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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Are The Risks Of Stopping Levothyroxine?

Hello I m a female 38 years old. Have been taking levothyroxine for 20 years, 75 mcg. I would like to stop taking it and see how I do without it. I suspect I may not need it anymore. Also I m having high blood preasure for more than five years on and off that I relate to stress, but I know that is one of the side effects from thyroxine. May I know of there is any risk to stop taking the medicine at once?
Fri, 18 Sep 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,
Thanks for posting in HCM.
The reason you are taking thyroxine is because your thyroid gland is not producing enough thyroxine hormone required by your body.
Thyroxine hormone is required for multiple reasons in body and is of vital importance for body normal functions.
What you can do is you can get a thyroid profile get checked to see your TSH, free T3 and free T4 values. If the picture looks like you are going in hyperthyroidism or levels are at higher level of normal range then you can pause taking meds for few days but ideally you shouldn't stop taking thyroxine because it’s a vital hormone required for the body.
It will be advisable to do above said test and to consult your doctor before stopping the meds on your own.
I hope I answered your question satisfactorily. If you have any more query kindly write back to me, will be happy to help you out.
Thank you.
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What Are The Risks Of Stopping Levothyroxine?

Hello, Thanks for posting in HCM. The reason you are taking thyroxine is because your thyroid gland is not producing enough thyroxine hormone required by your body. Thyroxine hormone is required for multiple reasons in body and is of vital importance for body normal functions. What you can do is you can get a thyroid profile get checked to see your TSH, free T3 and free T4 values. If the picture looks like you are going in hyperthyroidism or levels are at higher level of normal range then you can pause taking meds for few days but ideally you shouldn t stop taking thyroxine because it’s a vital hormone required for the body. It will be advisable to do above said test and to consult your doctor before stopping the meds on your own. I hope I answered your question satisfactorily. If you have any more query kindly write back to me, will be happy to help you out. Thank you.