Health Advice

Latest from blog

Head Lice – Help!!!

Every parent’s heart sinks when they receive the dreaded note from school warning about head lice. Don’t worry – Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy in Donabate is here to to give us advice and tips. The first thing to do is to check the child’s head. You will need some tea tree conditioner, a... Read more >

Read more

Are You SunSmart?

We ask Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy Donabate how to make the most of great sunny summer days whilst protecting our skin from harmful rays. Jane says “The Irish Cancer Society SunSmart program has great guidelines to keep us safe. See below for some useful tips and advice” Ways to protect your skin: Shade... Read more >

Read more

Pollen Highs & Watery Eyes

Pollen Highs & Watery Eyes… Talk to Jane Brennan, your Hay Fever Expert in Donabate Are your eyes itchy, red or watery? Is your throat scratchy? Are you sneezing? Do you have itchy ears, nose or mouth? Do you have a blocked or runny nose? Do you wake up feeling exhausted? Hay fever can cause... Read more >

Read more

Life Pharmacy Ireland – Live Better

Bringing you the best health advice for your family

NHS Choices - Treating underactive thyroid

(14/10/2013)

An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is usually treated by taking daily hormone-replacement tablets called levothyroxine.

Levothyroxine replaces the thyroxine hormone which your thyroid does not make enough of.

You will initially have regular blood tests until the correct dose of levothyroxine is reached. This can take a little while to get right.

You may start on a low dose of levothyroxine, which may be increased gradually depending on how your body responds. Some people start to feel better soon after beginning treatment, while others don't notice an improvement in their symptoms for several months

Once you are taking the correct dose, you will usually have a blood test once a year to monitor your hormone levels.

If blood tests suggest you may have an underactive thyroid, but you do not have any symptoms or they are very mild, you may not need any treatment. In these cases, your GP will usually monitor your hormone levels every few months and prescribe levothyroxine if you develop symptoms.

Taking levothyroxine

If you are prescribed levothyroxine, you should take one tablet at the same time every day.

The effectiveness of the tablets can be altered by other medications, supplements or foods, so they should be swallowed with water on an empty stomach and you should avoid eating for 30 minutes afterwards. Taking the tablets in the morning is usually recommended, although some people prefer to take them at night.

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember if this is within a few hours of your usual time. If you do not remember until later than this, skip the dose and take the next dose at the usual time unless advised otherwise by your doctor. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.

An underactive thyroid is a lifelong condition, so you will usually need to take levothyroxine for the rest of your life.

If you are prescribed levothyroxine because you have an underactive thyroid, you are entitled to a medical exemption certificate. This means you do not have to pay for any of your prescriptions. See help with prescription costs for more information about this.

Side effects

Levothyroxine does not usually have any side effects as the tablets simply replace a missing hormone.

Side effects usually only occur if you are taking too much levothyroxine. This can cause problems including chest pain, sweating, headaches, diarrhoea and vomiting.

You should tell your doctor if you develop new symptoms while taking levothyroxine. You should also let them know if your symptoms get worse or do not improve.

Triiodothyronine (T3) treatment

In the UK, treatment for underactive thyroid involving a combination of levothyroxine and a hormone called triiodothyronine (T3) is not usually recommended because studies have found no evidence that this is more effective.

There are also concerns that taking both these hormone-replacement medications may increase your risk of serious side effects such as an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and weak bones (osteoporosis).