Synthroid is a thyroid medication used to treat symptoms of an enlarged thyroid gland. It is a manufactured form of the thyroid hormone and is commonly used to restore thyroxine levels in the body to sustain mental and physical activity.
Rise in the consumption of Synthroid
Synthroid is one of the most prescribed drugs, and there are several reasons for that; consumption of junk and less nutritious food has led to increased health issues, including thyroid-related issues. In addition to this, the use of Melatonin for insomniac patients to facilitate sleep leads to an enlarged thyroid gland. Melatonin is an essential component of the circadian rhythm that regulates the body’s needs for states of sleepiness and wakefulness, used for children and elderly; the two sensitive age groups; chances of use of this drug resulting in thyroid-related issues multiply.
The question arises, why do people prefer drugs like Synthroid over unconventional remedies?
The main reason being, it is readily available and is known to be more effective, giving a guaranteed response.
Side effects of Synthroid
However, the use of Synthroid might as well have a negative impact on one’s health. Its most common side-effects are:
Hair loss. Use of the hormone levothyroxine to medicate an underactive thyroid gland results in hair loss, which appears to be more common during the first month of using the drug. This hair loss is provisional and goes away as therapy continues and thyroid levels in the body stabilize.
Cognitive Impairment; having trouble paying attention, remembering, and concentrating. Abnormal thyroid levels in the body may lead to “Brain Fog”, which refers to a decrease in memory and other cognitive skills needed to perform routine activities of daily living. Memory retrieval deficits associated with hypothyroidism, like hair loss, generally appear to resolve as the medication continues.
Weight changes; In some cases, Synthroid may cause weight loss mainly because thyroid hormones are accountable for the body’s metabolism. Lack of hormone thyroxine in the body results in a metabolism slower than usual, which leads to weight gain. Using Synthroid maintains the levels of thyroxine in the body, keeping them within an acceptable range. The metabolism rate might increase, thus leading to weight loss.
Diarrhoea or constipation; Diarrhea is a possible side effect of Synthroid. But the percentage of people who might have experienced it from the intake of Synthroid is unknown. Constipation, on the other hand, is unlikely to be a side effect of Synthroid. However, it’s important to note that constipation may occur because of hypothyroidism, which Synthroid is used to treat. This happens because, with low thyroid hormone levels caused by hypothyroidism, digestion slows down, which leads to constipation.
Heart palpitations and anxiety; Heart palpitations may also be a result of excessive thyroxine in the body. If Synthroid is consumed in larger doses, too high for the body’s needs, thyroid hormone levels may become too high, and this could cause one to have heart palpitations. Similarly, anxiety may also occur if thyroid hormone levels are either too high or too low. So, changes in thyroid hormone levels may cause one to feel anxious or nervous.
Conclusion
To sum up, Synthroid is a medicinal drug, and its consumption rate has increased significantly over the past due to an increase in cases of thyroid-related issues. Along with having a positive effect on one’s health, it simultaneously affects it adversely, the side-effects ranging from hair loss to anxiety to muscle cramps.
