Eltroxin
Generic Name: Levothyroxine
Brand Name: Eltroxin
Indications
Levothyroxine is indicated for the treatment of hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone). Levothyroxine is also used to treat or prevent goiter (enlarged thyroid gland), which can be caused by hormone imbalances, radiation treatment, surgery, or cancer.
Dosage and Administration
Levothyroxine is available for oral administration as 25, 50, 75, 88, 100,112, 150, 175, 200, 300 mcg tablets.
Normal Dosage:
Hypothyroidism in Adults and in Children in Whom Growth and Puberty are Complete: Therapy may begin at full replacement doses in otherwise healthy individuals less than 50 years old and in those older than 50 years who have been recently treated for hyperthyroidism or who have been hypothyroid for only a short time (such as a few months). The average full replacement dose of levothyroxine sodium is approximately 1.7 mcg/kg/day (e.g., 100-125 mcg/day for a 70 kg adult). Older patients may require less than 1 mcg/kg/day. Levothyroxine sodium doses greater than 200 mcg/day are seldom required. An inadequate response to daily doses ≥ 300 mcg/day is rare and may indicate poor compliance, malabsorption, and/or drug interactions.
For most patients older than 50 years or for patients under 50 years of age with underlying cardiac disease, an initial starting dose of 25-50 mcg/day of levothyroxine sodium is recommended, with gradual increments in dose at 6-8 week intervals, as needed. The recommended starting dose of levothyroxine sodium in elderly patients with cardiac disease is 12.5-25 mcg/day, with gradual dose increments at 4-6 week intervals. The levothyroxine sodium dose is generally adjusted in 12.5-25 mcg increments until the patient with primary hypothyroidism is clinically euthyroid and the serum TSH has normalized.
Overdose: Overdose symptoms may include chest pain, pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath, tremors, shortness of breath, leg cramps, confusion, vomiting, diarrhea, or seizures.
Side effects:-
Stop using levothyroxine and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty in breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- headache
- sleep problems (insomnia)
- nervous or irritable feeling
- fever, hot flashes, sweating
- changes in your menstrual periods
- appetite changes, weight changes
Less serious side effects may include mild hair loss.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
Precautions
- Since thyroid hormone occurs naturally in the body, almost anyone can take levothyroxine. You should not use this medication if you have had a heart attack, a thyroid disorder called thyrotoxicosis, or an adrenal gland problem that is not controlled by treatment.
- Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, coronary artery disease, anemia (lack of red blood cells), diabetes, problems with your pituitary or adrenal glands, or a history of blood clots.
- If you use insulin or take diabetes medicine by mouth, ask your doctor if your dose needs to be changed when you start using levothyroxine.
- Levothyroxine is in the FDA pregnancy category A. This means that it is safe to use while you are pregnant. It is also safe to use while you are breast-feeding a baby. This drug does pass into breast milk, but it is not expected to be harmful to a nursing infant.
- Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. You may need to increase your dose during pregnancy or if you plan to breast-feed.
- In most cases, you will need to take levothyroxine for the rest of your life. Taking levothyroxine over long periods of time may cause bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis. Talk with your doctor about how this could affect you.
- Do not change brands or change to a generic levothyroxine drug product without first asking your doctor. Different brands of levothyroxine may not work the same. If you get a prescription refill and your new pills look different, talk with your pharmacist or doctor.
- Avoid the following food products, which can make your body absorb less levothyroxine: infant soy formula, cotton seed meal, walnuts, and high-fiber foods.
Drug Interactions
The following drugs may cause medical problems if you use them with levothyroxine: lithium, amiodarone, or antidepressants. Tell your doctor if you have recently received radiation therapy with iodine (such as I-131).
This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with levothyroxine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Certain medicines can be continued, but they may make levothyroxine less effective if taken at the same time. If you use any of the following drugs, use them at least 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take levothyroxine:
- calcium carbonate (Caltrate, Citracal, Oystercal, and others)
- ferrous sulfate iron supplement
- sucralfate (Carafate)
- sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate, Kionex, and others)
Antacids that contain aluminum (Amphojel, Gaviscon, Maalox, Mylanta, Riopan, Rulox, Tums, and others); and cholesterol-lowering drugs cholestyramine (Questran) and colestipol (Colestid)