Levothyroxine Replacement Therapy and Overuse: A Timely Diagnostic Approach

Abstract

These findings suggest considerable overuse of thyroxine therapy. The results underline the initial need to establish the diagnosis firmly before treatment initiation and to undertake periodic evaluation of all patients on chronic LT4 treatment as to the necessity for treatment continuation. In all patients on long-term LT4 therapy in whom the diagnosis has not been definitively established, it appears rational to introduce a six- to eight-week period of LT4 replacement therapy discontinuation, preceded and followed by TSH tests, as the first-line approach-a procedure that could be implemented as part of a common strategy among the scientific community to decrease current LT4 overuse.