Make Your Thyroid Medication Work Better

This video outlines how to optimize your thyroid medication so that you can get back to feeling 100%. There's no question that many thyroid patients continue to suffer with low thyroid symptoms despite taking their thyroid medication faithfully.

As a result, this has prompted some thyroid patients to believe that perhaps the issue is related to the treatments for hypothyroidism. I've been getting a lot questions asking me when will new types of treatments for thyroid disease become available.

Unfortunately, this type of thinking is not really the right way to look at the problem. Yes, there are a lot of thyroid patients suffering but it's not necessarily of available treatments and more an issue of how they are using those treatments.

When you look at thyroid medications you will find that every single one is bio-identical to your thyroid. In other words, that means that all thyroid medications look identical to the thyroid hormone that your body produces naturally.

In other words, the treatments are pretty good. The issue stems from how you take it.

If you aren't feeling well then you can consider making these changes to optimize your thyroid medication:

#1. Change the type of thyroid medication that you are taking.
Many thyroid patients are only aware of levothyroxine and synthyroid but there are many subcategories of thyroid medication including:
T4 only thyroid medications.
T4 + T3 combinations of thyroid medications.
NDT formulations.
And T3 only medications.

#2. Change how you take your thyroid medication.
There are 3 different ways that you can take your thyroid medication including:
Orally (swallowing your pill)
Sublingually (dissolving your medication under your tongue)
Injection form (taking your thyroid medication via injection)

#3. Change the time of day that you take your thyroid medication.
You can take your thyroid medication at different times of the day including:
In the morning
In the evening
Splitting your dose and taking it multiple times throughout the day
Alternate daily total doses of your medication

#4. Change your dose of thyroid medication.
Lastly, you can adjust your thyroid medication either up or down. If you do this make sure you wait at least 4-6 weeks to determine if it has worked for you!

Recommended thyroid supplements to enhance thyroid function:

See ALL of my specialized supplements including protein powders, thyroid supplements, and weight loss products here:

Want more from my blog? I have more than 400+ well-researched blog posts on thyroid management, hormone balancing, weight loss, and more. See all blog posts here:

Disclaimer:

This video is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Childs and you. You should not make any changes to your medications or health regimens without first consulting a physician. If you have any questions please consult with your current primary care provider. Restart Medical LLC and Dr. Westin Childs are not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this website or video.
#thyroid #hypothyroidism #hashimoto's

[buckeyelady]

If ONE endocrinologist would open an office JUST for thyroid patients, and he/she was open to all various medications and trial and error and just worked w/a patient to make them feel better, that Endo would be packed M-F.. The fact is, endos are the absolute worst. Seriously, it's doctors like you that are making a difference for the better in peoples lives. Keep up the good work and I hope one day you'll practice again.

[nancyadams]

I just love how you explain so clearly and understandable! You should teach Drs who never explain. This was so Helpful! Thank you so much!

[melissanative]

I SURE WISH EVERY DOCTOR WAS LIKE YOU!!! I HAVEN'T HAD ONE DOCTOR EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO TAKE MEDICINE. THEY ARE SO INCOMPETENT!

[thomasamodeo]

Been taking Levothyroxine or Synthroid for years. Every doctor never bothered to say when to take the medication. Taking it with the other medications never seemed to be a problem. I started to watch these videos when they first appeared. It was recommended that you take your Thyroid medication one hour before any other medication, caffeine and food. It sounded logical. Let me add that at the time I was not doing well with side effects from the wrong dose of the Levothyroxine. Further research and videos on the conditions pointed to the strength of the Levothyroxine. So, I tried taking the medication a few hours before I took any other medication or food or caffeine.
Don't laugh. I started taking my Levothyroxine when I got up to pee in the middle of the night! That's about 2 to 3 AM. Within a few weeks of this routine, I began to feel better. The big puzzle was the fact that I was feeling much better, but my test results showed problems. As the months have gone by, I feel much better. But the numbers in my tests seem to tell a different story. The doctor told me to get the bloodwork done at an independent lab because the lab used by his office was part of the service he worked for and their problems with test results are many. I am waiting for the results before my doctor officially retires in a few days. Now I have another problem before me. I have to break in a new doctor!

