Trade Names:Levothroid- Tablets 0.025 mg- Tablets 0.05 mg- Tablets 0.075 mg- Tablets 0.088 mg- Tablets 0.1 mg- Tablets 0.112 mg- Tablets 0.125 mg- Tablets 0.15 mg- Tablets 0.175 mg- Tablets 0.2 mg- Tablets 0.3 mg
Trade Names:Levoxyl- Tablets 0.025 mg- Tablets 0.05 mg- Tablets 0.075 mg- Tablets 0.088 mg- Tablets 0.1 mg- Tablets 0.112 mg- Tablets 0.125 mg- Tablets 0.137 mg- Tablets 0.15 mg- Tablets 0.175 mg- Tablets 0.2 mg- Tablets 0.3 mg
Trade Names:Synthroid- Tablets 0.025 mg- Tablets 0.05 mg- Tablets 0.075 mg- Tablets 0.088 mg- Tablets 0.1 mg- Tablets 0.112 mg- Tablets 0.125 mg- Tablets 0.15 mg- Tablets 0.175 mg- Tablets 0.2 mg- Tablets 0.3 mg
Trade Names:Unithroid- Tablets 0.025 mg- Tablets 0.05 mg- Tablets 0.075 mg- Tablets 0.088 mg- Tablets 0.1 mg- Tablets 0.112 mg- Tablets 0.125 mg- Tablets 0.15 mg- Tablets 0.175 mg- Tablets 0.2 mg- Tablets 0.
Eltroxin (Canada)Euthyrox (Canada)Increases metabolic rate of body tissues; is needed for normal growth and maturation.
Bioavailability is 48% to 79%. Fasting increases absorption. Effective by parenteral route.
More than 99% protein bound.
The t ½ is 6 to 7 days for T 4 .
Replacement or supplemental therapy in hypothyroidism; thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression (in thyroid cancer, nodules, goiters, and enlargement in chronic thyroiditis).
Acute MI and thyrotoxicosis uncomplicated by hypothyroidism; coexistence of hypothyroidism and hypoadrenalism (Addison disease) unless treatment of hypoadrenalism with adrenocortical steroids precedes initiation of thyroid therapy.
Individualize dosage.
Infants and ChildrenIn infants with congenital or acquired hypothyroidism, institute therapy with full doses as soon as diagnosis is made. In children with chronic or severe hypothyroidism, an initial oral 25 mcg/day dose is recommended with increments of 25 mcg every 2 to 4 wk until desired effect is achieved. The following guidelines are recommended:
Children older than 12 yr of age (growth/puberty complete)PO 1.7 mcg/kg/day.
Children older than 12 yr of age (growth/puberty incomplete)PO 2 to 3 mcg/kg/day.
Children 6 to 12 yr of agePO 4 to 5 mcg/kg/day.
Children 1 to 5 yr of agePO 5 to 6 mcg/kg/day.
Children 6 to 12 moPO 6 to 8 mcg/kg/day.
Children 3 to 6 mo of agePO 8 to 10 mcg/kg/day.
Children 0 to 3 mo of agePO 10 to 15 mcg/kg/day. Consider a lower starting dose (eg, 25 mcg/day) in infants at risk for cardiac failure, increasing the dose in 4- to 6-wk intervals based on clinical and laboratory response.
Hypothyroidism in Adults and Children in Whom Growth and Puberty are CompleteAdults and ChildrenPO Average full replacement dose is approximately 1.7 mcg/kg/day (eg, 100 to 125 mcg/day for 70 kg adult). Older patients may require less than 1 mcg/kg/day. Doses greater than 200 mcg/day are seldom required. For most patients older than 50 yr or patients younger than 50 yr with underlying cardiac disease, an initial starting dose of 25 to 50 mcg/day is recommended, with gradual increments in dose at 6- to 8-wk intervals, as needed. The recommended starting dose in elderly patients with cardiac disease is 12.5 to 25 mcg/day, with gradual dose increments at 4- to 6-wk intervals.
