How long can you go without thyroid medication?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Ranjith Darla

General Practitioner

MBBS
3+ Yrs

Consult Now

The half-life (time taken for amount of drug in your body to be reduced by half) of levothyroxine is 6 - 7 days in euthyroid, 9 - 10 days in hypothyroid and 3 - 4 days in hyperthyroid. So, it would take few weeks for your body to get rid of the thyroid medication. But you may start to experience symptoms within first week of not taking medication. Moreover, once you restart the medication it will take 3 - 5 days for it to start the action and almost few weeks to reach maximum effect. In all this time, you need to suffer from the symptoms. Hence, it's safer to take medications regularly and monitor thyroid levels.

Dr. Ranjith Suggests...

Consult a Endocrinologist

Find a Endocrinologist

Answered 04/07/2025

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I'm wondering if I need to be on an empty stomach for a thyroid test. Can you advise on this?

Yes on empty stomach

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

I've been struggling with diabetic ulcers on both feet for the past 4 years and no doctor has been able to cure it completely. In 2013 they had to remove the middle finger of my right foot due to severe damage. Now my thumb is dislocated from the imbalance and keeps creating wounds, making it hard to walk long distances. I feel really frustrated that no doctor has been able to help. What can I do to first heal these foot ulcers and later get plastic surgery to fix my dislocated thumb? Recently there was pus so the doctor gave me IV antibiotics twice daily for 5 days but it didn't help. My average sugar is around 220 and now I'm taking ferobact 200 mg twice a day for 5 days as advised. Why isn't anything working for me?

plastic sx review for further tt is advised.

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

I'm a 17-year-old guy and I'm really concerned because my left nipple is totally normal, but my right one is really big, like even bigger than some women's. I'm not sure what to do about it. Can you give me some advice?

kindly consult a surgeon for further treatment

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

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Disclaimer: Answers on Apollo 247 are not intended to replace your doctor advice. Always seek help of a professional doctor in case of an medical emergency or ailment.