The thyroid, a gland located in the neck just below the voice box, is responsible for secreting hormones that are necessary to regulate many of the chemical functions throughout the body. When the thyroid is not functioning properly, either producing too much hormone or too little hormone, many organs including the brain, heart, liver, kidney and skin can be affected. There are several different types of thyroid medications available to treat thyroid dysfunction.
Synthetic Thyroid Hormone
Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is characterized by the thyroid's inability to produce adequate levels of hormones. This condition may not produce symptoms right away but over time, the lack of hormones can cause fatigue, sensitivity to cold, pale and dry skin, constipation and a puffy face. If left untreated the changes in metabolism can lead to obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease.
Patients suffering from hypothyroidism benefit from taking a synthetic thyroid hormone known as levothyroxine. Levothyroxine, also effective in managing thyroid cancers, helps the hormones in the body to get back into balance and within one to two week, according to the doctors at the Mayo Clinic, symptoms will begin to subside. Side effects including nervousness, weight loss, irritability, anxiety and rapid heart rate are rare and usually only occur when too much medication is taken.
Natural Thyroid Extracts
In addition to the synthetic thyroid hormone medications, there are natural thyroid medications available to treat hypothyroidism. These medications are manufactured according to the same standards, as mandated by the United States Pharmacopeia, the difference is that the hormone is a natural hormone that is extracted from pigs' thyroids instead of a chemical created in a laboratory.
The advantage to using natural thyroid extracts is that it contains both thyroxine (known as T4) and triiodothyronine (known as T3) which are two of the hormones produced by the thyroid. Synthetic thyroid hormone only contains thyroxine. Once in the body thyroxine (T4) is converted to triiodothyronine (T3), however some cases of hypothyroidism may be due to the body's inability to convert the T4 to T3. Natural thyroid extracts may therefore be a more effective treatment for those individuals.
Anti-Thyroid Medication
Hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid, involves the production of too much of the hormone thyroxine. Symptoms of this condition are sudden weight loss, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, nervousness, tremors, sweating and changes in bowel habits. Anti-thyroid medications including propylthioracil and methimazole are often prescribed to inhibit the production of the thyroid hormone. Side effects of these medications include skin rash, upset stomach and drowsiness.
Radioactive Iodine
Radioactive iodine, either dissolved in water or taken as a capsule, is often used to treat hyperthyroidism. The thyroid absorbs iodine so when the iodine is orally ingested it is absorbed into the stomach, enters the bloodstream and is carried to the thyroid. Once the iodine is in the thyroid it releases beta particles that interfere with the function of the cells in the thyroid resulting in less hormone production. The advantage of treating hyperthyroidism with radioactive iodine, according to the Diabetes and Hormone Center of the Pacific is that there are very few side effects that occur only infrequently.
