How Body Changes Can Impact Treatment

Just as your body changes over the course of your lifetime, so does the amount of thyroid hormone your body needs

Your doctor may need to adjust your dose if you become pregnant, when you go through menopause, or simply as you get older. The dose of medicine you take must be carefully managed to keep your thyroid hormone level in balance. That is why Synthroid comes in 12 different doses. This helps your doctor find the precise dose your body needs to help keep your thyroid in balance.

When you are pregnant or breast-feeding you may need more thyroid medicine

Being pregnant puts stress on your body. You may need a higher dose of thyroid medicine to help keep your TSH level in balance. If you do not get the right amount of thyroid medicine, your TSH level could go too high or too low. This may cause problems during your pregnancy and possible health risks for your baby.

If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, be sure to talk with your doctor. Your doctor may advise you to get your TSH level tested every 3 months during your pregnancy to make sure it is within the target range — between 0.3 and 3.0 mIU/L.

Thyroid medicine is safe to use during pregnancy. It is important to keep taking it while you are pregnant. It is just like the thyroxine your body makes naturally. If you are breast-feeding, speak with your doctor about taking levothyroxine.

As you get older you may need less thyroid medicine

Older people are often more sensitive to medicine. As you get older you may develop other health problems that can affect how well your body absorbs thyroid medicine. If you are older than 50 years, your doctor may start you on a low dose of thyroid medicine. After 6 to 8 weeks of treatment, the doctor will check your TSH level. Then your dose can be adjusted slowly until your thyroxine level is in balance. Several adjustments in dose may be needed before your doctor feels you are on the right dose for your body.

Your need for thyroid medicine may also change if you are in menopause

During menopause, a woman's body makes less estrogen. This can bring on many symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, or mood changes. If you take estrogen pills to help manage these symptoms, you may need a higher dose of thyroid medicine. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking estrogen replacement therapy.

Be an active partner in your care

These tips can help you get the follow-up care you need to help keep your thyroxine level balanced as your body changes:

• Alert your doctor to changes. Tell your doctor right away if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or if you are breast-feeding. Whenever you go in for a checkup or office visit, let the doctor know if you have developed any health problems since your last visit. Tell your doctor if you have stopped getting your period and are now in menopause
• Follow your doctor's orders for TSH blood tests. You may need to have TSH tests more often when you are pregnant. You will also need to have a follow-up TSH test any time the doctor changes your dose of thyroid medicine. You may also need TSH tests if you switch to a different thyroid product that is not interchangeable with Synthroid. Once the doctor finds the dose that helps to keep your thyroxine in balance, you will only need to go for follow-up blood tests every 6 to 12 months
• Know what to watch for between office visits. Use the Your Thyroid — Your Body tool to learn the symptoms that may occur if your TSH level is too high (overreplacement) or too low (underreplacement). Be sure to let your doctor know if your symptoms do not improve, if they get worse, or if new symptoms appear

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