They're not a drug, they're the same as the hormones your body makes. And starting them doesn't necessarily mean you have to take them forever; if your thyroid improves you can always go off of them. But you'll have no idea how great you could feel until you try them.
Your arthritis could be caused by low thyroid. Low thyroid also increases your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, as well as causes fatigue, depression, low energy, weight gain ..... Lots of things you don't want.
Try taking the thyroid hormone, it can be seriously life altering.
