Levothyroxine Tablets

Levothyroxine is a thyroid hormone. This medication can improve symptoms of thyroid deficiency, such as slow-talking, lack of energy, weight gain, hair loss, dry skin, and unusual sensitivity to cold. It also serves to treat a disease called goiter (the enlargement of the thyroid gland). It is also used to treat some types of thyroid cancer along with surgery and other medications.

Synthetic levothyroxine containing Levothyroxine has an identical effect on the natural hormone secreted by the thyroid. The body is unable to distinguish between endogenous and exogenous levothyroxine. After the transformation of liothyronine (T3) in the liver and kidney, and after entering body cells, it develops its characteristic effects on development, growth, and metabolism, at the level of T3 receptors. The substitution of the thyroid hormone determines the normal functioning of metabolic processes. Therefore, if for example there is an increase in cholesterol due to hypothyroidism, it will be significantly reduced with the administration of levothyroxine.

Levothyroxine contains a thyroid hormone as the active substance.

The goal of treatment with Levothyroxine sodium Teva is to replace the thyroid hormone and/or relieve stress on the thyroid gland. Levothyroxine uses include being indicated in the:

• Substitution treatment of all forms of the hormone in case of malfunction of the thyroid gland,
• Prevention of recurrence of goiter after surgery in patients with normal thyroid function,
• Treatment of malignant goiter (benign tumor) in patients with normal thyroid function,
• In combination with antithyroid agents for excess thyroid hormones, after reaching a normal metabolic level,
• Treatment of malignant thyroid tumors, especially after surgery to suppress the growth of a new tumor and as a supplement to the lack of thyroid hormones

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Your doctor will determine your individual dose from the tests and lab tests that have been done.

If any residual thyroid function remains, a low dose of thyroid hormone will suffice.

When starting treatment, special caution is required in elderly patients, patients with heart failure, and patients with severe or long-lasting thyroid hypofunction. This means that you start with a low dose that will be increased slowly and over long intervals of time, with frequent laboratory tests. It has also been shown that in patients with low body weight and with large goiters it is necessary to start with low doses.

The recommended levothyroxine dosage

For individual treatment, the tablets are available in different doses from 25 to 200 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium. In most cases, only one tablet will be taken per day.

Adults with thyroid hypofunction (hypothyroidism) will start with 25-50 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium daily (equivalent to 25-50 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium). This dose will be increased following the doctor's instructions by 25-50 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium (equivalent to half a tablet to 1 tablet) at intervals of 2 to 4 weeks, up to a daily dose of 100 to 200 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium.

To prevent recurrence of the goiter after surgery and to treat benign goiter, 75-200 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium will be taken daily.

As an accompaniment to antithyroid treatment in case of thyroid hyperfunction, 50-100 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium will be taken daily.

Following thyroid gland surgery for malignant thyroid tumors, the daily dose is 150-300 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium.

The tablet can be divided into equal doses.

In general, treatment is started with a low dose that will be increased in adults and for treatment in children. 

Use in children

In newborns and babies with hypothyroidism, for whom it is important to start treatment as soon as possible to achieve normal mental and physical development, the recommended starting dose is 10 to 15 micrograms per Kg of body weight for the first 3 months. Thereafter, your doctor will adjust the dose individually.

Children with acquired hypothyroidism will start with a maximum daily dose of 12.5-50 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium; This dose will be increased slowly and at long intervals, following the doctor's instructions. The dose for long-term treatment will depend on the age and bodyweight of the child.

Administration form

Take a single dose a day on an empty stomach in the morning, at least half an hour before breakfast, as the active substance is better absorbed on an empty stomach than before or after meals. The tablets should be swallowed whole without chewing, preferably with a little liquid, for example with half a glass of water.

Children can take the entire daily dose at least half an hour before the first meal of the day. Immediately before taking, crush the tablet and mix it with a little water and give it to the child with a little more liquid. Always prepare the mixture at the time of taking it.

Treatment duration

Your doctor will indicate the duration of your treatment with Levothyroxine sodium Teva 50 micrograms.

If you have thyroid hypofunction or have undergone surgery for a malignant thyroid tumor, you will take levothyroxine throughout your life.

To prevent the recurrence of the goiter after surgery and to treat benign goiter, the necessary duration of treatment is 6 months to 2 years for the rest of your life.

Concomitant treatment of hyperthyroidism is indicated during the period in which the antithyroid drug is administered.

For the treatment of benign goiter with a normalized thyroid function, the necessary duration of treatment is from 6 months to 2 years. If treatment with Levothyroxine sodium Teva does not produce the expected result in this time period, other treatments should be considered.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

All medications can cause serious allergic reactions, although allergic reactions are rare. Any sudden wheezing, shortness of breath, swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, mouth or throat, rash or itching (especially if it affects the whole body) should be reported to a doctor immediately. If the administered dose is not tolerated or the dose is too high, typical symptoms of thyroid hyperfunction may appear, particularly if the dose is rapidly increased at the start of treatment.

The following section details the known Levothyroxine side effects:

• headache, flushing, excessive sweating, edema
• weightloss,
• tremor, restlessness, excitability,
• insomnia
• tachycardia or angina (chest pain with tightness),
• heart rhythm disturbances, palpitations,
• high blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure, heart attack,
• difficulty breathing (dyspnea),
• increased appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain,
• angioedema, rash, hives,
• muscle weakness and muscle cramps,
• fever,
• heat intolerance,
• mild hair loss in children,
• In women, menstruation disorders.

Levothyroxine Interactions:

Antidiabetics:

Levothyroxine can reduce the hypoglycemic efficacy of antidiabetics. Therefore, in diabetic patients, blood glucose levels should be regularly monitored, especially when starting replacement therapy with thyroid hormone, adjusting the dose of the antidiabetic if necessary.

Coumarin derivatives:

Thyroid hormones can enhance the action of concomitantly administered anticoagulants since levothyroxine displaces anticoagulants from their binding to plasma proteins. Therefore, regular monitoring of coagulation is necessary in case of concomitant treatment, adjusting, if necessary, the dosage of the anticoagulant (dose reduction).

Ion exchange resins:

Ion exchange resins such as cholestyramine, colestipol, sevelamer, calcium salts, and sodium salts of polystyrene sulfonic acid inhibit the absorption of levothyroxine. Therefore, these drugs should not be administered until at least 4-5 hours have elapsed since the administration of Levothyroxine.

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