How Thyroid Medications Can Harm Your Thyroid

Many people with thyroid disease have trouble getting well. The majority of hypothyroid disease is actually an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto thyroiditis. As an autoimmune disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis attacks the cells of the thyroid, slowly destroying its ability to function. Unfortunately, even when the disease is diagnosed correctly, the common treatment is just to replace the diminished thyroid hormone, usually with an oral tablet or pill of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4 or levothyroxine), a synthetic analog.

According to conventional medical practice, most patients with hypothyroidism will need to be on T4 treatment for the rest of their lives.The problem with only giving hormone replacement, is it does nothing to stop the progression of the true disease; it only masks some of the symptoms. So initially your thyroid tests come back normal. Meanwhile your immune system is still attacking your thyroid. Eventually your symptoms may get worse and more thyroid hormone may be prescribed. So while you are increasing your levels of thyroid hormones, making your levels of thyroid look normal on the lab results, you are still getting worse.

This may come as a shock. It did to me. I was taught both the conventional and alternative methods for treating thyroid disease, neither of which was wholly satisfying. It made so much sense to understand its autoimmune aspect, and it helped me to find solutions in situations in which I had previously failed. Autoimmune thyroid problems can present as hyperthyroid or hypothyroid. It may be marked by an inability to regulate our response to thyroid medications.

Next: Symptoms and causes of thyroid problems

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Dr. Andrew Lange

Dr. Andrew Lange served as Chair of the Department of Homeopathic Medicine and Supervising Clinical Physician at Bastyr University in Seattle. He is the author of Getting to the Root: Treating the Deepest Source of Disease. He is the Medical Director at www.saveonlabs.com and practices in Boulder, Colorado. For more information go to www.andrewlange.com.

also by Dr. Andrew Lange

Jamie B.

8:15AM PDT on Mar 15, 2012

Thank you for the information.

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Sarah K.

10:33PM PST on Jan 25, 2012

I found out that I have hashimotos and celiac, I am also vitamin D deficient (I live in seattle, who isn't?). The hashimotos isn't severe and my naturopath worked with me to try to minimize the hashimotos naturally by going gluten-free and adding a vitamin D supplement. After weeks, I didn't feel better and started on synthroid. I feel much better! However, I believe the gluten-free diet and vitamin D supplement will help the hashimotos for getting worse and possibly over time help it disappear. My dr. has also had me add selenium to my supplements. I will re-test in 3 weeks. A diet rich in plant based foods is also sure to help :)

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jayasri a.

5:20PM PST on Jan 25, 2012

thank you for the information

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Hana B.

3:05PM PDT on Oct 25, 2011

know this problem very well... thank you for the article!

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Past Member .

2:01AM PST on Feb 23, 2011

Very good article about thyroid issues. Thyroid issue is most common. If you have any problem with thyroid, it will be harmful to your health and these problems take a place as a disease like graves disease or other. It is an autoimmune disease in which the patient's own immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to produce too much thyroxine.

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Chavonne H.

2:39PM PST on Feb 18, 2011

it's a trip how medicine meant to help, actually hurts. I hear about this alot.

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NoNoNoNoNOMAIL T.

3:17PM PST on Jan 12, 2011

Thank you for the good info on article and in comments here!

We should ALWAYS listen to our bodies first. If the doc isn't listening, and/or continues to have no answers, don't be afraid to fire him/her and get another.

Thyroid problems are so prevalent and docs still don't have many clues. Thyroid issues can manifest in so many different ways as to mimic other problems.

I've been around awhile on this planet now. I have lost several family members to less than stellar physicians, so I have no qualms in the least about seeking second, third, or more opinions, firing the docs, using tribal doctors, chelation therapy, alternative therapies, holistic methods, etc.

To the person who mentioned iodine, there are so pros and cons on that. You may want to check those out.

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Cyndee B.

9:21AM PST on Jan 7, 2011

I have been taking Synthroid for several years and have now developed a significant tremor...my doctor says I have Benign Essential Tremor...he also says my throid level is too high...can these be related, and would my tremors stop if I discontinued Synthroid?

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Darla G.

11:50AM PST on Nov 11, 2010

I have been very lucky. I went to my doc a few years ago, sleepign 14 hours a day, living in a fog, gaining weight even though I was sleeping so much I had no time to eat at all.... and dry skin so bad I clawed myself tilI bled in my sleep. Went in and was immediately diagnosed with hypo... duh... and he put me on synthroid, check 6 weeks later, not working,m upped it, 6 weeks swithced to armour thyroid and voila.... so much better. Wowee! And a real MD who went to the natural almost immediately, It made a huge difference, but not 100%. tests came back just within the normal range, and I said whatif that si not normal for me and he agreed and worked with me to a better level. I am so blessed. Feeling a little fluffy and tired lately, and headed back in for retest to make sure my levels are ok. and if they are not, I am sure he will help me.

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Joan K.

11:26AM PDT on Sep 8, 2010

Malinda..I'm so sorry about you having thyroid cancer. Please keep us informed when you see the other doctors, all information will be helpful instead of guessing> Thank you and be well. Joan