Levothyroxine Use During Pregnancy

Safety and Importance

• The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that levothyroxine is safe during pregnancy and should not be discontinued, as untreated hypothyroidism can lead to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes 1

Dosage Adjustments

• According to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, levothyroxine dosage needs to be adjusted for proper neurologic development of the fetus 2

Monitoring Protocol

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends checking thyroid function tests every 4-6 weeks during the first half of pregnancy and at least once during the second half, although this specific recommendation is from Praxis Medical Insights, a similar recommendation is not found from other sources 3

Special Considerations

• Women with hypothyroidism who are planning pregnancy should have their thyroid function optimized before conception, as recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians 1