What to do if you have accidentally taken two thyroid pills? 

What to do if you have accidentally taken two thyroid pills? 

If you have accidentally taken two Levothyroxine tablets and you feel unusual, call your local emergency helpline and seek immediate medical attention. 

Although doubling the dose of your thyroid medicine will not likely cause significant side effects, it may affect some people more than others. Even if it does cause some side effects, you will most likely not need treatment for them. 

Potential side effects of taking two thyroid pills

You may experience the following side effects after accidentally taking two thyroid pills. These include (1):

  • Nausea 
  • Vomiting 
  • Headache 
  • Rapid heartbeat or Tachycardia 
  • Excessive sweating 
  • Chest pain
  • Nervousness 
  • Joint pain

These side effects can vary from person to person and depend on the dose that you have accidentally doubled. Levothyroxine is prescribed in micrograms and the dose is calculated on the basis of an individual’s body weight. 

Since it is a potent medication, a slight change in dose can cause side effects, which may not necessarily hit you right away. In some cases of Levothyroxine overdose, the side effects started to appear within a few days. 

So, if you can’t remember whether you have taken your thyroid pill and you end up taking an extra dose don’t worry. It will not significantly affect your health. However, if you do feel unusual, talk to your healthcare provider. 

Final words

To sum up, taking an extra thyroid pill will not lead to life-threatening consequences, but it should be avoided. People are different and they have different factors affecting their health. 

Even though the majority of people won’t experience many side effects, some people may respond negatively. This is why you need to make sure that you stick to your doctor’s recommended dose and do not take any more than that. 

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References

1.-

MedlinePlus. Levothyroxine: MedlinePlus drug information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2022 Feb 15; cited 2022 Dec 30]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682461.html