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Hover over the question to see the answer. 

Is hormonal treatment required after any thyroid surgery?

Our body absolutely needs thyroid hormones. If there is not enough functional glandular parenchyma remaining or if the gland is of poor quality, hormonal treatment will be implemented using synthetic Thyroxine (T4) which acts exactly like the natural hormone.
Analyzing the TSH level will allow your doctor to adjust the dosage of Thyroxine.

How is the dosage of Thyroxine chosen?

At the start of treatment with Thyroxine, the dosage is determined taking into account age, weight and any associated diseases.
Monitoring symptoms and measuring TSH will help determine if treatment is appropriate or if it needs to be adjusted.

What treatment should you take?

There are many pharmaceutical preparations that all contain the same synthetic hormone (Thyroxine or T4). They are differentiated by inactive excipients but which can interfere with the tolerance of the drug and in particular with its absorption by the digestive system.
If you change the product, you must inform your doctor.

How should you take your thyroid hormone treatment?

Taking the treatment is easy and is done once a day due to the long persistence in the body of the hormones absorbed.
It is important to take your treatment on an empty stomach, either in the morning or at bedtime.
Indeed, mixing with food can disrupt the absorption of the medication.

Do thyroid hormones interfere with other medications?

If you take other medications, it is sometimes necessary to adjust the dose of thyroid hormones.
It is important to inform your doctor of all other medications taken (hormonal-contraceptive treatments, analgesics, antacids, anti-cholesterol, etc.).

When to take T3 (Cynomel)?

T3 is the most active product on the different organs and it mainly comes from the transformation of T4. It has a short lifespan and is therefore less easy to take than T4 and can cause more side effects such as palpitations, anxiety or insomnia.

Should we combine T4 and T3?

Some medicinal preparations combine T3 and T4 (in France it is Euthyral). They are more difficult to use and your doctor will only use them in very special cases.

What are the possible side effects of thyroid hormone treatment?

Thyroid hormones are taken by several million people in France with very good overall tolerance.
In the event of symptoms associated with taking treatment, it is first necessary to check that the dosage is well suited to the patient's needs (TSH dosage and clinical examination).
Levothyroxine (T4) is the only active ingredient and is common to all preparations. The tablets incorporate other substances to promote the preservation of the product and its absorption by the digestive tract.
Dosage adjustment is individual and requires careful clinical and biological monitoring because the patient may be sensitive to small variations.

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