Levothyroxine: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects

Symptoms may not necessarily be evident or may not appear until several days after ingestion of levothyroxine sodium. Consumption of certain foods may affect SYNTHROID absorption thereby necessitating adjustments in dosing see Dosage and Administration (2.1). Soybean flour, cottonseed meal, walnuts, and dietary fiber may bind and decrease the absorption of SYNTHROID from the gastrointestinal tract.

Stop biotin and biotin-containing supplements for at least 2 days prior to thyroid testing.
Once the patient and I have decided that thyroid hormone replacement is necessary, we go over the specific reasons for choosing and writing Synthroid as that replacement therapy.
Primary hypothyroidism is basically diagnosed off of a screening TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone.
There are options available to assist the patient with cost concerns.

PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

So, getting the patients on the right dose, but maintaining them on the right dose, is also very important. Primary hypothyroidism is basically diagnosed off of a screening TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone. Do not share this medicine with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

Concurrent use of sympathomimetics and SYNTHROID may increase the effects of sympathomimetics or thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones may increase the risk of coronary insufficiency when sympathomimetic agents are administered to patients with coronary artery disease. Concurrent use of tricyclic (e.g., amitriptyline) or tetracyclic (e.g., maprotiline) antidepressants and SYNTHROID may increase the therapeutic and toxic effects of both drugs, possibly due to increased receptor sensitivity to catecholamines. Toxic effects may include increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias and central nervous system stimulation.

Careful dose titration is necessary to avoid the

Generally, thyroid replacement treatment is to be taken for life. SYNTHROID should not be used to treat noncancerous growths or enlargement of the thyroid in patients with normal iodine levels, or in cases of temporary hypothyroidism caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland (thyroiditis). Myxedema coma is a life-threatening emergency characterized by poor circulation and hypometabolism and may result in unpredictable absorption of levothyroxine sodium from the gastrointestinal tract. Use of oral thyroid hormone drug products is not recommended to treat myxedema coma. Administer thyroid hormone products formulated for intravenous administration to treat myxedema coma.

Therefore, a decrease in the dose of anticoagulant may be warranted with correction of the hypothyroid state or when the SYNTHROID dose is increased.
This is given as an injection into a vein by a healthcare provider and should only be used to treat myxedema coma.
Since postpartum TSH levels are similar to preconception values, the SYNTHROID dosage should return to the pre-pregnancy dose immediately after delivery see Dosage and Administration (2.3).
Tell your doctor if you have an untreated or uncontrolled adrenal gland disorder or any heart problems such as a recent heart attack.
Soybean flour, cottonseed meal, walnuts, and dietary fiber may bind and decrease the absorption of SYNTHROID from the gastrointestinal tract.

In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Oral levothyroxine sodium is a synthetic T4 hormone that exerts the same physiologic effect as endogenous T4, thereby maintaining normal T4 levels when a deficiency is present. Reduce the SYNTHROID dosage or discontinue temporarily if signs or symptoms of overdosage occur. Initiate appropriate supportive treatment as dictated by the patient’s medical status.

Many drugs and physiologic conditions affect the binding of thyroid hormones to serum proteins see DRUG INTERACTIONS. Thyroid hormones do not readily cross the placental barrier see Use In Specific Populations. Because of the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease among the elderly, initiate SYNTHROID at less than the full replacement dose see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS.

I review with the patients the important issues about how to take the medication, as consistency is really the key message.
To minimize the risk of hyperactivity, start at one-fourth the recommended full replacement dosage, and increase on a weekly basis by one-fourth the full recommended replacement dosage until the full recommended replacement dosage is reached.
Because of the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease among the elderly, initiate SYNTHROID at less than the full replacement dose see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS.
These include urticaria, pruritus, skin rash, flushing, angioedema, various gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), fever, arthralgia, serum sickness, and wheezing.

It’s very important to make sure that you write “Dispense as written,” or whatever state-specific language, on the prescription when you prescribe the medication. And to adjust the dose based on periodic assessment of the patient’s clinical response and their laboratory values. The second is that Synthroid has a history, as physicians have been treating patients with hypothyroidism with Synthroid for over 65 years. Dosing here should be individualized based on whether the patients were diagnosed with hypothyroidism prior to pregnancy or during the pregnancy. This is not an all-inclusive list of possible drug interactions, adverse effects, precautions, nursing considerations, or patient instructions.

Administration of sertraline in patients stabilized on SYNTHROID may result in increased SYNTHROID requirements. Therefore, a decrease in the dose of anticoagulant may be warranted with correction benzonatate synthroid of the hypothyroid state or when the SYNTHROID dose is increased. Closely monitor coagulation tests to permit appropriate and timely dosage adjustments. For pregnant patients with pre-existing hypothyroidism, measure serum TSH and free-T4 as soon as pregnancy is confirmed and, at minimum, during each trimester of pregnancy.

And SYNTHROID is contraindicated in patients who have uncorrected adrenal insufficiency. Because of the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease among the elderly, initiate SYNTHROID at less than the full replacement dose see Dosage and Administration (2.3) and Warnings and Precautions (5.2). Atrial fibrillation is the most common of the arrhythmias observed with levothyroxine overtreatment in the elderly. Over-treatment with levothyroxine may cause an increase in heart rate, cardiac wall thickness, and cardiac contractility and may precipitate angina or arrhythmias, particularly in patients with cardiovascular disease and in elderly patients. Initiate SYNTHROID therapy in this population at lower doses than those recommended in younger individuals or in patients without cardiac disease see Dosage and Administration (2.3) and Use in Specific Populations (8.5). TSH may not normalize in some patients due to in utero hypothyroidism causing a resetting of pituitary-thyroid feedback.

Patient Information for Synthroid

Eltroxin is used for hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, after thyroid removal, myxedema coma … Unithroid is used for hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, after thyroid removal, myxedema coma … Levoxyl treats hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) and treats or prevents goiter. NP Thyroid is used for hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, after thyroid removal, thyroid cancer … Tirosint is used for hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, after thyroid removal, myxedema coma …