Primary hypothyroidism treatment

Your MinuteClinic provider can discuss your symptoms and health history. They can order tests and prescribe an appropriate treatment plan.

1. You may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit prior to scheduling your appointment.

2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment:

   If you made your appointment online:
   Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.

   If you made your appointment in the clinic:
   Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

   If you made a MinuteClinic Virtual Care® appointment:
   To join your virtual visit, use the link in the email or text message we sent you to confirm your appointment. Please join 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. You will need your date of birth and ZIP code to join the visit.

3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

The most common cause is an autoimmune disorder known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis (or Hashimoto’s disease). People with this disorder have an immune system that attacks itself. Specifically, their immune system creates antibodies that attacks their own thyroid gland. As a result, white blood cells and scar tissue overrun normal, healthy thyroid cells, causing the thyroid to become underactive.

Other causes of hypothyroidism include:

• Hypothyroidism at birth (congenital hypothyroidism)
• Damage caused by medications containing oxcarbazepine, amiodarone or lithium
• Damage to the pituitary gland
• Damage to the thyroid caused by radiation treatments
• Surgical removal of the thyroid gland due to thyroid nodules, Graves' disease or thyroid cancer
• Too little or too much iodine in the body

Your symptoms, age and general health determine your treatment plan. The severity of your condition determines which type of thyroid medication you're prescribed and how long your treatment lasts. The goal is to return your thyroid hormone levels to normal.

Some treatment plans may require medication by mouth every day. This could include taking levothyroxine, a synthetic thyroid hormone. Levothyroxine is used to restore your hormones to adequate levels for proper functioning and reverses hypothyroidism symptoms. Throughout treatment, your provider will monitor you to ensure you're getting the right amount of medicine. You might also need adjustments during your treatment.

Some people need to take levothyroxine for the rest of their life. If so, the dosage might change, becoming lower as the body recovers. In this case, your health care provider might want to monitor you and check your TSH levels annually.

They evaluate symptoms and can conduct lab tests such as a thyroid stimulation test.

Many patients begin to feel better a few days after starting treatment.

If left untreated, what are the possible side effects of primary hypothyroidism?

• Birth defects
• Goiter (a swelling on the neck that can affect your appearance or may interfere with breathing and/or swallowing)
• Heart problems
• Infertility
• Mental health issues
• Myxedema (a rare, life-threatening condition that presents as an intense intolerance of cold, drowsiness and profound lethargy or unconsciousness)
• Peripheral neuropathy (a condition that can cause pain, numbness or tingling in the limbs)