There are usually two main categories of thyroxine preparations.
The first category is traditional preparations, which are extracted from the thyroid gland of animals such as pigs and sheep, and are now less commonly used in clinical practice.
The other category is synthetic levothyroxine (also known as levothyroxine and levothyroxine sodium), which all have the same active ingredients and stable therapeutic effects. It has different trade names due to different manufacturers, such as Eugenol, Gahon, and Raitis.
What to look for when taking thyroxine tablets?
When should I take them?
In the case of eugenol tablets, for example, it is taken only once a day at the dose prescribed by your doctor, usually early in the morning after you wake up and about half an hour before a meal.
The reason for taking it before meals is that some foods may interfere with the absorption of thyroxine, such as soy milk, soy milk, and other soy products rich in soy protein. Some foreign studies have shown that soy egg products may interfere with thyroxine absorption.
It should not be taken at night because thyroxine increases the excitability of the nervous system and speeds up the body’s metabolism, and taking it at night can interfere with quality sleep and even lead to insomnia.
What drugs and foods may affect the effectiveness of the medication?
As mentioned above, soy products have the potential to interfere with the absorption of thyroxine, so do not consume them at the same time while taking your medication. The medication instructions usually describe which foods may interact with the medication and what extra care is needed while taking the medication. You need to read the instructions carefully before taking the medication and consult your doctor if you don’t understand something.
In addition, hypoglycemic drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs, antacids, and anticoagulants can interact with thyroxine, so if you are taking these drugs, you need to read the instructions carefully and consult with your physician in the appropriate department.
Can I adjust the dose of my medication if I have “hyperthyroidism” or “hypothyroidism” symptoms?
If you take your medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor, you will not experience any adverse effects.
If the dose is too high, it can cause symptoms similar to “hyperthyroidism” (full name: hyperthyroidism), such as insomnia, irritability, panic attacks, dryness, diarrhea, muscle tremors, etc.
Low doses can cause symptoms similar to “hypothyroidism” (known as hypothyroidism), such as fatigue, coldness, weight gain, and in children, physical and mental retardation.
Doctors recommend that you do not adjust your medication if you experience these symptoms, but rather check your thyroid function and talk to your doctor about adjusting your medication under your doctor’s guidance.
If you have underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or other endocrine system disorders such as simple goiter, Cushing’s syndrome, pheochromocytoma, or obesity, you should take it with caution as prescribed by your doctor.
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What should I be aware of when taking the medication in children, elderly, pregnant and lactating women?
Children patients have a high metabolism and need to determine the amount of medication to take based on thyroid function test results.
Elderly patients with reduced metabolism should have their starting dosage reduced as appropriate, and the dosage should be adjusted slowly under the guidance of a physician.
Pregnant women have different hormone levels than the general population, so the dosage should be adjusted at any time according to medical advice.
Lactating women should have their thyroid function reviewed regularly to keep all indicators within normal limits and take the medication as prescribed by their doctor.
What should I be aware of when taking different brands of medication? Can I change my medication on my own?
The active ingredients of other drugs such as Raltez and Gahan are the same, only that they are made by different manufacturers and may differ in specifications. The rest, such as precautions and adverse reactions, are much the same as for Eugenol.
Don’t change your medication on your own without consulting a medical professional. If you do change on your own, pay special attention to changes in specifications between different medications and make adjustments accordingly to ensure that you are taking the same dose of the medication as before.
Do I need regular follow-up while taking the medication? How often should I check? What do I need to check? Do I need frequent dose adjustments?
Regular follow-up after surgery is necessary. With regular follow-up, your doctor can monitor for signs of recurrence, determine if the dosage of eugenol is appropriate in time, and treat it accordingly.
For one year after surgery, you need to be reviewed every three months, mainly for ultrasound and thyroid function.
One year after surgery, a chest x-ray is needed to look for lung metastases.
After one year, if the B-ultrasound is clear and thyroid function is stable and within the ideal range, you can follow up every 6 to 12 months.
If an abnormal thyroid function test is found at a review, the doctor will adjust the medication accordingly. A review is needed after one month of adjustment to assess the effect. Generally, the dose adjustment should be done by a medical professional and not by you.
In summary, you need to follow your thyroid function regularly, take your medication as prescribed, and not follow the advice of other patients or unprofessional advice.
Co-written by Dr. Weibo Xu, Cancer Hospital, Fudan University