These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.
Thyroid Drugs
Question: My question is about generic/brand Synthroid. Is the brand better because it has better production of the drug? How do increased hormonal levels while on BCP affect the thyroid hormone functioning?
Answer: Synthroid is the brand name for levothyroxine. This has been available for several years as a generic equivalent. The brand name does not appear to be clinically different compared to the generic drug. Thyroid drug dosages are increased or decreased depending on the serum level of the drug. This is usually measured by measuring Throtropin Stimulating Hormone(TSH). Consequently, when a patient is receiving insufficient drug the level is increased and vice versa. It may be that the bioavailability of the generic drug is less or more than the brand name, but this will be corrected by measuring your body’s response to the drug. It is a good idea to keep on the same brand of drug, brand or generic, since the bioavailability of the drug is usually maintained quite closely by the manufacturer. Consequently, using the generic drug does not appear to be a problem unless one keeps shifting manufacturers. I would recommend that if generic is used that one use the same manufacturer for long periods of time. This is also a drug that has a small difference in price between brand name and generic than other drugs. This may influence your decision.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Question: What causes this condition? Why would it occur in a thirteen-year old girl?
Answer: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid. It is one of the most common diseases of the thyroid. Since it is autoimmune in nature, it tends to run in families. Patients with Hashimoto’s typically have a goiter or enlargement of their thyroid gland and it is the most common cause of goiter in children. Autoimmune disorders all have in common the production of anti-bodies directed against ones own organs. In Hashimoto’s, the production of antibodies, called antithyroglobulin antibodies, reflect the inflammation and destruction of the thyroid.
Thyroid Symptoms
Question: I have a few subtle symptoms which recently increased. I am a 42 year old female who has always had an intollerance for heat, which has increased, always was thin, and now have to deal with losing weight. My heart occasionally has an irregular rhythm, and my hair is thinning at an alarming rate!
There are thyroid problems in my immediate family. Are my symptoms similar in nature to one with a malfunctioning thyroid?
Answer: Certainly all the symptoms that you cite could be due to thyroid malfunction. Simple tests by your physician can determine if your thyroid is acting normally. A very good bedside test for an overactive thyroid is one’s pulse rate. For young people it is almost always rapid with hyperthyroid problems. This is not always true for older individuals, but should be at your age. If your thyroid is normal other medical problems could explain each symptom individually.