[mickkali]

Very eye opening and helpful information!! I am 65 and have been on thyroid medication for 25 years. Dealing with low energy and other symptoms for several years. Thyroid related possibly🤔 I am going to talk to my doctor and send her this video. Hopefully she’ll listen:) TY🙏

[yvonnestewart]

So blessed by all the time you give and all your knowledge & wisdom you share. A huge Thank You!!

[kopsie]

Not recommending this for everyone but went off Syntroid in Nov and started Dr Childs T3 Conversion and Adrenal Reset. Not out of the woods, but feel SOOO MUCH BETTER!!! TY DR CHILDS!!!

[buckeyelady]

I've tried many diff Levos but have never found one suitable. Synthroid was the worst because it made me feel down and blue at various times of the day. Switching helped. I knew it was Synthroid because it was the 1st med the dr. gave me and I hated it. Was awful, so another dr. told me to try something else and it def helped. But recently tried it again because I'd fallen ill w/o knowing why and no dr. could figure out but it threw me off my thyroid medication badly. I tried to stay steady on Synthroid, but no more. The mental blues it gave me had to be stopped. I also tried Tirosint but it made me feel very jittery and painful joints. It also made me zone out for the 1st 15-30 min of taking it in the morning. Couldn't take it anymore. But it did make me feel better in the evening. ?? IDK why. I'm in the midst of experimenting so this video is much appreciated just to see what you think. My next step is to try T4/T3 combo but I need to get some help w/that. I'm so sensitive to thyroid medication, it's unreal. I fear the rest of my life will be spent trying to manage this. I want to remain hopeful, but sometimes it's hard to do.

[CMKA]

My thyroid medication didn’t work until I switched to taking it at night & I immediately began losing stubborn weight.

[mariannethornberg]

Thank you so much Dr. Westin Childs for your commitment that makes a difference ❤
How long does it take - before/after taking medication (natural and synthetic) - before you can eat? 🥦
Thank you in advance and have a fantastic, fun, optimally healthy and adventurous day 😀

[llamattude]

I think I have mine optimized. Thanks to Dr. Child's other video started treating my IBS and that helped a lot. Feel better than have in a long time. Only thing not helped is the weight is still hanging on. I do not eat a lot nor do I eat a lot of junk food. In fact I was gluten free, dairy free, sugar free working at a place that did not support that diet nor did I get breaks so one maybe two meals a day on this diet and gained 77 lbs. in like a week or two.

[adelinematusiak]

I cannot take Levothyroxine it caused me a trip to ER with Heart Failure. I did complain to my Endo that I wasn’t feeling good. I just had my thyroid removed due to non cancerous goiter going into my chest and at that time my heart and BP were fine. But after surgery I was placed on high dose of Levothyroxine 100mg but also on high dose of Calcium for 4 weeks. Then stayed on the high dose of meds and had blood tests which were good but I had very high BP …palpitations..lowered dose to 88mg and still did NOT feel good. Changed Drs. And asked to be put back on Armour. Feel much better..but sense dose needs to go up a little. I’m 74 years old … and with Armour my BP WENT DOWN substantially. I have more energy..my cardiologist is happy.

[kelleystout]

