Hello and thank you for asking on HCM! Levothyroxine is a thyroid hormone replacement medication. Taking thyroid pills is the only way to treat hypothyroidism. I do not think there are any alternatives to it. “The key is to ensure that one is getting the right dose”. It varies from person to person and that’s why typically the medication comes in a variety of strengths such as 25, 50, 75, 88, 100, 112, 125, 137, 150, 200 and 300 mcg. Most people however will need about 100-125 mcg daily. In addition to clinical findings, blood tests are very useful in determining the dose. The goal is to keep the TSH between 0.4 to 2 and free T4 levels on the high normal side. It is important to note that in select circumstances the dose of thyroid medication must be cautiously chosen. This includes older individuals especially those with heart problems, those with irregular heart rhythms, pregnancy, thyroid cancer etc It is often helpful to see an endocrinologist to arrive at the optimal dose for your body. And this may change over a lifetime owing to various factors, for example, in some instances as we grow older the thyroid hormone requirement may decrease by 15 % or so. SO you should increase the dose and check the TSH after 6 weeks. Hope i have been helpful. Kind regards, Dr.Mirjeta