I recently received a question from a reader that I would love to share. In the following letter, she asked me how to wean off thyroid medications. I answer her question and explain important things you need to consider if this is your goal. If you’ve been wondering how to wean off levothyroxine and other drugs, this post is for you.
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My question is, do you in any way advise that Hashimoto’s people come off or wean off their thyroid extract as they heal and feel better?
This is something that I always feel afraid to do, but it seems a double-edged sword as I am also concerned my thyroid gland may atrophy due to being on hormone support for so long.
I would really appreciate your advice on these questions!
Many thanks,
Stacey
This is a great question and one that comes up quite a bit.
The idea of being forced to take a pill for the rest of one’s life could certainly be seen as a loss of freedom. However, for many, it is possible to learn how to wean off or get off of thyroid medications naturally, including Levothyroxine and other drugs.
Roughly 25% of people with Hypothyroidism from Hashimoto’s typically have the condition reversed due to sheer luck. 20 to 30% tend to have their thyroid gland destroyed and left unable to make much of any hormone at all.
So roughly half the people with Hashimoto’s end up with a thyroid gland that functions normally but is at risk of slowing.
Those numbers come from studies tracking people who take new special steps to improve their situation. It is possible that the odds are even better for those who avoid iodine, stay caught up on sleep, use desiccated thyroid, get enough selenium and Vitamin D, and minimize processed foods.
I put together The Thyroid Beginner Training Series for those who want more details on how to get off thyroid medications naturally. My program may be essential for getting your thyroid to work by itself again.
The more hormones your thyroid currently makes, the better its chances of making more.
One way to determine how much hormone your thyroid produces is to compare your medication dosage to your body’s total needs.
The average woman who had her thyroid removed WILL require about 1.5 to 2.0 grains of desiccated thyroid to have stable levels. This is roughly the same as 150 to 200 µg of a T4 medicine like Synthroid.
If you have a thyroid gland, learning how to get off or wean yourself off thyroid medications naturally, including Synthroid or Levothyroxine, may be in your best interest.
If you take one-half of a grain and your thyroid levels are stable, your thyroid still makes about 2/3 to 3/4 of what your body needs by itself. On the other hand, if you need two grains to be stable, your thyroid is not likely to make much by itself.
Knowing how to get off thyroid medications naturally is one thing, knowing if it is possible in your case is another.
So how do you know when it may be possible?
I recommend decreasing your thyroid medicine if your thyroid shows signs of getting stronger. You would have stable blood levels on a dose and over time, start seeing signs on future tests that the dose is now more than you need.
Your blood levels show a combination of thyroid hormones from your medication and from what your body makes by itself.
If the total amount goes up but the amount of thyroid medication does not change, your gland is getting stronger and it is time to decrease the dosage.
If you are thinking about how to get off thyroid medications naturally, or how to wean off levothyroxine or another medication, use extreme care.
If you lower your dose before your gland is ready, your TSH will elevate, putting even more pressure on your gland to work harder, which will lower its odds of getting healthy again.
If you’re curious about the status of your thyroid, I’d love to share the perfect first step. That’s taking the Thyroid Quiz.
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P.S. Whenever you are ready, here is how I can help you now:
Not every patient can learn how to get off thyroid medication naturally. However, many can, and Dr. C has helped thousands with proven naturopathic methods.
Dr. Alan Glen Christianson (Dr. C) is a board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist, and the author of The NY Times bestselling Adrenal Reset Diet, Metabolism Reset Diet, Thyroid Reset Diet, and the Healing Hormone Cookbook.
Dr. C’s gift for figuring out what really works has helped hundreds of thousands of people reverse thyroid disease, lose weight, address diabetes symptoms, and regain energy. He can show you how to wean off thyroid medications like Levothyroxine and even teach you how to get off other thyroid medications naturally. It could mean less money spent on prescriptions and less wear and tear on your body – a win-win!
Learn more about Dr. C and the surprising story that started his quest.
Dr. Alan Christianson
Alan Christianson is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD) who is a board-certified Naturopathic Endocrinologist with a focus on thyroid disorders. He is the author of The Metabolism Reset Diet and the New York Times bestselling book The Adrenal Reset Diet.
He founded Integrative Health, a physician group dedicated to helping people with thyroid disease and weight-loss resistance regain their health.
He has been named a Top Doctor in Phoenix magazine and has appeared on national TV shows and in numerous print media.
Dr. Christianson resides in the woods by a lake in Northern Minnesota with his wife Kirin.
