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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Taking Levothyroxine Alone Is Sufficient To Treat Hypothyroidism?

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 5 years ago and have been on levothyroxin ever since. My current dosage is .75 mcg . It is currently monitored by my gyn physician through a blood test every six months. My question is : is this sufficent monitoring or should I consider going to an endocrinologist ?
Wed, 20 May 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,
Thank you for posting your question to HCM,

I read carefully your query.
Yes, monitoring hypothyroidism every 6 months with TSH is sufficient. Then according to its values the doctor should change the dose of Levothyroxine.
---If the level of TSH (the analyse done to monitor Hypothyroidism) is within normal limits, then you should continue with that dose. Levothyroxine is the synthetic hormone that the thyroid produces, that in the case of Hypothyroidism is produced not enough or at all from the thyroid gland.
--If the level of TSH is not within normal limits, then the doctor recommends the change of the dose.
--If the level of the TSH is not controlled even with the changing of the dose, then the doctor may recommend for you to see an endocrinologist.

So, to summarize: Yes, Levothyroxine is sufficient to treat hypothyroidism, and a family doctor can monitor it, up to the point then the monitoring values are not going into the normal limits and not controlled by the changing dose of medicine.

Hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you have further questions.

Take care,
Dr. Papaqako
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Is Taking Levothyroxine Alone Is Sufficient To Treat Hypothyroidism?

Hello, Thank you for posting your question to HCM, I read carefully your query. Yes, monitoring hypothyroidism every 6 months with TSH is sufficient. Then according to its values the doctor should change the dose of Levothyroxine. ---If the level of TSH (the analyse done to monitor Hypothyroidism) is within normal limits, then you should continue with that dose. Levothyroxine is the synthetic hormone that the thyroid produces, that in the case of Hypothyroidism is produced not enough or at all from the thyroid gland. --If the level of TSH is not within normal limits, then the doctor recommends the change of the dose. --If the level of the TSH is not controlled even with the changing of the dose, then the doctor may recommend for you to see an endocrinologist. So, to summarize: Yes, Levothyroxine is sufficient to treat hypothyroidism, and a family doctor can monitor it, up to the point then the monitoring values are not going into the normal limits and not controlled by the changing dose of medicine. Hope this is helpful. Let me know if you have further questions. Take care, Dr. Papaqako