Does Hashimoto's Disease Go away on Its Own?

I was just diagnosed with Hashimoto thyroiditis after a bad flare up, and I’ve started taking hormone replacements to get my hormone levels back on track. I really don’t want to be on thyroid medication for the rest of my life. Is there a cure for Hashimoto? Can Hashimoto’s thyroiditis go away by itself?

Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder that is the most common cause of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and it does not go away on its own.

Hashimoto’s disease cannot be cured but it can be treated by taking levothyroxine, a form of thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone replacement is typically taken for the rest of your life.

If untreated Hashimoto’s disease can lead to other health problems, including high cholesterol, infertility, miscarriage, and birth defects in babies born to women with the disease. In severe cases, underactive thyroid that results from Hashimoto’s disease can cause heart failure, seizures, coma, and even death.

For more information, read our full medical article on Hashimoto's disease.