss, brittle nails and insomnia.
Levothyroxine is available from various manufacturers in Germany. Levothyroxine is commercially available in various doses to enable the hormone setting to be as precise as possible. The dosage form as tablets is possible in strengths of: 25 µg, 50 µg, 75 µg, 100 µg, 125 µg and 125 µg.
Medical application & use for treatment & prevention
Levothyroxine is prescribed by specialists such as nuclear physicians or endocrinologists (hormone specialists), among other things after the diagnosis of underactive or inflammation of the thyroid gland (Hashimoto's thyroiditis). The family doctor can also issue follow-up prescriptions.
Diseases of this type can be diagnosed using a precise hormone profile in the blood. Here the hormones T3, T4 and the TSH value are determined. An ultrasound examination and a scintigram as well as a decrease in thyroid antibodies (MAK, TRAK, TPO) confirm the diagnosis.
Depending on the type of illness, it can happen that the thyroid gland enlarges due to the hormone deficiency and a goiter (goiter) forms. Knots are also not uncommon. If the hormonal level is balanced again through the regular administration of T4 medication, the enlargement of the thyroid gland can regress again.
In Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the thyroid gland shrinks due to inflammatory processes. This happens through antibodies in the course of an autoimmune process and not enough hormones are produced. It is essential to counteract this with the administration of levothyroxine.
Risks & side effects
If the treatment of the thyroid is not properly adjusted, it can lead to more or less unpleasant side effects and side effects. In particular, patients who have long suffered from a hormone deficiency that was not immediately diagnosed often find it difficult to tolerate a higher starting dose.
The body first has to get used to the increased hormone supply. Therefore, T4 drugs should always be "sneaked in", i.e. the dose should be as small as possible at the beginning and then gradually increased. Side effects if the starting dose is too high can include:
- Racing heart
- Sweats
- Anxiety
- Tremble
- Weight loss and diarrhea
- inner unrest
When administering thyroid hormones, it is also advisable to have a hormone profile carried out by a family doctor or specialist at least twice a year in order to avoid symptoms and overdosing or underdosing.
The daily dose is taken in the morning, on an empty stomach, at least half an hour before breakfast. This ensures the optimal effectiveness of the drug.
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