​DR. WESTIN CHILDS....
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's 27 years ago at the age of 18 after a very difficult delivery of my son. I was told that my body attacked my thyroid and killed it while in labor from being under so much stress. I have been treated with only unithroid all of these years, and my doses have fluctuated from 200mcg up to 300mcg. My PCP's office has never been able to get my THS levels within the "normal" range, but close enough for them to be satisfied; despite the fact that I have had barely any energy, have had a ton of excess weight, and have had Insomnia & diarrhea issues for the last 27 years. I have continuously & repeatedly asked to see a specialist/endocrinologist to try and get some resemblance of my life back, but they keep denying me. And I have an HMO for insurance, so I am not allowed to go see ANY doctor without an insurance referral from my PCP's office. They won't even let me make an appointment over the phone unless I have the approved referral # for them to verify first. Meanwhile, I have zero energy as a mother for my little one & my PCP's office won't help me. I've been trying to find a new PCP for a year & ½ with no luck. A PCP taking on new patients in Boston is unheard of since Covid. I'm hoping & praying that you can offer me some, any advise. I literally have no clue what I can do. I have diarrhea about 10-14 times a day, and I have no clue how that is possible because I really only eat one sit-down meal a day; which is dinner. I have to have an MRCP every 3 months because they are watching a cyst on the head of my pancreas closely to make sure it doesn't grow/ change to cancer, as that is exactly how I lost my mother in her 50's. So they are trying to make sure history doesn't repeat itself with me. But I have been having these MRCPs for 9 months now, and every report reads that I now have a fatty liver/stage 1 cirrhosis of the liver, as well as a gallbladder full of gallstones. But every time I ask my PCP if we need to do anything about either, she tells me that they are not anything we need to worry about. Would it be these things causing all of the diarrhea, or is it the unstable Hashimoto's? Or could it be both? And can they really refuse to let me see an endocrinologist? They just keep telling me that endocrinology has no reason to see me, as they are working on getting my TSH stabilized. But honestly, they've been working on it for years now. What can I do as the patient??? Please advise?? I am so desperate!!! I basically live in my bed & my bathroom and barely have the energy to get back and forth between the two!!🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😢😢😢

[michellelees]

I love the way you explain it and u understand what patients are feeling and going through. Most dr’s don’t go into detail or want to treat with combo t3 and t4 but I believe I would benefit from that method

[bronwenbell]

Thanks to your advice I split my 100 mg levothyroxine into 2 doses and I no longer get the palpitations and shakes that I used to get after taking it all as one dose for a couple of hours. Plus my energy lasts better during the day bless you

[johnutube]

Taking synthroid since seven years first thing in the morning orally. Doctor has reduced it three times starting 135 to 125 and now 112 as I lose weight due to resistance training and calorie restriction for dealing with prediabetes successfully. Not going to change anything as of now as the blood results are just fine and am doing well.

[marilynbeach]

Dr. WESTINi have insomnia, if I take my Tirosint 137mg at 4:00 how do I go back to sleep. What do you suggest. I been talking 5 mg. Melatonin and sometimes 10 mg a night . I have lost alot of my hair balding most of eyebrows gone and eyelashes

[Amber_]

Thank you Dr Childs. With great efforts, I am finally on t4/T3. It is very hard to do that in UK since T3 is not possible on NHS.

[karinbiow]

Hi, thanks so much for these informative videos! I just discovered that I have Hashimoto’s, though I think it is in the beginning phase. My TSH is over 5, but T3 and 4 are still normal. My antibodies, however, are out of the park. So far, my weight (110) has not been a concern, but my energy has been quite low, and I have had IBS for many years. I just started taking levothyroxine 50mcg, and liothyronine 5mcg a week ago, and went completely off gluten. One week in, I have started to have hot flashes and a feeling of nervousness that is very uncomfortable. (It’s not menopause—I’m 73.) Also, my IBS seemed worse yesterday, but better today. Is all of this just my body regulating itself, and I should just ride out the fluctuations? My new dr (functional) suggested I stop the T3 if I’m uncomfortable until I see her in two weeks, but I’m wondering if I should just wait this out a bit and just stick with the original dosing. I’ve been dosing at 5-6 am, but am tempted to try dosing in the middle of the night when I always wake up, or at 11 before I go to bed. Would love your perspective. Thank you.

[sarahgoings]

I didnt know you could take levo sublingually! When I was on ndt thats how I took it but I moved so I cant see that dr anymore and havent found anyone to prescribe that here so its back to levo. Definitely going to try it sublingually (hopefully it doesnt taste awful lol) THANK YOU