Medication
Medication Summary
The goals of pharmacotherapy are to reduce morbidity and to prevent complications.
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Thyroid hormone replacements
Class Summary
Benign goiters can be treated with thyroid hormone. The most widely used thyroid hormone is levothyroxine sodium, administered once a day. Liothyronine sodium requires more frequent administration. Desiccated thyroid powder, thyroglobulin, and liotrix are less predictable following ingestion.
Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid)
Synthetic thyroxine is converted to the active form, triiodothyronine by 5'-deiodinase. Within the pituitary, type-II deiodinase helps convert T4 to T3, which in turn regulates TSH production, the main growth factor for the thyroid gland.
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Media Gallery
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Patient with a goiter. Prominent side-view outline.
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Thyroid nuclear scan of a patient with a euthyroid goiter showing different projections.
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