Started Taking Levothyroxine? Read This First.
Levothyroxine can be an important part of managing thyroid health, but some women still notice changes as their body adjusts or while their doctor works to find the right dose. This listicle breaks down eight experiences that may feel familiar, from low energy and trouble sleeping to ongoing hair shedding, so you can better understand what may be worth discussing with your healthcare provider.
1. Fatigue
Many people expect to feel more energized after beginning treatment, so it can be frustrating when exhaustion doesn't improve right away. While fatigue can have several causes, it may also mean your thyroid hormone levels haven't stabilized yet or that your dosage still needs adjusting. If the tiredness continues, it's worth discussing with your healthcare provider.
2. Trouble Sleeping
Getting enough sleep can become surprisingly difficult, even when you feel exhausted. If your body is receiving more thyroid hormone than it currently needs, it can leave you feeling more alert than usual, making it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep through the night.
3. Feeling Anxious or Jittery
A constant feeling of nervousness or restlessness can catch people off guard. When thyroid hormone levels become too high, your body can become overstimulated, leaving you feeling unusually anxious, shaky, or unable to fully relax.
4. Heart Palpitations
If you've noticed your heart racing, pounding, or skipping beats, it shouldn't be ignored. This can happen when your body is getting more thyroid hormone than it needs, which places extra stimulation on the heart. If these symptoms develop, contact your healthcare provider so they can determine whether your treatment needs to be reviewed.
5. Increased Sweating
Feeling warmer than usual or sweating more throughout the day can also be a sign that your thyroid hormone levels are running higher than intended. This happens because thyroid hormones help regulate your body's metabolism, and higher levels can make your body produce more heat than normal.
6. Tremors
A slight shaking in your hands may not seem like much at first, but it can become noticeable when holding a cup, typing, or doing other everyday tasks. Tremors can occur when thyroid hormone levels become too high, which may indicate that your current dose needs to be reviewed by your healthcare provider.
7. Headaches
Frequent or persistent headaches have also been reported during treatment. While headaches can happen for many reasons, they may occur if your body is adjusting to changes in thyroid hormone levels. If they become severe or don't improve over time, speak with your healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause.
8. Hair Loss
Seeing more hair in your brush or shower can be alarming, especially when you expected treatment to improve your symptoms. Temporary hair loss has been reported during the first few months of treatment and often improves as your body adjusts. However, hair thinning can also be linked to hypothyroidism itself, which is why it's important to work with your healthcare provider to make sure your treatment plan is optimized rather than stopping your medication on your own.
What Should You Do If You're Experiencing These Symptoms?
If you've recognized one or more of the symptoms above, the first step isn't to stop taking your medication. Levothyroxine helps millions of people manage hypothyroidism, and many of these symptoms improve once the right dosage is found.
If you've recently started treatment or your symptoms have changed, it's important to let your healthcare provider know. They may recommend checking your thyroid levels, reviewing your dosage, or determining whether another factor could be contributing to the way you're feeling.
The good news is that experiencing one or more of these symptoms doesn't automatically mean your treatment isn't working. In many cases, it simply means your body may still be adjusting or that your dosage needs to be fine-tuned with your healthcare provider. In many cases, it's simply a sign that your body may still be adjusting or that your treatment plan needs to be fine-tuned.
Supporting Your Thyroid Goes Beyond Medication
Why Nutrition Still Matters
Levothyroxine plays an important role in replacing the thyroid hormone your body needs, but it doesn't provide the nutrients your thyroid relies on to function normally. That's why many healthcare professionals also recommend maintaining a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals that support overall thyroid health.
While medication replaces the thyroid hormone your body needs, your thyroid still relies on key nutrients to support normal function. That's why many healthcare professionals recommend eating a balanced diet that includes foods naturally rich in important vitamins and minerals. Although no food can replace your prescribed medication, a nutrient-rich diet can be an important part of supporting your overall thyroid health.
1. Brazil Nuts
Brazil nuts are one of the most well-known foods for supporting thyroid health because they're naturally rich in selenium, an essential mineral your thyroid relies on to function normally. Selenium helps support normal thyroid hormone metabolism, making Brazil nuts an easy way to include this important nutrient as part of a balanced diet.
2. Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are a simple snack that naturally provides zinc, a mineral that helps support normal thyroid function. Zinc also plays a role in helping your body properly use thyroid hormones, making it another nutrient worth including in a healthy diet.
3. Cashews
Cashews are a natural source of copper, a trace mineral that supports healthy energy metabolism and healthy hair. Although your body only needs small amounts of copper, it works alongside other essential nutrients to help support overall thyroid health.