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Have you ever heard of a lupus patient being treated for hypothyroidism testing normal levels for TSH but not reacting appropriately to treatment? I m currently taking the generic but I heard on the radio the other day that some patients with lupus don t absorb the medicine the same, so they essentially test normal, but still feel as though they are not being treated for the hypothyroidism, including weight gain. Please help and weigh in. Thanks
Apart from testing TSH,Free T3 and T4 levels,Thyroid auto antibodies such as anti-thyroperoxidase (TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (Tg) should also be tested.Based on the tests, treatment with levothyroxine course is started.
Any cause of hypothyroidism,supplementation of thyroid hormone is the treatment.Monitoring the thyroid levels every 20 to 30 days and titrating the dose accordingly should be done.
Any increase in dose should be done by 25 microgram at a time inorder to avoid side effects.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards Dr.Saranya Ramadoss, General and Family Physician
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Suggest Treatment For Hypothyroidism
Hi Autoimmune thyroid disease is the cause of hypothyroidism in Lupus patients. Apart from testing TSH,Free T3 and T4 levels,Thyroid auto antibodies such as anti-thyroperoxidase (TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (Tg) should also be tested.Based on the tests, treatment with levothyroxine course is started. Any cause of hypothyroidism,supplementation of thyroid hormone is the treatment.Monitoring the thyroid levels every 20 to 30 days and titrating the dose accordingly should be done. Any increase in dose should be done by 25 microgram at a time inorder to avoid side effects. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards Dr.Saranya Ramadoss, General and Family Physician