Treatment of Thyroid Disorders

Thyroid disease can be treated with medication alone or with surgery, radioactive iodine or a combination of these treatments. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is treated with thyroid replacement therapy. A synthetic hormone is taken daily to increase the amount of thyroid hormone in a person's body. The drug most health care providers prescribe is levothyroxine sodium. This is the same hormone the thyroid normally makes. Treatment for hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) aims to decrease the amount of thyroid hormone in a person's body. This is done through medications that block the formation and release of thyroid hormone into the body or with radioactive iodine treatment, which destroys the overactive thyroid tissue. Surgery can also be done to remove part or all of the thyroid gland, but this is usually done to remove a nodule rather than to treat overactive thyroid. If you have ever had a thyroid disorder, it is important to check your thyroid levels with your health care provider on a regular basis.