Therapeutic recommendations in hypothyroidism

Thyroid hormones play a vital role in the human body and the absence of such hormones requires treatment. Hypothyroidism is the clinical expression of the insufficiency of thyroid hormone biosynthesis, its transport and/or reception, that leads to a general slowdown of metabolic processes. Levothyroxine has been available since the mid-19th century as a replacement for thyroid hormone deficiency. While levothyroxine remains the basic treatment for hypothyroidism to this day, its optimal use can be a challenge because the pharmacokinetics of levothyroxine are often poorly understood and a number of factors influence the optimal dosage of levothyroxine. This article will highlight the major concepts that should help clinicians, regarding the therapeutic recommendations in the treatment of hypothyroidism.