Thyroxine - side effects of this drug are largely at high doses, as well as in the elderly and in patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. An exception may be only allergic reactions. However, taking thyroxine without prescription in any case impossible.

The main effect of thyroxine

Thyroxine - is iodine-containing thyroid hormone. In medicine, for the treatment of certain diseases applies L-thyroxine - a synthetic analogue of the natural thyroxine. He acts the same way as thyroxine, produced by the thyroid gland.

After entering the tissue thyroxine partially converted into other iodine-containing hormone - triiodothyronine, has an active effect on all types of metabolism and function of many organs.

Apply a L-thyroxine with a significant decrease in thyroid function or after its removal, as well as thyroid tissue growth without increasing its function (euthyroid goitre). Sometimes it designate also diseases associated with increased thyroid function, such as thyrotoxicosis - in this case, pre-treatment is carried out, the vast iodinated hormone secretion. The use of thyroxine in this case contributes to suppression of pituitary thyroid stimulating hormone, which stimulates the production of thyroxine own.

Do all you can to make a L-thyroxine?

No, this drug has a number of contraindications. In the first place - is the body's hypersensitivity to the drug - allergic reactions. In addition, L-thyroxine is contraindicated in untreated thyrotoxicosis when the blood contains large amounts of iodine-containing thyroid hormones - it is very dangerous, as possible signs of overdose. The same can occur when assigning L-thyroxine Thyroxine - the main thyroid hormone   untreated patients with adrenal insufficiency.

Contraindication to taking the drug can also be a variety of causes of the violation of absorption in the small intestine, simple sugars.

With caution, starting with low doses, a L-thyroxine is prescribed for diseases of the cardiovascular system, especially if these diseases are associated with blood circulation in the coronary arteries that feed the heart muscle. Caution in use of the drug is required as diabetes, severe long-existing hypothyroidism and malabsorption syndrome - malabsorption of nutrients in the small intestine.

Can I use a L-thyroxine during pregnancy and lactation?

Not only possible, but necessary. In addition, during pregnancy, increase the daily dosage of drug, because in this condition there is a large number of blood proteins, thyroxine-binding.

During feeding baby Breastfeeding - a personal choice   feeding can take the usual dose of L-thyroxine, as it does not exert any adverse effect on the infant.

Side effects of L-thyroxine and overdose

If you use this drug at the recommended doses, the side effects do not appear. Exceptions are allergic reactions - still a L-thyroxine - is a synthetic drug which also contains adjuvants.

First of all - these are symptoms of overload the cardiovascular system: tachycardia, various types of heart rhythm disturbances, increased blood pressure, aching pain in the heart Pain in the heart - always consult a doctor   or attacks of acute heart pain (angina associated with spasms of the coronary arteries).

Disrupted function of the central nervous system: the patient becomes restless, irritable, sometimes aggressive or tearful. It increases the level of anxiety Anxiety - how to distinguish normal from disease? Develops insomnia, tremors appear, and sometimes the entire body can appear excessive sweating, increased appetite during weight loss, diarrhea.

When these symptoms should immediately stop taking the drug and contact your doctor. A doctor in his assignment focuses on the patient's condition. If all symptoms of overdose pronounced, then further treatment occasion in the hospital. If the patient's condition allows, it is left to the out-patient treatment and thus temporarily canceled a L-thyroxine or reduce its dosage. Sometimes the patient requires prescription drugs relieve symptoms of hyperthyroidism (eg, beta-blockers).

Galina Romanenko

Carbohydrate metabolism

Carbohydrates are a source of energy - the fuel by which the body supports all life processes. But carbohydrates can be helpful and harmful. By harmful carbohydrates are those which are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and provide an excess of sugar in it. Excess sugar is harmful to the body, as the strain causes the pancreas, which produces insulin, a hormone necessary for the absorption of sugar. At constant overload of secretory activity of the pancreas can be broken - is the first step to diabetes. For harmful or carbohydrate includes all foods containing simple sugars - they do not need pre-conversion process. This sugar, honey, jam, pastry and so on.

The main source of useful and complex carbohydrates are vegetables. They are absorbed into the blood slowly and steadily restock blood glucose without straining the pancreas and as a source of long-term energy intake. The slow flow of the blood sugar is provided by the fact that complex carbohydrates must first become a simple, but the process is rather slow. Glucose, which is derived from complex carbohydrates and not go to the direct production of energy deposited in the depot as energy reserves (glycogen) in the liver (this adds depot when reducing sugar in the blood) and muscles (muscle glycogen used during muscular work). If enough body glycogen, excess glucose enters the blood is converted into fat, which is deposited in tissues.

Normally, in the liquid portion of blood (plasma) fasting contained 3, 5 - 6, 1 mmol / l of sugar.

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia - a high content of sugar in the blood plasma. The rise in blood sugar can occur and is a normal adaptive response, providing the delivery of energy to the fabric as it increased spending, such as enhanced muscle activity, fear, excitement, pain, and so on. But this rise is not usually lasts a long time and is connected with the load.

Long-term hyperglycemia is a significant increase in the concentration of glucose Glucose: The energy source In which the rate at which blood sugar exceeds its rate of assimilation, typical for endocrine diseases and can have negative consequences in terms of destruction of insular apparatus of the pancreas, and the excretion of glucose in the urine.

Mild hyperglycemia body practically does not suffer, but a significant increase in blood sugar the patient begins to feel very thirsty, drink a lot and urine (and with it, and sugar), skin and mucous membranes had become dry. This condition can lead to what is joined nausea, vomiting, lethargy, drowsiness, loss of consciousness - begins hyperglycemic coma, cause the death of the patient.

Hyperglycemia is characteristic of endocrine diseases (diabetes, increased thyroid function, diseases of the hypothalamus - an area of ​​the brain responsible for the work of the endocrine glands), certain liver diseases.

Prolonged hyperglycemia causes a persistent violation of the metabolic processes that shows weakness, impaired immunity (permanent inflammatory processes), sexual dysfunction, circulatory disturbance tissues.

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia - a decrease in sugar content in the blood plasma. In healthy people, hypoglycemia is less common than hyperglycemia. Alimentary (due to malnutrition) hypoglycemia can occur when an overvoltage insular apparatus of the pancreas, for example, when consuming large amounts of sweet food. In this case, the pancreas is running at maximum capacity, the amount allocated to insulin The principles of action of insulin - the science of saving lives   increases, all the glucose absorbed by the tissues and comes hypoglycemia.

Permanent hypoglycemia may occur at various pancreatic diseases associated with the growth of its tissues, including cells that produce insulin (eg different tumors), with severe liver diseases with abnormal processes of absorption and release into the blood of glycogen, kidney diseases, adrenal , the hypothalamus.

By reducing blood sugar Lowering blood sugar - not as good as it seems   the person has a severe weakness, sweating, tremors in the hands, legs and the whole body, an overwhelming feeling of hunger, palpitation, fear of death, which is accompanied by increased excitability and mental disorders, which may occur after the loss of consciousness. This condition is called hypoglycemic coma. Patients prone to hypoglycemia, must carry candy and take them at the first sign of hypoglycemia Lowered blood sugar - hypoglycemia signs .