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LEVOTHYROXINE is a brand name for Levothyroxine (also known as Thyroxine). The medicine, its uses, side effects and dosage are the same regardless of brand.
Used for: Levothyroxine Oral Solution is indicated for: i) hypothyroidism (congenital or acquired) ii) diffuse non toxic goitre iii) goitre associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis iv) Suppression therapy in thyroid carcinoma
Verbatim from this product's MHRA label. Tap a section to expand.
Posology The treatment of any thyroid disorder should be determined on an individual basis, taking account of clinical response, biochemical tests and regular monitoring. The individual daily dose should be determined on the basis of laboratory tests and clinical examinations.
As a number of patients show elevated concentrations of T4 and fT4, basal serum concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone provides a more reliable basis for following treatment course. Patients switching from the oral solution to the tablet form or from the tablet form to the oral solution should be monitored closely.
Levothyroxine is best taken as a single dose on an empty stomach, usually before breakfast. Hypothyroidism (congenital or acquired) Adults, children over 12 years Initial dose: 50 - 100 micrograms daily before breakfast. Usual maintenance dose: 100 - 200 micrograms daily.
The initial dose is adjusted by 25 to 50 microgram increments at 3 – 4 week intervals until clinical response and measurements of plasma thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone indicate that the thyroid deficiency is corrected and a maintenance dose established.
Diffuse non toxic goitre or goitre associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis The recommended dose is 50-200 micrograms/day. Suppression therapy in thyroid carcinoma The recommended dose is 150-300 micrograms/day. g. 5 micrograms/day fortnightly) with frequent monitoring of thyroid hormones.
A dosage, lower than optimal dosage giving complete replacement therapy, consequentially not resulting in a complete correction of TSH level, might therefore need to be considered. Paediatric population The maintenance dose is generally 100 to 150 micrograms per m² body surface area.
For neonates and infants with congenital hypothyroidism, where rapid replacement is important, the initial recommended dosage is 10 to 15 micrograms per kg BW per day for the first 3 months. Thereafter, the dose should be adjusted individually according to the clinical findings and thyroid hormone and TSH values.
5- 50 micrograms per day. The dose should be increased gradually every 2 to 4 weeks according to the clinical findings and thyroid hormone and TSH values until the full replacement dose is reached. Infants should be given the total daily dose at least half an hour before the first meal of the day.
The following side effects are usually due to excessive dosage, and correspond to symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Adverse reactions listed below have been observed during clinical studies and/or during marketed use and are based on clinical trial data and classified according to MedDRA System Organ Class.
These reactions usually disappear after dose reduction or withdrawal of treatment.
Frequency categories are defined according to the following convention:
Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data): System organ class Undesirable effects Immune system disorders Hypersensitivity reactions including rash, pruritus and oedema Endocrine disorders Thyrotoxic crisis1 Psychiatric disorders Restlessness, agitation, insomnia Nervous system disorders Tremor, headache Cardiac disorders Angina pectoris, arrhythmia, palpitations, tachycardia Vascular disorders Flushing Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders Dyspnoea Gastrointestinal disorders Diarrhoea, vomiting Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders Hyperhidrosis, rash, pruritus Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorder Arthralgia, muscle spasm, muscular weakness Reproductive system disorders Menstruation irregular General disorders and administration site conditions Pyrexia, malaise, oedema Investigations Weight decreased 1 Thyroid crisis have occasionally been reported following massive or chronic intoxication and cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, coma and death have occurred.
Paediatric population Heat intolerance, transient hair loss, benign intracranial hypertension, craniostenosis in infants and premature closure of epiphysis in children. Reporting of suspected adverse reactions Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important.
It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Thyroid treatments should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, including myocardial insufficiency and hypertension. To minimise the risk of adverse effects of undetected overtreatment, such as atrial fibrillation and fractures associated with low serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in older patients, it is important to monitor serum TSH and adjust the dose accordingly during long term use.
Thyroid replacement therapy should be introduced gradually in elderly patients, and those with severe long standing hypothyroidism. Special care is needed when there are symptoms of myocardial insufficiency or ECG evidence of myocardial infarction and for similar reasons the treatment of hypothyroidism in the elderly should be initiated cautiously.
Patients with adrenal insufficiency may react unfavourably to levothyroxine treatment so it is advisable to initiate corticosteroid therapy before giving levothyroxine. Caution should also be exercised when administering levothyroxine to diabetics or patients on glycosides.
Sub-clinical hyperthyroidism may be associated with bone loss. To minimise the risk of osteoporosis, dosage of levothyroxine sodium should be titrated to the lowest possible effective level. Parents of children receiving a thyroid agent should be advised that partial loss of hair may occur during the first few months of therapy, but this effect is usually transient and subsequent re-growth usually occurs.
