Information about Levothyroxine (Generic Synthroid) :


Levothyroxine is a thyroid hormone
that is used to treat low thyroid activity and treat or suppress different types of goiters. Thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones that take part in regulation of the body's metabolism. Hypothyroidism is a condition when the thyroid gland produces not enough thyroid hormone and metabolism slows. It may also be administered in combination with surgery and other medicines for managing certain types of thyroid cancer.

You should not use Levothyroxine in case you have any condition mentioned below: you are allergic to any ingredient in Levothyroxine; you have a history of heart attack, chest pain (angina), adrenal gland problems, or elevated thyroid hormone levels that have not been treated.

In such cases it is obligatory to consult with your doctor or health care provider before taking this drug.

Before using Levothyroxine:
Before using Levothyroxine you should tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions listed below: you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding a baby; you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement; you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances; you have heart problems, high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, diabetes, bone loss (osteoporosis), digestion or nutrient absorption problems, infertility problems, pituitary gland problems, high thyroid levels, or other thyroid problems; you have just had or are scheduled for surgery.

Be aware that Levothyroxine may interact with some medicines. Consult with your health care provider in case you are taking any other drugs, especially any of the following: aluminum salts (eg, antacids), aminoquinolones (eg, chloroquine), amiodarone, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, simvastatin), iron salts (eg, ferrous sulfate), raloxifene, rifampin, sertraline, or sucralfate because they may decrease Levothyroxine 's effectiveness; HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, simvastatin) or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because side effects such as nervousness, fast heart rate, or irregular heartbeat may occur; anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) or ketamine because their actions and the risk of their side effects may be increased by Levothyroxine; beta-blockers (eg, metoprolol) or digitalis glycosides (eg, digoxin) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Levothyroxine.

It may not be a complete list of all interactions with other drugs. To prevent any complications you should check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Levothyroxine:
Take Levothyroxine as recommended by your physician. Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 to 3 hours after eating. Take your dose 1 hour before breakfast unless your doctor advises otherwise.
It is recommended to take Levothyroxine with a full glass of water (8 oz/240 mL). Take Levothyroxine at the same time each day.

Consult with your doctor in case you eat foods that contain soybean flour (infant formula), cottonseed meal, walnuts, or dietary fiber, as the absorption of Levothyroxine may be decreased. It may be necessary to change your dose of Levothyroxine.

It is recommended to take Levothyroxine 4 hours apart from calcium supplements, iron, antacids (those containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium), simethicone, cholestyramine, colestipol, sucralfate, or sodium polystyrene sulfonate, as the absorption of Levothyroxine may be decreased by these medicines.

You should be aware that it may take several weeks (4 to 6 weeks) to achieve an improvement in your symptoms.
You may use Levothyroxine for life, except in the cases of temporary low thyroid activity associated with thyroid inflammation and if are taking Levothyroxine on a trial basis.

The recommendations for children or patients who have problems with swallowing tablets whole: In such cases you should crush the tablet and mix in 1 or 2 teaspoons (5 or 10 mL) of water, and give using a spoon or dropper as soon as possible after preparation. Do not keep the mixture for further use. Avoid mixing crushed pills in soybean infant formula. Ask your doctor for more information.

In case you miss a dose of Levothyroxine, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next intake, skip the missed dose and take it according to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take double doses to catch up.

Important safety information:
Levothyroxine may rapidly swell and disintegrate resulting in choking, gagging, the tablet getting stuck in your throat, or difficulty swallowing. To prevent these problems take each tablet with a full glass of water.

Inform your doctor or dentist that you take Levothyroxine before you undergo any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.

In case you are taking blood thinners at the same time as Levothyroxine, lab tests will be required to adjust the blood thinners.

Diabetes patients should monitor blood sugar levels closely, as Levothyroxine may affect your blood sugar. Consult with your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes drug.

Lab tests may be performed while you are using Levothyroxine. It is important to control your progress or to check for side effects. Follow all doctor and lab appointments strictly.

You should use Levothyroxine with caution in the ELDERLY as they are likely to be more sensitive to its effects.

Use Levothyroxine with extreme caution in CHILDREN, as overuse may reduce the child's final adult height.

PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING:
It is not clear whether Levothyroxine is deleterious to the fetus. In case you become pregnant, consult with your doctor and discuss the benefits and risks of taking Levothyroxine while pregnancy. It is known that Levothyroxine passes into breast milk. In case you are or will be breast-feeding a baby while you use Levothyroxine, consult with your doctor and discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Levothyroxine:
You should consult with your doctor in case you have any of side effects especially bothersome listed below: anxiety; diarrhea; flushing; mood swings; muscle weakness; partial, temporary hair loss; sleeplessness; stomach cramps; tiredness; vomiting.

Seek emergency immediately in case you have any of these severe side effects: severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); changes in appetite; changes in menstrual periods; chest pain; difficulty breathing; excessive sweating; fast heartbeat; fever; headache; hives or skin rash; hyperactivity; inability to handle warm or hot room/weather conditions; irregular heartbeat; irritability; leg cramps; nervousness; pounding in the chest; seizures; shortness of breath; tremors; weight gain or weight loss.

What is the expiration date of the pills?
This information is mentioned on each blister. The expiration date is 2 years from the date of manufacture.