Tips for medications for fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism

Tips for medications for fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia, which often occur at the same time, have many symptoms in common. Extreme fatigue, depression, muscle pain, cold body temperature and foggy thinking are the primary symptoms shared between these two conditions.

While experts have not yet agreed on the cause of fibromyalgia, some believe that, like many cases of hypothyroidism, it is an autoimmune disease. Underactive metabolism is a commonly suggested link between fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism.

Many people with fibromyalgia take thyroid medications to regulate metabolism. The difference between feeling good and feeling bad lies in the following thyroid medication variables:

Take the right recipe

Maximizing the effectiveness of your medications

Take the right recipe

The tests used to evaluate the thyroid and their subsequent prescriptions can vary greatly depending on the doctor. The thyroid hormones identified by the medical community as responsible for most cases of thyroid dysfunction are thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T3 and T4. The relationship between these substances is complex and is constantly being investigated and questioned. The “gold standard” for assessing thyroid function is measuring TSH. If this test comes back with a normal lab value, many doctors remove hypothyroidism from the list of possible diagnoses.

If a TSH level is normal and yet all the classic signs of hypothyroidism are detected (hair loss, headaches, weight gain, brittle nails, fatigue, cold body temperature, etc.), some informed doctors will conduct further testing. According to respected integrative medicine physician Eric Gordon, MD, the most accurate way to comprehensively assess thyroid health is to test TSH, free T3 and free T4 levels. It is typical for doctors to bypass checking free (currently unbound) T3 levels because the body converts them to T4. However, Gordon points out that without including the free T3 assessment, there is no way to determine whether the body is performing this conversion properly. According to Gordon: "If you have signs of low thyroid function, your free T3 will be low even though your TSH is 'normal.' The TSH only shows what's going on in your hypothalamus, not in your liver or elsewhere in your body."

During stressful times, our bodies naturally produce reverse T3. In a healthy, properly functioning body, after the stressor ends, the body stops performing reverse T3 and normal T4 conversion to T3 continues. However, some experts have observed individuals who continue to produce reverse T3, triggering the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Given the possible variability of hypothyroidism, getting the correct prescription is critical to the person's recovery. Most people convert T3 to T4 effortlessly. These individuals may simply need to be supplemented with T4 (Synthroid). However, certain individuals may require both T4 with T3 or just T3 to achieve the ideal thyroid hormone balance. Finding the right medication at the best dosage often requires repeated doctor visits and blood tests to refine your prescription. Working with your doctor to explore all of these options can help ensure you are taking the right medications at the best dosage possible.

Maximizing the effectiveness of your medications

A majority of us take nutritional supplements on a daily basis in conjunction with prescribed medications to maintain our health. A typical morning for people with fibromyalgia consists not only of breakfast, but also vitamins, minerals, herbs, and prescribed medications. Remembering what to take and when to take it can be overwhelming for anyone taking a variety of pills, especially if that person is struggling with fibro fog. A majority of us take nutritional supplements on a daily basis in conjunction with prescribed medications to maintain our health. A typical morning for people with fibromyalgia consists not only of breakfast, but also vitamins, minerals, herbs, and prescribed medications. Remembering what to take and when to take it can be overwhelming for anyone taking a variety of pills, especially if that person is struggling with fibro fog.

Highly respected patient advocate and writer Mary Shomon shares the following suggestions for taking thyroid medication:

1. Always check the recipe with what you receive. Do not allow generic substitutions as their ingredients may vary slightly.

2. Most doctors recommend taking thyroid hormones on an empty stomach to allow for maximum absorption.

3. Many doctors recommend taking thyroid hormones at least an hour before eating to ensure maximum absorption.

4. Be consistent about a high-fiber diet. If you start or stop eating high-fiber foods, check your thyroid again as this may change your absorption.

5. Many experts recommend taking vitamins or iron supplements for at least two to three hours alongside your thyroid hormones. Iron can interfere with the absorption of thyroid hormones if taken too close together.

6. Be careful if you take anything with calcium at the same time as thyroid hormones, including calcium-fortified orange juice. Leave at least two to three hours apart to avoid affecting absorption.

7. Do not take antacids within two hours of thyroid hormones. Leave at least two to three hours apart to avoid affecting absorption.

8. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible interactions of prescription medications, herbs, and supplements with your thyroid medications. Some of the more well-known thyroid drug interactions include antidepressants, insulin, cholesterol-lowering medications, and blood thinners. These interactions could cause the thyroid medication to become more or less effective and/or the other medication to become more or less effective.

9. Do not stop taking thyroid hormone while pregnant or breastfeeding. It is necessary for you and your baby's health. Talk to your doctor about adjusting the correct dosage.

Deanna Couras Goodson http://www.suite101.com/ adds some more valuable suggestions for taking thyroid medication. During hypothyroidism or a fibromyalgia flare-up, struggling with memory is a very real and present problem. Because it's important to stick to your thyroid medication dosage, Goodson recommends:

1. Write down a reminder to take your thyroid medication on a calendar, to-do list, or another place you visit frequently.

2. Use modern technology to remind you to take your thyroid medication. Examples include creating a screen saver or scheduling pop-up reminders on your computer or personal digital assistant (PDA).

3. Take your medications at the same time every day and keep them in a place that reminds you to take them. An example of this is keeping the medication next to your toothbrush so that it is automatically included in your morning routine.

Because finding the right balance of thyroid medications is so important to recovery from hypothyroidism, anything that affects that balance needs to be stabilized. Ensuring you take the right medications at the right dosages can significantly improve quality of life. For the many people with fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism, proper treatment with thyroid medication can make living with these two conditions comfortable by warming the body and increasing energy levels while reducing muscle pain and fibro fog.

This article was prepared for FibroManage.com. Visit us to learn more about fibromyalgia symptoms [http://fibromanage.com/symptoms.htm] and the benefits of natural and conventional remedies [http://www.fibromanage.com/conventional.htm].

References:

http://www.ericgordonmd.com, Gordon, Eric, MD, on Liver, Thyroid, and Toxicity.

http://www.suite101.com/, Goodson, Deanna Couras, Hypothyroidism.

http://www.thyroid.about.com/, Shomon, Mary, How to Take Your Thyroid Medication.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/, Shomon, Mary, Thyroid Medications: Frequently Asked Questions About Food, Drug, and Supplement Interactions.

Inspired by Nicole Cutler