Stopping thyroid medication - is it safe or possible?
Is it possible to stop taking thyroid medication once you start? The answer is sometimes but not always. There are some conditions which allow you to potentially stop taking your thyroid medication or to even reduce your dose.
But if you do this without the right supervision it can be dangerous.
Today, I am going to discuss 3 (or 4) different situations which relate to the idea of stopping your medication. Try to figure out which category you fit into.
#1. Those who need thyroid medication.
If you fit into this group then you will HAVE to use thyroid medication. People who fall into this group include those who don't have a thyroid (because it's been removed), those who have had their thyroid destroyed (with radioactive iodine), and those with a nonfunctioning thyroid gland.
People who have end-stage Hashimoto's fit into this category. Even though their thyroid gland is technically in their body it is no longer functioning.
#2. Those who don't need thyroid medication.
The next group of people are those who were started on thyroid medication but now no longer need it. And believe me, this group of people is actually quite large!
These people were either incorrectly placed on thyroid medication and kept on it for a long time or they are people who needed the medication at some point but no longer do (more on that below).
#3. Those who need it temporarily.
There are a number of conditions that cause a need for thyroid medication temporarily but this need doesn't stay around forever.
Conditions such as weight gain (obesity), high stress, nutrient deficiencies, iodine deficiencies, and early Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
But if you do this without the right supervision it can be dangerous.
Today, I am going to discuss 3 (or 4) different situations which relate to the idea of stopping your medication. Try to figure out which category you fit into.
#1. Those who need thyroid medication.
If you fit into this group then you will HAVE to use thyroid medication. People who fall into this group include those who don't have a thyroid (because it's been removed), those who have had their thyroid destroyed (with radioactive iodine), and those with a nonfunctioning thyroid gland.
People who have end-stage Hashimoto's fit into this category. Even though their thyroid gland is technically in their body it is no longer functioning.
#2. Those who don't need thyroid medication.
The next group of people are those who were started on thyroid medication but now no longer need it. And believe me, this group of people is actually quite large!
These people were either incorrectly placed on thyroid medication and kept on it for a long time or they are people who needed the medication at some point but no longer do (more on that below).
#3. Those who need it temporarily.
There are a number of conditions that cause a need for thyroid medication temporarily but this need doesn't stay around forever.
Conditions such as weight gain (obesity), high stress, nutrient deficiencies, iodine deficiencies, and early Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Activity