When starting a patient with hypothyroidism on thyroid replacement hormones patient education would include:

Question

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Education should include that it may take 4 to 8 weeks for the patient to feel relief of symptoms and for laboratory testing to show improvement. This is important for managing patient expectations and preventing unnecessary dose adjustments or medication changes.

Answer: D
 Levothyroxine has a long half-life, however, due to its narrow therapeutic window, doses should not be missed to avoid fluctuating thyroid hormone levels which can affect symptom management and increase the risk of adverse effects. It is important for patients to understand the importance of adherence to their medication regimen.

Therefore, both options C and D are correct.

When Starting a Patient with Hypothyroidism on Thyroid Replacement Hormones