Severe HypothyroidismAdultsPO Recommended starting dose is 12.5 to 25 mcg/day with increases of 25 mcg/day every 2 to 4 wk, accompanied by clinical and laboratory assessment, until TSH level in normalized. IV / IM May be substituted for oral form when oral ingestion is precluded for long periods of time. Initial parenteral dosage should be approximately 50% the previously established oral dosage. A daily maintenance dose of 50 to 100 mcg parenterally should maintain the euthyroid stat once established. Monitor the patient and adjust the dosage as needed.
Subclinical HypothyroidismAdultsPO If treated, a lower dose (eg, 1 mcg/kg/day) than that used for full replacement may be adequate to normalize serum TSH level.
Myxedema ComaAdultsIV In myxedema coma or stupor, without concomitant severe heart disease, 200 to 500 mcg may be administered as a solution containing 100 mcg/mL. Full therapeutic effect may not be evident until the following day. An additional 100 to 300 mcg or more may be given on the second day if evidence of significant and progressive improvements has not occurred.
TSH Suppression in Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Thyroid NodulesAdultsPO TSH suppression to less than 0.1 milliunit/L usually requires a levothyroxine dose greater than 2 mcg/kg/day; however, in patients with high-risk tumors, the target TSH suppression level may be less than 0.01 milliunit/L. In treatment of benign nodules and nontoxic multinodular goiter, TSH generally is suppressed to a higher target (eg, 0.1 to 0.5 milliunit/L or 1 milliunit/L) than that used for treatment of thyroid cancer.
May increase anticoagulant effects.
Cholestyramine, colestipolMay decrease thyroid hormone efficacy.
Digitalis glycosidesMay reduce effects of glycosides.
FastingIncreases absorption from GI tract.
Iron saltsMay decrease efficacy of levothyroxine, resulting in hypothyroidism.
TheophyllinesHypothyroidism; may cause decreased theophylline Cl; Cl may return to normal when euthyroid state is achieved.
Consider changes in thyroxine binding globulin concentration when interpreting thyroxine (T 4 ) and triiodothyronine (T 3 ) values; medicinal or dietary iodine interferes with all in vivo tests of radioiodine uptake, producing low uptakes that may not reflect true decrease in hormone synthesis.
Palpitations; tachycardia; cardiac arrhythmias; angina pectoris; cardiac arrest.
Tremors; headache; nervousness; insomnia.
Diarrhea; vomiting.
Hypersensitivity; weight loss; menstrual irregularities; sweating; heat tolerance; fever; decreased bone density (in women using levothyroxine long term).
Category A .
Minimal amounts excreted in breast milk.
When drug is administered for congenital hypothyroidism, routine determinations of serum T 4 or TSH are strongly advised in newborns. In infants, excessive doses of thyroid hormone preparations may produce craniosynostosis. Children may experience transient partial hair loss in first few months of thyroid therapy.
Use caution when integrity of CV system, particularly coronary arteries, is suspect (eg, angina, elderly). Development of chest pain or worsening CV disease requires decrease in dosage.
Therapy in patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, or adrenal insufficiency (Addison disease) exacerbates intensity of symptoms. Therapy of myxedema coma requires simultaneous administration of glucocorticoids. In patients whose hypothyroidism is secondary to hypopituitarism, correct adrenal insufficiency, if present, with corticosteroids.
Levothyroxine rarely may precipitate hyperthyroid state or may aggravate existing hyperthyroidism.
Drug is unjustified for treatment of male or female infertility unless condition is accompanied by hypothyroidism.
Rule out before therapy.
Patients are particularly sensitive to thyroid preparations. Sudden administration of large doses is not without CV risks. Small initial doses are indicated.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism: headache, irritability, nervousness, sweating, tachycardia, increased bowel motility, menstrual irregularities, palpitations, vomiting, psychosis, seizure, fever, angina pectoris, CHF, shock, arrhythmias, thyroid storm.
Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health.