Should a Woman Take Thyroid Hormone Replacement Medication While Breastfeeding?
Should a Woman Take Thyroid Hormone Replacement Medication While Breastfeeding?Many women wonder if they should continue taking prescribed thyroid hormone replacement drugs, such as Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Armour, Thyrolar, or generic levothyroxine, when breastfeeding. Some women worry, in particular, because nursing mothers are told not to take any medications while breastfeeding.Answer: A women who is hypothyroid and taking thyroid hormone medication should continue taking her medication as prescribed. Stopping thyroid hormone, or taking less than prescribed, is not recommended, because not only is that insufficient treatment for hypothyroidism, and puts the woman at risk of various symptoms and side effects of hypothyroidism, but proper thyroid hormone replacement is actually necessary for normal lactation and to maintain a sufficient milk supply. Thyroid hormone replacement, when taken at the prescribed dosage level to maintain the mother’s thyroid at a normal level, crosse
