Thyroid medications are used to treat different conditions, includinghypothyroidism(underactive thyroid),hyperthyroidism(overactive thyroid), andthyroid cancer.
Hypothyroidism is treated with hormone-replacement therapy.Synthroid(levothyroxine) is the most widely used drug for hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism is treated with anti-thyroid drugs, such as Tapazole (methimazole), or radioactive iodine. Beta-blockers are also used to relieve symptoms of an overactive thyroid.
In addition, people withthyroid cancermay require hormone-replacement therapy, radioactive iodine therapy, or chemotherapy.
This article explains how various thyroid conditions are treated and common thyroid medication names.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Hypothyroidism Medications
The role of the thyroid gland is to produce the hormonesthyroxine(T4) andtriiodothyronine(T3). These thyroid hormones regulate everything from heart rate and body temperature to respiratory function and menstrual cycles.
When the thyroid is underactive, it is called hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland may become underactive for numerous reasons, including:
When your thyroid is underactive, it produces insufficient thyroid hormone. This deficiency leads to varioussymptomsthat affect one or more organ systems. Symptoms can range in severity from mild to debilitating.
Treatment Goals
To restore sufficient thyroid hormone levels in the body, people with hypothyroidism usually take thyroid hormone replacement medication. However, medication may not always be necessary for some circumstances, such as when an underactive thyroid gland is transient (temporary).
There are four main goals of thyroid hormone replacement medication:
Taking Hypothyroidism Drugs Properly
Levothyroxine
Levothyroxine—also called l-thyroxine and L-T4—isa synthetic form of the T4 (thyroxine) hormone. T4 is the storage hormone, which your body must convert into T3, the active hormone, for your cells to use.
Levothyroxine is the first-line treatment drug for treating hypothyroidism.In the United States, brand names include:
Liothyronine
Liothyronineisa synthetic form of T3 (triiodothyronine). Brand names of liothyronine in the United States are Cytomel and Triostat.
For the most part, experts recommend T4-monotherapy (treatment with only T4) and not combination T4/T3 therapy for treating hypothyroidism. Therefore, healthcare providers do not commonly prescribe this medication.
Research is ongoing about whethercombination T4/T3 therapymay benefit a subgroup of people with hypothyroidism who have a specific genetic mutation.
What Are the Stages of Thyroid Cancer?
Natural Desiccated Thyroid
Naturaldesiccatedthyroid—also known as NDT, natural thyroid, or porcine thyroid—is a prescription drug derived from the dried thyroid glands of pigs. NDT contains both T4 and T3.
Common brands are Armour Thyroid and Nature-throid. A generic is also available.
Mostendocrinologists(doctors specializing in hormone-related conditions) do not support or prescribe natural desiccated thyroid drugs. That is because they are combination drugs and the ratio of T4 to T3 in animals does not match the ratio in humans.That said, certain select people may respond well to NDT.
How Hypothyroidism Is Treated
Hyperthyroidism Medications
Hyperthyroidism means the thyroid gland is overactive, producing too much thyroid hormone. There are multiple causes of hyperthyroidism, including:
Moreover, a phase of Hashimoto’s disease can also cause hyperthyroidism in the same way it causes hypothyroidism.
The treatment of hyperthyroidism with Grave’s disease or hit nodules is generally more complex than hypothyroidism, requiring one or more of the following treatments:
The only medications for hyperthyroidism are anti-thyroid drugs. There are currently two approved for treating hyperthyroidism in the United States.
Tapazole (methimazole)
The anti-thyroid drug Tapazole inhibits the thyroid from using iodine—usually from the diet—to produce thyroid hormone. You generally take this medication once a day.
Tapazole has fewer side effects and reverses hyperthyroidism more quickly than PTU. Its effectiveness makes it the preferred anti-thyroid drug choice.
Propylthiouracil (PTU)
Like Tapazole, PTU inhibits the thyroid gland from using iodine. Thus, it slows the overproduction of thyroid hormone. It also inhibits the conversion of the thyroid hormone T4 into T3.