Even slight drug-induced hyperthyroidism must be avoided in patients with coronary failure, cardiac insufficiency or tachycardiac arrhythmias. Hence frequent checks of thyroid hormone parameters must be made in these cases. In the case of secondary hypothyroidism the cause must be determined before replacement therapy is given and if necessary replacement treatment of a compensated adrenal insufficiency must be commenced.
Where thyroid autonomy is suspected a TRH test should be carried out or a suppression scintigram obtained before treatment. Levothyroxine should not be given in hyperthyreotic states other than as concomitant supplementation during anti-thyroid drug treatment of hyperthyroidism.
1. - In patients with adrenal insufficiency without adequate corticosteroid cover. - Treatment with Levothyroxine Oral Solution must not be initiated in acute myocardial infarction, acute myocarditis, and acute pancarditis. 6).
Not medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet and follow your prescriber or pharmacist.
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Duration of treatment is usually for life in the case of hypothyroidism, non-toxic goitre and goitre associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. For patients with non-toxic diffuse goitre and normal T4 and TSH levels treatment with levothyroxine can be considered.
If no discernible decrease in size of the goitre occurs after 6 to 12 month, thyroxine therapy should be stopped. Method of administration Oral No studies have been undertaken into mixing this drug product with food or drink as it is intended that the product is dispensed directly from the pipette into the mouth.
Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse will show you how to administer this medicine. The box containing this medicine will contain a 10 ml graduated dosing pipette and a dosing adaptor. 25 micrograms Instructions are provided below for using the dosing pipette.
If you have any questions about the dose you should use or how to use the pipette, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist. Instructions for use: • Open the bottle: press the cap and turn it anticlockwise (figure 1) • On using the bottle for the first time, the pipette adaptor must be fitted.
It will then stay in place for future doses. Holding the bottle, take the plastic pipette adaptor from the box and insert the adaptor into the bottle neck (figure 2). Ensure it is well fixed. • Take the pipette and put it in the adaptor opening (figure 3).
• Hold the pipette in place and turn the bottle upside down. Fill the pipette with a small amount of the suspension by pulling the piston down (figure 4), then push the piston up in order to remove any possible air. • Still holding the pipette in place, pull the piston down to the graduation mark corresponding to the quantity in millilitres (ml) prescribed by your doctor (figure 4).
• Turn the bottle the right way up. Remove the pipette from the adaptor (figure 5). • Administer the contents of the pipette into the mouth by pushing the piston to the bottom of the pipette and ensure the medicine is swallowed. Do not remove the adaptor from the bottle neck, it is intended to stay in place.
Close the bottle with the plastic screw cap. Wash the pipette with warm water. Dry it with a clean paper towel and replace into the box with your medicine.
Thyroid hormones are not suitable for weight reduction. Physiological doses do not result in any weight loss in euthyroid patients. 9). In individuals suspected to have cardiovascular disease or to be at high risk, it is important to perform an ECG prior to commencement of levothyroxine treatment in order to detect changes consistent with ischaemia in which case, levothyroxine should be initiated at a low dose, followed by cautious dose escalation to avoid worsening of ischaemia or precipitation of an infarct.
If too rapid an increase of metabolism is produced (causing diarrhoea, nervousness, rapid pulse, insomnia, tremors and sometimes anginal pain where there is latent myocardial ischaemia), reduce the dose or withhold for 1-2 days and start again at a lower dose.
Haemodynamic parameters should be monitored when levothyroxine therapy is initiated in very low birth weight preterm neonates as circulatory collapse may occur due to the immature adrenal function. Care is required when levothyroxine is administered to patients with known history of epilepsy.
Seizures have been reported rarely in association with the initiation of levothyroxine sodium therapy, and may be related to the effect of thyroid hormone on seizure threshold. This medicinal product contains: • Parahydroxybenzoates.
These may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed). • Glycerol – This may cause headache, stomach upset and diarrhoea. 1 % of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult. 0 % of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.
Levothyroxine Oral Solution is available in three strengths 25 micrograms/5 ml, 50 micrograms/5 ml and 100 micrograms/5 ml; caution is advised in ensuring that the correct strength is given to the patient. 2).
Interferences with laboratory test:
Biotin may interfere with thyroid immunoassays that are based on a biotin/streptavidin interaction, leading to either falsely decreased or falsely increased test results. The risk of interference increases with higher doses of biotin.
When interpreting results of laboratory tests, possible biotin interference has to be taken into consideration, especially if a lack of coherence with the clinical presentation is observed. For patients taking biotin-containing products, laboratory personnel should be informed when a thyroid function test is requested.
Alternative tests not susceptible to biotin interference should be used, if available. 5)