Goiter Medication

Updated: Feb 07, 2022
  • Author: James R Mulinda, MD, FACP; Chief Editor: Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP  more...
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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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