If you’re taking thyroid medications, it’s likely you need to take it daily for a lifetime. However, life can sometimes get the best of you that you might forget taking a pill or two. What happens, then? Do the symptoms come rushing back in—the fatigue, mood swings, and weight gain?
Your thyroid medication is important but missing a pill doesn’t mean everything will be in chaos then. What really happens when you miss your meds?
What Forgetting Your Thyroid Meds Means
Thyroid meds need to be taken at the same time every day. Why? It helps maintain the homeostasis in the body. If you’ve been taking thyroid meds for years now and you miss a pill, it’s likely you won’t notice any significant changes.
This is because the medicine has a long half-life, which means that it takes a while for the body to get rid of the medicine.
On the other hand, if you’re only starting your prescription and still finding the right dosage and you missed one, this will be a bit problematic. During this time, you and your doctor are working closely together to find the right amount for your body. When you miss a dose, it can mess up the progress you’ve made so far and it can even interfere with your lab results.
Knowing What to Do When You Miss a Dose
Don’t panic. The best thing to do here is to take it as soon as you remember it. However, if you remember it close to the time of your next dose, it’s best to skip it instead and just take the dose for that day.
You should also think about when you will take it. Thyroid medicines should not be taken with meals, other medicines or supplements because they may affect the absorption of the thyroid medication.
In case you have missed two or more pills in a row, you will need to let your doctor know so they can help you with the best plan to get back on track.
Don’t Miss a Single Dose Ever Again
Missing a single dose when you’re starting with your thyroid medications may set you back to step one, and that’s something you don’t want to happen. That’s why you should make an effort not to miss another one anymore.
You can do this by sticking to a schedule that works for you. Also, put the meds in a place where you can easily see it so you don’t forget. A pillbox can do wonders as well, even if you only have one medication.
Additionally, you can set a reminder on your phone so you will be notified when it’s time to take your meds. That way, you lower the chances of missing your medication again.
Conclusion
Thyroid meds are crucial to be taken every day, so it’s important you don’t miss a single dose as much as possible. You can use these tips to help you remember and ensure you’re on the right track.
You can use My Medication, a simple-to-use app for taking medicine. Our cloud-based medication management system will help you never miss a single dose again. Download it today.