Discharge Instructions for Hypothyroidism and Myxedema

Medicine

Take your thyroid hormone medicine exactly as directed. You will take this medicine for the rest of your life.

• Take your medicine at the same time each day.

• Keep your pills in a container that is labeled with the days of the week. This will help you know if you’ve taken your medicine each day.

• Take your medicine with a full glass of water on an empty stomach. Take it at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before you eat breakfast. Or at bedtime, take it at least 3 hours after eating.

• Don't take calcium or iron within 4 hours of taking your thyroid medicine. And ask your healthcare provider about taking other medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements with your thyroid pill.

• Keep taking your medicine if you get pregnant. Many women need more thyroid medicine during pregnancy. Your provider may raise your dose.

• Your provider will regularly check your thyroid hormone levels with blood tests. If your dose is changed, you will often have lab work in 4 to 6 weeks. This is to be sure the new dose is right for you.

• Always tell your providers of any changes in your other medicines. This includes estrogens, testosterone, opioids, heart medicines, and anti-seizure medicines. These changes may affect your thyroid hormone levels.

• Never stop treatment on your own. If you do, your symptoms will come back.

Other home care

• During your routine visits, tell your healthcare provider about any signs of too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism), such as:

  • Restlessness

  • Rapid weight loss

  • Sweating

  • Fast heartbeat (palpitations)

• Eat a high-fiber, low-calorie diet. This can help ease constipation. It can also help you stay at a healthy weight.

• Exercise. Start slow, by walking 5 to 15 minutes each day. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises that adults with chronic conditions or disabilities, who are able, should do:

  • At least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) to 300 minutes (5 hours) a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity

  • Or 75 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes) to 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity

  • Or an equal mix of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. This can be done in 10-minute periods during the day.

• Hypothyroidism is linked to higher cholesterol and a higher risk of heart disease. Correcting this problem generally improves cholesterol levels. Talk with your healthcare provider about a healthy lifestyle.

To learn more

The resources below can help you learn more:

• American Thyroid Association at www.thyroid.org or 703-998-8890

• Hormone Health Network at www.hormone.org or 800-467-6663

Follow-up care

Follow-up with your healthcare provider, or as advised.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if any of the following occur:

• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)

• Puffy hands, face, or feet

• Irregular heartbeat

• Confusion

• Rapid weight loss or weight gain