Synthroid Levothyroxine Sodium: Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Interactions, Warnings

Thyroid hormones, including SYNTHROID, either alone or with other therapeutic agents, should not be used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss. In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction. Larger doses may produce serious or even life-threatening manifestations of toxicity, particularly when given in association with sympathomimetic amines such as those used for their anorectic effects.

• Monitor patients receiving concomitant SYNTHROID and sympathomimetic agents for signs and symptoms of coronary insufficiency.
• The major pathway of thyroid hormone metabolism is through sequential deiodination.
• 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 and Use In Specific Populations.

Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed. Patients need to feel comfortable to alert me of any changes in their status in terms of their symptoms. But also specific medical changes that may indicate there may be a need for a dose change or something that could have affected their thyroid hormone levels. The major pathway of thyroid hormone metabolism is through sequential deiodination. Approximately 80% of circulating T3 is derived from peripheral T4 by monodeiodination.

The signs and symptoms of overdosage are those of hyperthyroidism see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and Adverse Reactions. Seizures occurred in a 3-yearold child ingesting 3.6 mg of levothyroxine. Symptoms may not necessarily be evident or may not appear until several days after ingestion of levothyroxine sodium. Monitor for cardiac arrhythmias during surgical procedures in patients with coronary artery disease receiving suppressive SYNTHROID therapy. Monitor patients receiving concomitant SYNTHROID and sympathomimetic agents for signs and symptoms of coronary insufficiency. Pseudotumor cerebri and slipped capital femoral epiphysis have been reported in pediatric patients receiving levothyroxine therapy.

Acute Adrenal Crisis In Patients With Concomitant Adrenal Insufficiency

Check with your physician for additional information about side effects. When prescribing SYNTHROID, protecting your script can ensure your patients receive SYNTHROID every time they refill their prescription. SYNTHROID is not indicated for treatment of hypothyroidism during the recovery phase of subacute thyroiditis. They can have changes in the female hormone status, either going on or remeron synthroid off a birth control pill, going through menopause.

Does Synthroid interact with my other drugs?

Administer SYNTHROID at least 4 hours before or after drugs known to interfere with SYNTHROID absorption see DRUG INTERACTIONS. Our Synthroid Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication. Biochemical assessment incorporated measurement of serum TSH, T3, and T4. TSH lower limit of quantification was 0.2 mIU/L and upper limit of normal was 5.6 mIU/L, as indicated by the shaded area.

Knowing that patient behaviors and consistency of treatment are key factors in treatment success, I educate patients on the process as they begin treatment. 34-week prescription audit of 441 pharmacies (average 41 prescriptions per state) totaling 1908 new and renewed SYNTHROID prescriptions between August 1, 2020 and March 23, 2021. I go over with them the fact that they should check the label at the pharmacy, on the bottle, to make sure it says brand-name SYNTHROID and not generic levothyroxine.

The recommended starting daily dosage of SYNTHROID in pediatric patients with primary, secondary, or tertiary hypothyroidism is based on body weight and changes with age as described in Table 2. Titrate the dosage (every 2 weeks) as needed based on serum TSH or free- T4 until the patient is euthyroid see Important Considerations For Dosing. The recommended starting daily dosage of SYNTHROID in adults with primary, secondary, or tertiary hypothyroidism is based on age and comorbid cardiac conditions, as described in Table 1. For patients at risk of atrial fibrillation or patients with underlying cardiac disease, start with a lower dosage and titrate the dosage more slowly to avoid exacerbation of cardiac symptoms. Dosage titration is based on serum TSH or free-T4 see Important Considerations For Dosing.

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 and Use In Specific Populations. Toxic effects may include increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias and central nervous system stimulation. Administration of sertraline in patients stabilized on SYNTHROID may result in increased SYNTHROID requirements.

The general aim of therapy is to normalize the serum TSH level. TSH may not normalize in some patients due to in utero hypothyroidism causing a resetting of pituitary-thyroid feedback. Assess compliance, dose of medication administered, and method of administration prior to increasing the dose of SYNTHROID see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and Use In Specific Populations. For secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism, serum TSH is not a reliable measure of SYNTHROID dosage adequacy and should not be used to monitor therapy. Use the serum free-T4 level to titrate SYNTHROID dosing until the patient is clinically euthyroid and the serum free-T4 level is restored to the upper half of the normal range see Recommended Dosage And Titration. So, as a reminder, SYNTHROID is indicated for the treatment of hypothyroidism.

No adverse effects on the breastfed infant have been reported and there is no information on the effects of levothyroxine on milk production. Adequate levothyroxine treatment during lactation may normalize milk production in hypothyroid lactating mothers with low milk supply. Addition of levothyroxine therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus may worsen glycemic control and result in increased antidiabetic agent or insulin requirements. Carefully monitor glycemic control after starting, changing, or discontinuing SYNTHROID see DRUG INTERACTIONS. 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.