Synthroid Overdose: Signs & Symptoms Youre Taking too Much

Again, there are no good studies with these supplements showing any efficacy. The supplement and herbal industry is, I think, a billion-dollar industry, and the profits they make are known to support Congress. To help us navigate this complex topic, we’re honored to welcome Dr Victor Bernet. Dr Bernet is a distinguished professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and a recognized expert in the field of thyroidology.

Your provider might also change your medication or adjust your dose. Levothyroxine is a type of thyroid hormone replacement drug that is often used to treat hypothyroidism. Brand names for levothyroxine include Synthroid, Levoxyl, and Tirosint. Although more research is needed, some evidence shows seaweed may benefit thyroid function, blood sugar, heart health, and more. Having a high-quality air filter and water filter can help reduce your overall exposure to heavy metals. You can also swap out conventional beauty products for non-toxic ones.

• Iodine intake over 1,100 micrograms (mcg) is considered dangerous.
• Nori, the most common type, has 58 mcg per tablespoon, or 928 mcg per cup.
• As you can see, there are many reasons for too-high thyroid medication symptoms.

How the Thyroid Gland Works

You might be prescribed gel caps or liquid levothyroxine if you are allergic to dyes or fillers, but making the switch could result in overmedication. Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions. Natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) is also used to treat hypothyroidism.

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One of the first symptoms people experience when their thyroid is off is a general sense of irritability. Synthroid has a half-life of about 5-7 days which means that it is normally eliminated entirely from your system in about days. You may feel jittery or anxious for about a week or so, but the side effects should fade rapidly over a few days. In reality, you may find that you need slightly more than 75mcg but less than 100mcg and you might find that your ideal dose is really closer to 88mcg per day. Even if your risk is increased for developing these conditions, though, doesn’t mean that you will ALWAYS experience them.

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• And by metabolism, I mean that your body will basically use up all of that thyroid hormone for cellular function.
• They might advise you to change your diet if it’s contributing to thyroid overmedication.
• Every time we do, we’re essentially eating those toxins, exposing ourselves to heavy metals and endocrine disruptors without even realizing it.
• There may be more weight gain with more severe hypothyroidism, however the weight change in hypothyroidism is usually much less dramatic than in hyperthyroidism.

Supplements that containiodine, such as bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus), kelp, bugleweed, Irish moss, or seaweed can also cause problems. Too much iodine, in particular, can overstimulate your thyroid and trigger hyperthyroidism. It’s possible that the quality of your medication may change from one refill of your prescription to another. This is sometimes the case when your medication is produced by several different manufacturers. By Adrienne DellwoDellwo was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2006 and has hypoallergenic synthroid over 25 years of experience in health research and writing. When buying dried seaweed, be sure it’s in a sealed, air-tight container.

Understanding possible side effects

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include bloating and swelling, anxiety, diarrhea, depression, elevated heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, fatigue, irritability, and weight gain. However, it is essential to take an optimal dosage of Synthroid to avoid long-term side effects such as cardiovascular issues and worsening blood pressure. A study evaluated the effect of long-term thyroid hormone therapy on bone mineral density in 196 women (mean age, 74.4 years) compared to a control group comprised of 795 women (mean age, 72.1 years). The mean daily thyroxine dose was 1.99 mcg/kg (range, 0.3 to 6.6 mcg/kg) with a mean duration of therapy of 20.4 years (range, less than 1 to 68 years). Women taking daily doses of 1.6 mcg/kg or more had significantly lower bone mineral density levels at the ultradistal radius, midshaft radius, hip, and lumbar spine compared to controls.

The higher your dose of levothyroxine the more amped up you will feel and the more prone to anxiety you will become. To complicate things further, you should also be aware that levothyroxine itself can cause hair loss. This is really helpful because the type of hair loss that you are experiencing can help you figure out the CAUSE. You may also notice that the quality of your hair starts to change.

Diet Changes

If your dose of levothyroxine is only mildly elevated then you may only experience slightly loose stools. In this way, hypothyroidism tends to lead to constipation and hyperthyroidism tends to lead to diarrhea. When thyroid hormone latches onto these receptors it can actually increase the force of contraction of the heart (3). You should be aware that often times an elevated heart rate can go completely unnoticed which is why keeping track of your heart rate is so important.

Levothyroxine is an oral medication used to treat underactive thyroid gland activity (hypothyroidism). The thyroid is a major gland in the body that is involved in important functions such as metabolism, growth, development, and regulation of body temperature. Levothyroxine is a synthetic version of the main hormone of the thyroid gland, known as thyroxine (T4). In patients who have an underactive thyroid, there is not enough production of thyroid hormones and levothyroxine is prescribed to help maintain normal thyroid hormone function.

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If your dose is too low then you will tend to feel depressed or suffer from depression. When your dose is too low you will notice that your hair just sort of falls out by the handful. Even if you take a high dose of Synthroid in 1 day, the consequences should not be long-lasting or severe. If after taking a high dose you are experiencing symptoms that are troublesome then you can reach out to your Doctor. The good news is that overdose symptoms can be easily solved by adjusting your dose of Synthroid. These markers tell you exactly how much thyroid is floating around in your bloodstream and give you an idea if you are absorbing and utilizing the Synthroid you are taking by mouth.