TSH Suppression

TSH Suppression General Information

The medical phrase “TSH Suppression” is known to refer to a common treatment course that is prescribed to patients who are suffering from differentiated thyroid cancer. The cancer of the thyroid gland refers to 4 types of malignant tumors that can affect this organ: papillary, medullary, follicular, or anaplastic tumors. The most common malignant formations are of follicular or of papillary nature. Although their growth rate is quite slow, they commonly recur. However, such tumors are generally not fatal in the case of individuals who are younger than 45. If a patient has been diagnosed with medullary tumors, they should know that they have good a prognosis if they do not reach metastasis (if they only affect the patient’s thyroid).

The severest types of tumors are the anaplastic tumors – they present a poor response to therapy and have a fast growth rate. The presence of thyroid nodules is detected through fine needle aspiration guided by ultrasound (USG/FNA); a proper diagnosis can also be placed through thyroidectomy (this medical procedure implies the surgical removal of thyroid tissue, which is then subjected to medical – histological examination). The most common treatment courses that are prescribed to patients who are suffering from thyroid cancer include the administration of radioactive iodine, undergoing thyroxine therapy or TSH suppression.

In most cases, the first symptom that announces the presence of thyroid cancer is the presence of a nodule that appears in the patient’s neck, at the thyroid region. Although many adult individuals present small nodules in their thyroid glands, only 5% or less of these individuals present malignant nodules. Such individuals will probably develop an abnormally enlarged lymph nodule. The symptoms that develop at a later stage of such a condition include voice changes and pain that is located in the anterior regions of the patient’s neck.

TSH Suppression

Individuals who have to undergo TSH Suppression in order to deal with differentiated cancer of the thyroid gland take a daily dose of levothyroxine (a thyroid hormone replacement medication). TSH Suppression is meant to keep the patient safe from experiencing an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and to prevent the recurrence or the growth of their cancerous condition. Patients who follow such a suppression therapy generally receive a dose of T4 (levothyroxine) that is large enough to lower the blood levels of TSH below the normal (healthy range). This type of clinical trial is generally employed in medical cases in which the patient presents a very aggressive thyroid tumor or an active tumor of the thyroid. Such a therapy is administered after the patient has already undergone treatment with radioactive iodine. Furthermore, individuals who have undergone thyroid gland removal will have to follow TSH Suppression therapy for as long as they live.

The medication (levothyroxine) is needed in order for the patient to be kept healthy; it should be ingested on an empty stomach. In most cases, this type of drug must not be administered along with other medications, as there are various types of clinical remedies that are able to severely interact with the thyroid hormone, thus entering the patient’s blood stream. Even common clinical remedies, such as vitamin or mineral supplements can interact with levothyroxine in this way. In the early stages of the patient’s TSH Suppression course, individuals who are at a high risk should not be prescribed more than 0.1 mU/L of levothyroxine. Those who are considered low-risk individuals can be prescribed between 0.1 and 0.5 mU/L of this medication.

In case the patient is to undergo long term management with such a treatment there are special dosing recommendations which should be taken into consideration. For example, individuals who have been diagnosed with a persistent form of thyroid disorder should use 0.1 mU/L of this product, for an indefinite period of time (as long as no specific contra-indications develop). Patients who do not clinically present a disorder, but who are at a high risk of developing such a medical condition should be treated with 0.1-0.5 mU/L of levothyroxine (the active component of the medical products employed in the case of such a suppression therapy) – the therapy span in such cases is between 5 and 10 years.  

The information with which we have provided you here is not complete and it cannot replace the professional expertise of a well trained medical provider. You should refer to your health care specialist whenever you have any questions concerning your TSH Suppression therapy. You can also ask a pharmacist or a nurse for further information or instructions that are related to your thyroid therapy course.

TSH Suppression Treatment

Almost all medical products that are employed in such a therapy (TSH Suppression) are based on the active ingredient of levothyroxine. There are numerous medical brands that manufacture such clinical remedies, and for this reason, it is impossible to provide you with a complete list of the names of the medicines that can be employed for such a clinical purpose. In most cases, the patient is recommended to avoid switching brands of medication, as the same dose of different clinical remedies can have different clinical results (it can trigger various TSH levels). A patient can change brands if he or she undergoes a re-test of their blood before doing so. This matter should be thoroughly discussed with the patient’s medical specialist. Some of the most popular medicines that can be employed in TSH Suppression therapy include Armour Thyroid, Levothroid, Cytomel, Levoxyl, Thyrolar, Synthroid, and so on.

The adequate use of all your prescribed doses of your prescribed clinical remedy should help you reduce the amount of TSH that is found in your body. This will stop your thyroid gland from growing – in some cases, even the nodules on the thyroid stop growing due to this form of therapy. You should know that apart from their expected, beneficial results, therapy courses with such clinical remedies can trigger a set of unpleasant adverse reactions. The side effects that have been associated with the intake of such medical products include the following symptoms: diarrhea, headache, weight loss, appetite changes, excessive sweating, irritability, anxiety, arrhythmia, osteoporosis, etc.