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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Levothyroxine
Question: I have been taking .05 mg levothyroxine daily for several years. I understand this medicine may lead to weight loss. I am 6'1", weigh 150 and 81 years old.
So I am considering discontinuing this medication.
Please advise me on the effects of discontinuing the medication and whether I should do so gradually.
So I am considering discontinuing this medication.
Please advise me on the effects of discontinuing the medication and whether I should do so gradually.
Brief Answer:
Don't stop the medication without your treating doctor's opinion.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I have gone through your question.
As we discussed earlier,Levothyroxine can lead to weight loss.
Levothyroxine is in a class of medications called hormones. It works by replacing thyroid hormone that is normally produced by the body.
Without thyroid hormone, your body cannot function properly, which may result in slow speech, lack of energy, excessive tiredness, constipation, weight gain, hair loss, dry, thick skin, increased sensitivity to cold, joint and muscle pain, heavy and depression. When taken correctly, levothyroxine reverses these symptoms.
i'm trying to explain that Levothyroxine is important for your well-being and discontinuing this medication can be harmful for you.
The effects of discontinuing the medication are all the symptoms that i mentioned above.
So,my advice for you is to not decrease the dosage or stop taking Levothyroxine,without your treating doctor's opinion.
Anyway,as endocrinologist i can say that it is important to know your actual thyroid function tests(TSH ,freeT3 and free T4).Let me know your results and than we can discuss if you can decrease the dosage of levothyroxine or not.
If need help for the treatement ,you can ask me a direct question with your thyroid test results and i can help you for the right dosage of Levothyroxine and we can discuss if you can decrease the dosage.
Hope i have answered to all your questions.
If you have further health queries,feel free to ask.
Wish you good health.
Don't stop the medication without your treating doctor's opinion.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I have gone through your question.
As we discussed earlier,Levothyroxine can lead to weight loss.
Levothyroxine is in a class of medications called hormones. It works by replacing thyroid hormone that is normally produced by the body.
Without thyroid hormone, your body cannot function properly, which may result in slow speech, lack of energy, excessive tiredness, constipation, weight gain, hair loss, dry, thick skin, increased sensitivity to cold, joint and muscle pain, heavy and depression. When taken correctly, levothyroxine reverses these symptoms.
i'm trying to explain that Levothyroxine is important for your well-being and discontinuing this medication can be harmful for you.
The effects of discontinuing the medication are all the symptoms that i mentioned above.
So,my advice for you is to not decrease the dosage or stop taking Levothyroxine,without your treating doctor's opinion.
Anyway,as endocrinologist i can say that it is important to know your actual thyroid function tests(TSH ,freeT3 and free T4).Let me know your results and than we can discuss if you can decrease the dosage of levothyroxine or not.
If need help for the treatement ,you can ask me a direct question with your thyroid test results and i can help you for the right dosage of Levothyroxine and we can discuss if you can decrease the dosage.
Hope i have answered to all your questions.
If you have further health queries,feel free to ask.
Wish you good health.
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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