Exploring the Efficacy of Once and Twice Weekly Thyroxine Dosing: A Promising Approach for Hypothyroidism Management

MethodsThis was a single-center cohort study involving hypothyroid patients that was conducted over three years. In this study, standard daily, once and twice-weekly thyroxine dosing regimens were used to treat the patients. The effectiveness of the three dosage regimens was ascertained by whether the patients achieved a euthyroid state after six months of therapy.ResultsIn total, 328 hypothyroid cases due to thyroiditis were included in this study.

The average age of the cases was 42.7 years (14-92). Before thyroxine therapy, in the standard daily regimen group, the median level of TSH was 15.4 μIU/mL (IQR 23.1), in the once-weekly regimen group, the level was 9.2 μIU/mL (IQR 6.8), and in the twice-weekly regimen group, the level was 9.1 μIU/mL (IQR 7.3). After thyroxine intake and upon follow-up after 6 months, the TSH level decreased to 4.0 μIU/mL (IQR 3.7), 4.5 μIU/mL (IQR 4.9) and 4.2 μIU/mL (IQR 5.1) in the standard daily, once-and twice-weekly regimen groups, respectively.ConclusionOnce and twice weekly thyroxine shows promise as strategies for managing hypothyroidism.

However, variability in patients in response to weekly thyroxine needs to be taken into account.