What do you check before giving levothyroxine?
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Levothyroxine is a prescription drug. It comes as a tablet or capsule you take by mouth. It also comes as an injectable solution that’s only given by a healthcare provider. Levothyroxine oral tablet is available as the brand-name drugs Levoxyl, Synthroid, and Unithroid. It’s also available as a generic drug. Generic drugs usually cost less than the brand-name version. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name drug. Levothyroxine oral tablet may be used as part of a combination therapy. This means you may need to take it with other medications. Why it’s usedLevothyroxine oral tablet is used to treat hypothyroidism. This is a condition when your thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone. Levothyroxine also can be used to treat goiter, which is an enlarged thyroid gland. It also treats certain types of thyroid cancer. How it worksLevothyroxine belongs to a class of drugs called hormones. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. Levothyroxine works by providing the thyroid hormone that your thyroid gland would produce if it were working normally. Levothyroxine oral tablet can cause side effects. More common side effectsThe more common side effects of levothyroxine can include:
If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Serious side effectsCall your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history. Levothyroxine oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with levothyroxine are listed below. Interactions that increase the risk of side effectsTaking levothyroxine with certain drugs may result in an increase in adverse effects. Examples of these drugs include:
Interactions that can make your drugs less effectiveWhen levothyroxine is less effective: When you take levothyroxine with certain drugs, it may not work as well to treat your condition. This is because the amount of levothyroxine in your body may be decreased. Examples of these drugs include:
When other drugs are less effective: When certain drugs are used with levothyroxine, they may not work as well. This is because the amount of these drugs in your body may be decreased. Examples of these drugs include:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:
Drug forms and strengthsGeneric: Levothyroxine
Brand: Levoxyl
Brand: Synthroid
Brand: Unithroid
Dosage for hypothyroidismAdult dosage (ages 18–49 years):
Child dosage (ages 0–17 years): The dosage is based on weight and thyroid hormone levels. Senior dosage (ages 50 years and older):
Dosage for goiterAdult dosage (ages 18 years and older): Your dosage is based on your needs and thyroid hormone levels. Your doctor will determine the right dosage for you and adjust it based on your current level of thyroid hormone. Child dosage (ages 0–17 years): There are no dosage recommendations for people younger than 18 years. Dosage for thyroid cancerAdult dosage (ages 18 years and older): Your dosage is based on your needs and thyroid hormone levels. Your doctor will determine the right dosage for you and adjust it based on your current level of thyroid hormone. Child dosage (ages 0–17 years): There are no dosage recommendations for people younger than 18 years. Dosage for special populationsFor pregnant women: You may need a higher dosage of levothyroxine. For people with heart disease:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Vitamin supplements and antacids warningTaking iron and calcium supplements or antacids can decrease the amount of levothyroxine your body absorbs. Do not take levothyroxine within 4 hours of taking these supplements or antacids. Allergy warningLevothyroxine can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:
If you develop these symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death). Food interactions warningCertain foods, such as soybean flour, cotton seed meal, walnuts, and other dietary fibers, may affect how well your body absorbs levothyroxine. Warnings for people with certain health conditionsFor people with heart problems: Levothyroxine can increase your risk of serious heart problems, such as heart attack, abnormal heart rhythm, and heart failure. This risk is increased if you’ve already had these problems. Tell your doctor if you have heart problems or a history of heart problems. Your doctor may decide to start you on a lower dosage of levothyroxine. For people with diabetes: Let your doctor know if you have diabetes. Taking levothyroxine can make your diabetes worse. Your doctor may monitor your blood sugar level more closely while you take this drug and adjust your diabetes drugs if needed. For people with osteoporosis: Using levothyroxine for a long time can cause decreases in your bone mineral density and put you at higher risk of bone fractures. For people with adrenal or pituitary gland problems: Let your doctor know if you have any adrenal or pituitary gland problems. Using levothyroxine can cause changes to your levels of thyroid hormone that could make these problems worse. For people with blood clotting disorders: Let your doctor know if you have any blood clotting disorders. Taking levothyroxine may make it more difficult for your blood to clot and make bleeding more likely. Warnings for other groupsFor pregnant women: Studies of levothyroxine in pregnant women haven’t shown risk to the fetus. Talk to your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It appears unlikely that this drug will harm a pregnancy. Not treating hypothyroidism could cause problems for both you and your pregnancy. You should not stop taking this drug during pregnancy. For women who are breastfeeding: Small amounts of levothyroxine may pass into breast milk, but this drug is usually safe to take while breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your child while taking levothyroxine. For seniors: If you’re older than 65 years, you may be at higher risk of developing negative heart effects (such as irregular heart rhythms) while taking this drug. Your doctor may choose to start you on a lower dosage. For children: Levothyroxine has only been approved for use in children for the treatment of hypothyroidism. The tablet can be used safely in children of all ages. Levothyroxine oral tablet is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed. If you stop taking the drug or don’t take it at all: Your thyroid hormones will remain low, which may result in low energy levels, tiredness, weakness, slower speech, constipation, or thickened skin. It may even lead to coma. If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times. If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose can include:
If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. What to do if you miss a dose: Take your dose as soon as you remember. But if you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, take only one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could result in dangerous side effects. How to tell if the drug is working: You should feel your symptoms of low thyroid hormone decrease. For instance, you should have more energy, less tiredness, and less weakness. Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes levothyroxine for you. General
Storage
RefillsA prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. TravelWhen traveling with your medication:
Clinical monitoringYour doctor will monitor your thyroid hormone levels during your treatment with this drug. Your doctor will have blood tests done to make sure your thyroid hormone level is within the range they feel is best for you. The tests will tell if your medication is working. Your dietCertain foods (such as soybean flour, cotton seed meal, walnuts, and other dietary fibers) may affect how well your body absorbs levothyroxine. Talk to your doctor about whether you should make any changes to your diet. Prior authorizationMany insurance companies require a prior authorization for certain brand-name forms of this drug. This means your doctor will need to get approval from your insurance company before your insurance company will pay for the prescription. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. What should you check before administering levothyroxine?Assess heart rate, ECG, and heart sounds, especially during exercise (See Appendices G, H). Report any rhythm disturbances or symptoms of increased arrhythmias, including palpitations, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, fainting, and fatigue/weakness. Assess episodes of angina pectoris at rest and during exercise.
What do you monitor for levothyroxine?Results: The sensitive thyrotropin (TSH) test is the preferred method to monitor therapy because it agrees with physiologic measures of thyroid hormone effect.
What is the most important administration instruction to give to a patient when taking levothyroxine?It is best to take this medicine on an empty stomach. Take it with a full glass of water at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before eating breakfast. Swallow the capsule whole. Do not cut or crush it.
When should I withhold levothyroxine?If cardiac symptoms develop or worsen, the levothyroxine dose should be reduced or withheld for one week and then cautiously restarted at a lower dose.
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