Can You Stop Taking Thyroid Medication Once You Start
Is it possible to stop taking your thyroid medication?
The answer is maybe, and it depends on your situation.
There are 3 main groups of patients that we need to discuss and you should try to figure out where you fit into these categories to determine if you can stop taking your medication.
Group #1: Those who MUST take thyroid medication.
- The first group are those people who must take thyroid medication for the rest of their lives. People in this category include people who have had their thyroid removed through surgery, those who have had their thyroid destroyed through RAI, and those who have end-stage Hashimoto's thyroiditis. If you fit into this category then you will NOT be able to stop taking your thyroid medication because your body is unable to produce it on its own.
Group #2: Those who were placed on thyroid medication inappropriately.
- There are a number of people who have been placed on thyroid medication inappropriately. These people were often placed on their medication because of one lab test which may have been inaccurate. People in this category are often those who have been taking their medication for decades but who don't notice any difference on or off of their medicine.
Group #3: Those who need thyroid medication but only temporarily.
- The third group includes those people who do need to take thyroid medication but only for a temporary period of time. People in this category include those with early stage Hashimoto's disease, those who have hypothyroidism from a reversible cause such as obesity or dieting, and those who have hypothyroidism from iodine deficiency or other nutrient deficiencies. If you are taking thyroid medication from a potentially reversible cause of hypothyroidism then there is a chance that you can reduce or get off of your medicine.
Before you attempt to make any changes to your thyroid medication be sure that you discuss it with your current doctor! It's not safe to simply stop taking your thyroid medication because your body becomes dependent upon it once you start taking it.
It can take several months for your body to be able to produce thyroid hormone naturally again.
Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function:
- For thyroid hormone production and conversion: https://www.restartmed.com/product/th... + https://www.restartmed.com/product/t3...
- For hair loss: https://www.restartmed.com/product/th...
- For weight management: https://www.restartmed.com/product/gu... + https://www.restartmed.com/product/fu...
- For gut health: https://www.restartmed.com/product/ul...
- For energy and adrenal health: https://www.restartmed.com/product/th... + https://www.restartmed.com/product/po...
I'm Dr. Westin Childs and I focus on thyroid health, hormone balance, and weight loss. I write about thyroid disorders, weight loss, insulin resistance, estrogen/progesterone balance on my blog. I truly believe that hormone balance is the key to managing your weight, your mood and your quality of life which is why I'm so passionate about it.
If you enjoyed this video please subscribe on youtube or leave a comment on my podcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high-quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.
Do you have any topics or video ideas? Please say so in the comments below!
The answer is maybe, and it depends on your situation.
There are 3 main groups of patients that we need to discuss and you should try to figure out where you fit into these categories to determine if you can stop taking your medication.
Group #1: Those who MUST take thyroid medication.
- The first group are those people who must take thyroid medication for the rest of their lives. People in this category include people who have had their thyroid removed through surgery, those who have had their thyroid destroyed through RAI, and those who have end-stage Hashimoto's thyroiditis. If you fit into this category then you will NOT be able to stop taking your thyroid medication because your body is unable to produce it on its own.
Group #2: Those who were placed on thyroid medication inappropriately.
- There are a number of people who have been placed on thyroid medication inappropriately. These people were often placed on their medication because of one lab test which may have been inaccurate. People in this category are often those who have been taking their medication for decades but who don't notice any difference on or off of their medicine.
Group #3: Those who need thyroid medication but only temporarily.
- The third group includes those people who do need to take thyroid medication but only for a temporary period of time. People in this category include those with early stage Hashimoto's disease, those who have hypothyroidism from a reversible cause such as obesity or dieting, and those who have hypothyroidism from iodine deficiency or other nutrient deficiencies. If you are taking thyroid medication from a potentially reversible cause of hypothyroidism then there is a chance that you can reduce or get off of your medicine.
Before you attempt to make any changes to your thyroid medication be sure that you discuss it with your current doctor! It's not safe to simply stop taking your thyroid medication because your body becomes dependent upon it once you start taking it.
It can take several months for your body to be able to produce thyroid hormone naturally again.
Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function:
- For thyroid hormone production and conversion: https://www.restartmed.com/product/th... + https://www.restartmed.com/product/t3...
- For hair loss: https://www.restartmed.com/product/th...
- For weight management: https://www.restartmed.com/product/gu... + https://www.restartmed.com/product/fu...
- For gut health: https://www.restartmed.com/product/ul...
- For energy and adrenal health: https://www.restartmed.com/product/th... + https://www.restartmed.com/product/po...
I'm Dr. Westin Childs and I focus on thyroid health, hormone balance, and weight loss. I write about thyroid disorders, weight loss, insulin resistance, estrogen/progesterone balance on my blog. I truly believe that hormone balance is the key to managing your weight, your mood and your quality of life which is why I'm so passionate about it.
If you enjoyed this video please subscribe on youtube or leave a comment on my podcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high-quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.
Do you have any topics or video ideas? Please say so in the comments below!
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