Your Thyroid, Your Synthroid
The generic name for Synthroid is Levothyroxine. It is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone called thyroxine. It is given to patients with problems in thyroxine production. Those with hypothyroidism and goiters are often prescribed generic Synthroid.
It is recommended that you take synthroid on an empty stomach - taking it an hour before meals would suffice. This is done to ensure proper drug absorption. Patients are also recommended to take it with a full glass of water to facilitate swallowing and help the drug dissolve. It is recommend that you not take the drug together with iron and calcium supplements or medications with calcium and iron in the formulation.
Caution should be practiced when taking other drugs with Generic Synthroid (Levothyroxine). Taking synthroid with the medication Lithium can cause hyperthryroidism (increase in thyroid hormones) but most of the time, Lithium works against generic Synthroid (Levothyroxine ) by depressing thyroid production.
When taking generic Synthroid (Levothyroxine), you should look out for side effects such as nervousness, palpitations, insomnia and difficulty sleeping, headaches, undesired weight loss, increase in appetite or a swelling of legs and ankles. Severe reactions to Generic synthroid (Levothyroxine) are rare, but they do occur. These include: swelling of tongue and face as well as difficulty breathing. You should learn to watch out for these symptoms.
Patients taking Synthroid have had a lot of positive things to say about the drug. It has evidently helped them a lot in controlling and maintaining their thyroxine levels. However, some patients find that the effects of one form or Levothyroxine may differ from another. However, the symptoms did settle as the body gets used to generic Synthroid (Levothyroxine). Other patients experience the positive effects of generic Synthroid (Levothyroxine) immediately. They report an increase in energy as well as mood regulation.
Taking generic Synthroid alone or with other diet drugs to treat obesity is not advised. Generic Synthroid (Levothyroxine) has a slew of serious side effects that can be life threatening. An overdose of Synthroid may also cause irreversible conditions as well as death.
