[dfw23]

I'm trying to find out specific information regarding Levothyroxine.

When you take levothyroxine- it assists your thyroid in producing the right amount of thyroid hormones? Correct

So if you were to stop taking it, would your thyroid go back to producing the amount of hormone that it produced before the medication? Or does taking this medication destroy the ability to create the hormone so the body becomes completely dependent on the drug.

Are there any natural remedies in lieu of this synthetic drug?

Thoughts/experiences with Thyromine?

[J_9]

Levothyroxine increases the metabolic rate, controls the synthesis of proteins, increases cardiac output, blood flow to the kidneys, body temperature, blood volume, among a few others.

It is used in hypothyroidism, myxedema coma, thyroid hormone replacement, congenital hypothyroidism, thyrotoxosis, and some types of thyroid cancer.

This drug is not a cure, but it does control the symptoms. Treatment is lifelong.

It is advised not to stop this medication, nor change medications without strict monitoring by your health care provider.

[statictable]

The key is WHY are you on Levo. Most often for hypothyroidism and it simply provides your body with additional hormone your thyroid gland is not able to produce. If you have hypothyroidism you will need the added hormone provided by levothyroxine for life and if you stop taking the Levo. Your thyroid gland WILL over a period of several weeks begin to produce thyroid hormone but at a level which is less than normal; same as it provided prior to the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. The only known method for treating an under active thyroid gland is taking synthetic thyroid hormone such as Levothyroxine or desiccated thyroid gland which contains both T3 and T4. Desiccated pig thyroid was commonly used in the past but requires weeks of dosing before benefit and the synthetics require far less time and may be easier to regulate dose wise.