Table of contents:
- 6 hypothyroid medication errors
- 1. Take hypothyroid medication after meals
- 2. Accompanied by taking other drugs
- 3. Take medication not according to doctor's instructions
- 4. Assuming all drug brands contain the same ingredients
- 5. Take medication in excess of the prescribed dose
- 6. Do not have a regular schedule for taking medication
For those of you who have just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you don't need to worry. This disease does take time to be completely treated, but that doesn't mean it can't be cured. So unfortunately, there are many mistakes that are often made when hypothyroid treatment is being undertaken. These mistakes can actually hinder the treatment process. What are the mistakes that often occur when treating hypothyroidism?
6 hypothyroid medication errors
Hypothyroidism is a condition when your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone for your body's needs. This condition is not easily recognized because there are no characteristic symptoms in the early phase. Hypothyroid disease progresses very slowly. In fact, it took years for this disease to get worse.
Initially, you may not realize this health problem, because the symptoms that appear are too common. However, when your body's metabolism slows down, other symptoms will appear.
If so, you will undergo treatment with the help of a doctor or pharmacist. Generally, the doctor will give artificial hormones to maintain the amount of thyroid hormone in your body.
1. Take hypothyroid medication after meals
The drug in the form of synthetic thyroid hormone will not be digested properly by the body except on an empty stomach. You also have to wait 45 to 60 minutes before you can eat a meal or snack.
How to avoid this hypothyroid medication error can be done by taking the drug in the early morning, so that after taking this drug, the patient can go back to sleep on an empty stomach.
If you want to do it at night, make sure you don't eat anything for the previous 4 hours.
Excessive consumption of foods such as soybeans, along with the consumption of these drugs can affect the process of absorption of drugs by the body.
However, as mentioned in a study published in the journal Nutrients in December 2016, people with hypothyroidism do not have to stop consuming soybeans. It's just that, you should consume the same amount every day so that the dosage of the drug can be adjusted.
2. Accompanied by taking other drugs
The way to avoid other hypothyroid medication mistakes is to not take other drugs at the same time as this drug.
Other drugs to avoid are antacids, calcium, iron supplements, and drugs for cholesterol. This is because these drugs can block the absorption of thyroid drugs by the body.
If you must take any other medicines, take them at least 4 hours before or after taking this medicine.
3. Take medication not according to doctor's instructions
Using medications such as birth control pills, estrogen, testosterone, seizure medications, and depression medications can affect your thyroid hormone absorption, but that doesn't mean you can't use them.
Make sure your doctor knows that you want to use or stop using these medications as a way to avoid mistreatment of hypothyroidism.
Your doctor may have to determine the correct dose of synthesized thyroid hormone to suit other medications.
So, letting your doctor know that you are going to start or stop taking a particular drug can make it easier for your doctor to determine the right dosage.
4. Assuming all drug brands contain the same ingredients
The drugs used for the treatment of hypothyroidism do have the same amount of thyroid replacement hormone, but the amount of other hormones found in the drug can vary from brand to brand.
The amount of other hormones that are not certain in each different brand can be a factor in triggering the problem of hormone absorption by the body.
Do not change the brand of hypothyroid medication by buying it at the pharmacy without a doctor's approval to avoid mistreatment of hypothyroid medication.
5. Take medication in excess of the prescribed dose
In general, this hormone replacement medicine is very safe, even if you overdose it, there will be no significant problems.
However, if you consume it excessively, it will certainly cause side effects. How to avoid medication errors for hypothyroidism can be done by taking this drug at the right dose.
If you are determined to consume more doses, the side effects you may experience are:
- Tired of being sustained
- Insomnia
- It's hard to concentrate
- Erratic heartbeat
- Anxiety
- Bone loss
6. Do not have a regular schedule for taking medication
Taking this drug at different times of the day, skipping doses on purpose, or taking it occasionally with food can affect the performance of the drug.
To avoid mistreatment of hypothyroidism, use this medication regularly at the same time every day. Also make sure not to skip and double doses. If you have trouble, use an alarm to help you avoid forgetting your medication schedule.
Avoid breaking the rules for using drugs and try to always consume them on an empty stomach. Always take this drug at the same time and in the same way.
