Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using synthroid as follows:

Cardiac abnormalities

• Individuals with synthroid intake can present with palpitations, very rapid heart rate with increased contraction of heart, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertrophy of cardiac muscle, eventually compromising the cardiac function and pumping of blood to all the vital organs of the body.

Osteoporosis

• Prolonged synthroid use can result in increased rate of overall metabolism and consequently, contribute to rapid bone turn over, leading to bone demineralization, loss of bone density, thus increasing the risk for osteoporosis and pathological fractures of skeleton.
• The risk for osteoporosis is very high in senior citizens, especially women in the menopausal age group due to lack of estrogens.
• Periodical labs and administration of calcium supplements can help prevent demineralization of bone and development of osteoporosis and pathological fractures.

Muscle weakness

Synthroid intake can sometimes result in excessive increase in muscle metabolism and activity, thus contributing to muscle weakness, cramps, exhaustion, and grossly reduced exercise tolerance.

Central nervous system effects

Synthroid intake can sometimes result in overstimulation of cells of the nervous system and lead to rapid reflexes, racing thoughts, mood swings, nervousness, irritability, headache, and seizures.