There is no cure for Hashimoto’s, but replacing hormones with medication can regulate hormone levels and restore your normal metabolism.
The pills are available in several different strengths. The exact dose your doctor prescribes will depend on a number of factors, including:
- Age
- Weight
- Severity of hypothyroidism
- Other health problems
- Other medicines that may interact with synthetic thyroid hormones
Once you start treatment, your doctor will order a lab test called a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test to monitor thyroid function and help ensure you are getting the right dose. Because thyroid hormones act very slowly in the body, it may take a few months for symptoms to go away and your goiter to shrink. However, large goiters that do not improve may make it necessary to remove the thyroid gland.