Q. A 35-year-old female presents to the clinic with fatigue, constipation, and weight gain symptoms. She reports that she has been feeling this way for several months and is concerned that she may have a thyroid problem. On physical examination, the patient has a heart rate of 62 bpm, blood pressure of 135/85 mmHg, and a body mass index of 27 kg/m2. Laboratory tests reveal an elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone level of 10.2 mIU/L and a low free thyroxine level of 0.8 ng/dL. Which of the following is the best choice for the management of this patient?