Thyroid medication comes in various forms, and can be used to manage hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Levothyroxine is the most common thyroid medication that people are talking about when they ask how long does it take to feel better on thyroid medication?

In order to understand how long levothyroxine and other thyroid medications take to make you feel better, it’s important to understand how it and other thyroid medications work.

Medications for hypothyroidism

With hypothyroidism the thyroid gland – a small butterfly shaped gland located at the front of the neck – doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones. You need thyroid hormones for all sorts of different processes in your body. It controls your metabolism, and affects your heart, muscles, digestion, brain and bones. It’s needed for so much throughout your whole system that it’s not surprising that the symptoms of too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) can leave you feeling unpleasant and unwell.

We’ve discussed before how you may be able to tell if you have a thyroid problem.

Levothyroxine is a synthetic replacement of one of the thyroid hormones called thyroxine, often simply known as T4. It doesn’t fix the problem behind why your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones, but it replaces the hormones. Effectively, taking the right dose can be like replacing the job of the thyroid. As it’s not a cure, it needs to be taken regularly for the rest of your life.

There are other thyroid medications but levothyroxine is the most common solution for those with hypothyroidism. As said, levothyroxine supplies T4 thyroid hormones. In the body, this is the inactive thyroid hormone. We convert it into the active T3. Some people find that they would also like to take a natural T3 thyroid replacement. There are a range of other thyroid medications which provide this, such as Armour Thyroid and NP Thyroid.

Thyroid problems requiring medication are diagnosed using a blood test. It is important that you follow your doctor’s advice and work together to decide your thyroid medication.

Starting thyroid treatment

You doctor will consider a number of different factors to decide on the best way to treat your hypothyroidism, and how much of the chosen medication to take. They will consider your thyroid hormone levels (as measured by blood tests), your weight, age and other health factors. They are likely to also consider how symptomatic you are.

Generally speaking, most people will start on a lower dose and gradually increase over time as they become adjusted and it’s possible to see symptoms being alleviated. This means that when you first start taking thyroid medication, you should expect to have regular blood tests to see how you are getting on. Once you’ve settled on the right dose for you and your symptoms have settled, your doctor will then opt to test your thyroid levels regularly but less often, usually every 6 months – 1 year.

How long does it take to feel better on thyroid medication?

With levothyroxine, many find that they start to feel better within days of starting the medication. Other people may find it takes a few weeks. However, because you are likely starting on a lower dose, it may take longer, and it will definitely take longer for your actual levels (measured by blood test), to return to where they should be.

Some people may find that their blood tests are effectively reading ‘normal’ but they are still experiencing symptoms. This isn’t unheard of, and whilst it makes things trickier for you, it may be that you need a different dose or a different thyroid medication (for example natural thyroid medication with T3).

If you are continuing to struggle with thyroid symptoms, such as weight gain or fatigue, don’t continue to suffer in silence. Speak to your healthcare practitioner about alternatives. This is particularly important because in some countries, the threshold for being diagnosed as having hypothyroidism are lower than elsewhere, and in these sub-clinical cases, you still have options to help you feel better (Find out if we ship thyroid medications to your country.)

Feeling better on thyroid medication

Thyroid medication needs to be taken daily and there are some things that you can do to ensure that you feel the best you can and your symptoms are alleviated as quickly as possible.

Follow a routine

Always take your thyroid medication at the same time of day and try not to forget a dose. Perhaps set an alarm on your phone and use a daily dose box to help. If you forget to take a dose, take one as soon as you remember. If needs be, you can take two pills at the same time, or on the same day. Taking your tablet associated with a particular mealtime can help, or as you go to bed, although usually thyroid medication should be taken around an hour before food (this is because your body needs iodine to process thyroid medication, and calcium in your food can affect this).

Stick to the same brand

Particularly with natural thyroid medications, but also with all, there can be small differences between the dose amounts of one brand and another. By sticking to the same brand you can be sure that you are getting a more consistent dose.

Don’t stop without advice

It does take time for all new medications to take effect, and you may experience side effects. However, don’t just stop taking them. Speak to your doctor and see what they recommend. If they recommend stopping the medication and trying a different one, they can support you with this. They can also advise you about side effects.

What if I get side effects?

When considering if you feel better, you may also want to consider the side effects. As with all medications, it is important to weight up the benefits and the side effects so that, overall, your health and wellbeing is improved and you feel as good as you can.

With thyroid medication, the biggest risk is taking too much as you establish the correct dose for you. This can give the effect of having an overactive thyroid e.g. tachycardia, heat sensitivity, anxiety, sweating, shaking, hunger, insomnia and weight loss. If you think this applies to you a simple blood test can usually help to determine it and your dose will be adjusted.

There are also other medications which can affect how long it takes you to feel better on thyroid medication because they interact. Your doctor should be aware of these, but they include kinase inhibitors (cancer drugs), some contraceptive pills, some anti-depressants, testosterone and some anti-seizure medications.

Stick with it

For some people, it does take a little while to start to feel better when they first start taking thyroid medication. However, remember that this is a medication that you will be taking for life and so it is worth some time at the beginning to establish the right dose to ensure you feel better in the long term.

At International Pharmacy, we don’t offer medical advice. If you are concerned about your thyroid, thyroid medication or have another health concern, please speak with your healthcare provider.