My mom had goiter when she was in her 20's. I would imagine then she had hyperthyroidism because she was losing weight. Anyways, it was so enlarged that she came to a point where she couldn't swallow or breathe. She went to the Emergency and they removed some of it.
Since then she has been on medication. It is called Synthroid but the real name is
Levothyroxine Sodium .075 mg. I looked up some info on it and found it is given for Hypothyroidism ? Just wondering if this medication can be safely replaced by Kelp/iodine ? My mother does have insomnia problems, can't help but wonder if it's because of this medication....


Levothyroxine sodium
How does it work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient levothyroxine sodium (previously known simply as thyroxine sodium in the UK). It is the same as the hormone thyroxine, which is produced by the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland produces and releases two hormones: thyroxine and liothyronine. In other areas of the body, thyroxine is subsequently converted into liothyronine, which is a more active form of thyroxine. These hormones are responsible for maintaining a normal rate of metabolism in the body. When the thyroid gland is unable to produce normal amounts of thyroxine, the level of thyroid hormones in the blood decreases (hypothyroidism). This results in a reduced rate of metabolism, leading to symptoms such as weight gain, intolerance to cold and tiredness. Levothyroxine tablets are given to replace the thyroxine that would normally be produced naturally by the thyroid gland. Once the thyroid gland becomes unable to produce thyroxine, it will generally not return to normal function. Therefore, once levothyroxine medicine is started, it usually needs to be taken for the rest of a person's life.
What is it used for?




Hypothyroidism
Warning!

Some medicines may interfere with any blood tests done to determine thyroid hormone levels (thyroid function tests). It is important to inform your doctor of all medicines you are taking prior to and at the time of blood tests.
Use with caution in

A disease in which an individual produces large amounts of dilute urine and is constantly thirsty (diabetes insipidus)
Any condition causing decreased function of the adrenal glands
Decreased production of all hormones produced by the pituitary (panhypopituitarism)
Diabetes mellitus
Elderly people
Heart disease
History of heart attack
Not to be used in




Thyrotoxicosis
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.



The safety of this medicine in pregnancy has not been established. It should therefore be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the benefits to the mother outweigh any risks to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
This medicine passes into breast milk. Seek medical advice from your doctor before using this medicine during breastfeeding.
Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.



Faster than normal heart beat (tachycardia)
Diarrhoea
Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)
Excitement
Shaking, usually of the hands (tremor)
Muscle cramps
Sweating
Muscle weakness
Awareness of your heart beat (heart palpitations)
Weight loss
Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)
Chest pain (angina)
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.