PTU has a short-acting timespan. That means people taking this medication usually need to take the drug two to threetimes per dayto effectively lower thyroid hormone levels.
PTU has more side effects than other anti-thyroid drugs. Therefore, it is the preferred drug for hyperthyroidism only in a few situations, including:
Beta-Blockers
Beta-blockers, like Inderal (propranolol), block beta receptors that bind epinephrine (adrenaline). They are most commonly used for heart conditions and to prevent heart attacks.
Other beta-blockers used for hyperthyroidism include Corgard (nadolol) and Lopressor (metoprolol).
With thyroid conditions, beta-blockers do not “treat” hyperthyroidism but rather reduce the body’s symptoms of excess thyroid hormone like a fast heart rate, tremors, and anxiety.
What to Know About Hyperthyroidism Treatment
Thyroid Cancer Medications
The primarytreatment for most thyroid cancersis surgical thyroid removal. Sometimes removal involves the entire thyroid gland (total thyroidectomy) or just a lobe of the thyroid gland (lobectomy).
After surgery, you will require thyroid hormone replacement medication (levothyroxine) to replace thyroid hormone production and suppress tumor regrowth. Other medications used to treat thyroid cancer include chemotherapy, radioactive-iodine therapy, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Levothyroxine after thyroid removal is used just as it is for other cases of underactive thyroid. Depending on the extent of the disease and your risk for recurrent thyroid cancer, a healthcare provider will determine what range TSH should be suppressed and adjust the levothyroxine accordingly.
Suppression of the TSH is important for preventing the cancer from returning.
Radioactive-Iodine Therapy
Sometimes radioactive-iodine therapy may be given after surgery. Circumstances in which it may be indicated include:
Radioactive iodine is given in a hospital setting in either liquid form or as a capsule. Its main goal is to kill off cancer cells after surgery and destroy any remaining thyroid tissue.
Chemotherapy
Targeted Therapies
Scientists have developed several “targeted therapies”—drugs that target specific markers on cancer cells. Some of these drugs treat advanced or resistant thyroid cancer.
Targeted therapies called kinase inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors are used for treating thyroid cancer. These medications include:
These medications partially block thyroid cancers from growing and making new blood vessels.
Summary
The right thyroid medication for you depends on your diagnosis.
Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is treated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy, often a synthetic form of T4, T3, or a combination of T4/T3.
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) is treated with anti-thyroid medications that inhibit the thyroid from using iodine. In addition, beta-blockers are sometimes prescribed to minimize hyperthyroid symptoms, like a fast heart rate.
Thyroid cancers usually require surgical thyroid removal. Afterward, treatment may involve levothyroxine, radioactive iodine therapy, or targeted therapies.
A Word From Verywell
Keep in mind that as you continue on your thyroid journey, you are not alone—and most of the time, thyroid conditions are managed well. Don’t hesitate to update your healthcare provider on how you are feeling. There are many cases in which a person might benefit from anadjusted doseor even a drug change.
Thyroid Disease Healthcare Provider Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
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9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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McAninch EA, Bianco AC.The History and Future of Treatment of Hypothyroidism.Annals of Internal Medicine. August 11, 2016;164(1):50-56. doi: 10.7326/M15-1799
Nygaard B, Jensen EW, Kvetny J, Jarløv A, Faber J.Effect of Combination Therapy with Thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3'-Triiodothyronine Versus T4 Monotherapy in Patients with Hypothyroidism, a Double-Blind, Randomised Cross-over Study.European Journal of Endocrinology.December 2009;161(6):895-902.
Ross DS. (2017).Treatment of primary hypothyroidism in adults. In: UpToDate, Cooper, DS (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA.
Schmidt U, Nygaard B, Jensen EQ, Kvetny J, Jarlov A, Faber J.Peripheral markers of thyroid function: the effect of T4 monotherapy vs T4/T3 combination therapy in hypothyroid subjects in a randomized crossover study.Endocr Connect. 2013 Mar 1;2(1):55-60. doi: 10.1530/EC-12-0064
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