Treatment of an active thyroid
Hypothyroidism is usually treated with a daily tablet called levothyroxine, which is prescribed by your family doctor. It is a synthetic form of thyroxine (T4), which naturally produces your thyroid, and it simply replaces the amount of T4 that your thyroid does not produce. The trick with levothyroxine is to find the right amount you need and you may have to try different doses before you feel better. For example, you can start with a low dose, but it can be increased gradually if the blood tests show that your thyroid hormone levels are still lower than normal. It is important to get the right dosage, as taking too much levothyroxine can cause side effects such as rapid heart rate, chest pain, headache, diarrhea, vomiting and sweating.