Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is Discontinuing Levothyroxine For A Week After Thyroid Surgery Serious?
Posted on
Tue, 1 Mar 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 1 Mar 2016
Answered on
Thu, 12 May 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : MY wife's doctor won't refill a levothyroxine 112 mcg until she comes in and her appointment is not until March 11 ...she had her thyroid taken out in July 2014 and she has been taking it every day. what could happen if she doesnt have it for a week or so?
Brief Answer:
Her TSH will go up
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thank you for the query.
Once you are hypothyroid, you should take levothyroxine till the day of blood test. Levothyroxine is the thyroid hormone replacement for the treatment of hypothyroidism. Once stopped the TSH (Blood test ) will go up and the doctor cant make the decision on what dose she should be on.
You should either purchase levothyroxine till the day of appointment or prepone the lab tests.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have ant further questions I will be happy to help you.
Regards,
Dr Ajish TP
Her TSH will go up
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thank you for the query.
Once you are hypothyroid, you should take levothyroxine till the day of blood test. Levothyroxine is the thyroid hormone replacement for the treatment of hypothyroidism. Once stopped the TSH (Blood test ) will go up and the doctor cant make the decision on what dose she should be on.
You should either purchase levothyroxine till the day of appointment or prepone the lab tests.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have ant further questions I will be happy to help you.
Regards,
Dr Ajish TP
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
But the doctor won't refill the prescription now. she will be out of it for about a week
Brief Answer:
Then do the thyroid function test before the medicine is over
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back. I understand your problem.
There is no alternative for hypothyroidism other than thyroxine. So she has to be on medications and blood test has to be done while on medications. One thing we can do is to request for the blood test before the medications are over so that we can have an idea on what dose she should be on.
If you don't have an option to do the TSH now or to refill the tablets, I suggest you to have the Levothyroxine spread over the remaining days so that she won't have much symptoms of hypothyroidism while stopping the drug. So if you have 20 days to go for doctor's appointment and you have only 10 tablets, take Levothyroxine on alternate days.
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Then do the thyroid function test before the medicine is over
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back. I understand your problem.
There is no alternative for hypothyroidism other than thyroxine. So she has to be on medications and blood test has to be done while on medications. One thing we can do is to request for the blood test before the medications are over so that we can have an idea on what dose she should be on.
If you don't have an option to do the TSH now or to refill the tablets, I suggest you to have the Levothyroxine spread over the remaining days so that she won't have much symptoms of hypothyroidism while stopping the drug. So if you have 20 days to go for doctor's appointment and you have only 10 tablets, take Levothyroxine on alternate days.
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
