When is synthroid taken

SYNTHROID should not be used to treat noncancerous growths or enlargement of the thyroid in patients with normal iodine levels, or in cases of temporary hypothyroidism caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland thyroiditis.

Healthcare Professionals. Log out. Taking Synthroid the right way In order for Synthroid to be effective, it should always be taken the same way every day. Elisa shares her journey, from getting diagnosed to starting—and continuing—treatment with Synthroid, and living with hypothyroidism.

Find out what Elisa does to make sure she gets her Synthroid at the pharmacy. Elisa talks about how she takes an active role in her Synthroid treatment. Discover how Synthroid works in this short animated video. Learn more about hypothyroidism, its causes, and risk factors from Dr. Elliot Levy. View Transcript. Take Synthroid once a day, every day at the same time before breakfast Take Synthroid with only water and on an empty stomach Wait 30 minutes to 1 hour before eating or drinking anything other than water.

Remember, certain foods and supplements can interfere with Synthroid. Some patients find this timing inconvenient. A prior study suggested that taking levothyroxine at bedtime was equally as effective in providing stable thyroid hormone levels.

The goal of this study was to compare the effect of taking levothyroxine at bedtime as opposed to taking it before breakfast. Effects of evening vs. Arch Intern Med. After three months, they switched the timing of levothyroxine to the alternate time either pre-breakfast or bedtime for another 3 months, such that all patients experienced both schedules of levothyroxine ingestion.

Thyroid hormone, TSH and cholesterol levels were measured every 6 weeks and quality of life questionnaires were assessed every 12 weeks for the 6 month duration of the study. Bedtime levothyroxine ingestion resulted in significantly lower TSH values and higher thyroid hormone levels, indicating improved absorption of levothyroxine when taken at bedtime.

This is different from most other medications, which are typically dosed in milligrams mg. Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. For example, the average dosage of Synthroid for treating hypothyroidism is 1. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you.

Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. Your doctor may adjust your dosage during treatment if needed. One kilogram is equal to about 2. For example, if you weigh 80 kg about lb , your starting Synthroid dosage would be mcg daily. This is rounded down from about mcg. Your doctor will prescribe the closest available strength of Synthroid tablets. Your doctor may then adjust your dosage based on your thyroid hormone levels, as well as other factors.

Synthroid is approved to treat a type of thyroid cancer. The drug does this by suppressing decreasing levels of thyroid stimulating hormone TSH. Your doctor will adjust your dosage as needed during treatment, depending on your TSH levels. Synthroid is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. Below is a dosage chart for using Synthroid to treat hypothyroidism in children.

For example, the typical Synthroid dosage for a 5-year-old who weighs 25 kg about 55 lb would be mcg to mcg per day. There is a dosage calculator for Synthroid, which is for use by doctors and other healthcare professionals.

A dosage calculator can be helpful because thyroid hormone drugs such as Synthroid require careful monitoring and precise dosages. A dosage calculator helps make sure that the dose your doctor prescribes is safe for you. If you have questions about how your Synthroid dosage will be calculated, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

This is because if your dosage is lowered, your body may no longer get enough thyroid hormone to help prevent or relieve your symptoms. If you have other questions about Synthroid dose adjustments and side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Synthroid is a synthetic artificial thyroid hormone. Your body also naturally makes thyroid hormones. For this reason, Synthroid overdose can cause the same symptoms as hyperthyroidism high thyroid hormone levels.

Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room. If your Synthroid dosage needs to be adjusted, your doctor will likely adjust it in amounts of For people with newly diagnosed hypothyroidism, dosage adjustments will likely happen every 4 to 6 weeks. This is the amount of time it can take the drug to have its full effects for treating hypothyroidism.

Your doctor may continue to adjust your Synthroid dosage until your thyroid hormone levels are in a normal range.