Uses of Levothyroxine:

Generic synthroid or Levothyroxine is used for the treatment of low thyroid activity and to neutralize different goiters. Levothyroxine is also a medication used in surgery to manage some types of thyroid cancer and related complications.

Levothyroxine is a form of thyroid hormone. Normally, these are generated and distributed by the thyroid gland to facilitate metabolism in our body. Hypothyroidism is the term used when the thyroid gland is underactive. This is a manifestation of the thyroid gland not producing enough hormones which slows down metabolism.

Complications You Need to Monitor when Taking Levothyroxine:

You are advised not to use Levothyroxine if...

• You have the history of allergy to any Levothyroxine or to any of its components.
• You have a heart complication of a history of heart problems such as heart attack, angina, adrenal gland complications.
• You have elevated thyroid hormones that is not yet treated

You must contact you health care provider of doctor immediately if any of the conditions above apply.

Things to Consider Before Using Levothyroxine:

There are certain medical conditions that complicate your use of the drug. You must have extensive discussions with your doctor if you have a persistent medical condition especially those on the list below:

• Pregnancy, thinking about being pregnant, or breast-feeding
• Under other prescription or non-prescription meds, dietary supplements, or herbal medicines
• Allergies to certain medicines, substances, or food
• Complications such as high blood pressure, blood clot, bone loss (osteoporosis), diabetes, digestion, infertility, nutrient absorption complications, problems in the pituitary gland, elevated thyroid, and other thyroid problems.
• Scheduled for surgery

There are certain medicines that may interact with the drug. You should notify your health care provider if you are under the following medications on this list:

• Aluminum salts (antacids), aminoquinolones (eg, chloroquine), HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (simvastatin), amiodarone, raloxifene, iron salts (ferrous sulfate), sertraline, rifampin, or sucralfate since they decrease Levothyroxine's effectiveness
• HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such as simvastatin, tricyclic antidepress (amityiptyline) since they increase the probability of side effects like irregular heartbeat, nervousness, and quickening heart rate.
• Anticoagulants like warfarin and ketamine will increase their side effects when paired with Levothyroxine.
• Digitalis glycosides (digoxin), and beta-blockers (metoprolol) will have their effectiveness decreased by Levothyroxine

The list above may not be the complete matrix of interaction that may happen with Levothyroxine. You should ask you doctor if Levothyroxine interacts with your other medications. Your doctor will guide you when to modify your dosage, so do not change your schedule without his approval.

Taking a Dose of Levothyroxine:

The labels of the meds usually have your complete dosage instructions and schedule. Only use Levothyroxine based on the doctor's recommendation.

• Levothyroxine should be taken at least an hour to two to three hours before a meal. In the morning, it is recommended to take Levothyroxine one hour before you eat breakfast unless stated by the doctor otherwise.
• Have a full glass of water when you take the drug or 8oz/240 mL
• Cottonseed meal, dietary fiber, walnuts, or anything that contain soybean flour decreases the absorption of Levothyroxine in you body. If you are in this diet, your doctor may advise you to modify your dosage.
• Levothyroxine should be taken four hours apart from other medications and food with iron, calcium supplements, simethicone, antacids, cholestyrmarin, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, sucralfate, and colestipol.
• Take Levothyroxine at the same time every day for maximum effectiveness.
• Do not stop taking Levothyroxine even if you do not feet the expected effects kick in. Levothyroxine may take four to six weeks before you notice relief from symptoms.
• Usually, patients who take Levothyroxine take them for the rest of their lives, except in situation where the low thyroid action is temporary. This special case is associated with thyroid inflammation. Some patients also take Levothyroxine as a trial medication.
• If you cannot take in the whole tablet, crush the tablet and mix them in 5 to 10 ml (1 or 2 tsp) of water. Drink the solution as soon as you prepare it. Also, do not store the solution for future usage. If your child needs Levothyroxine, do not mix it with soybeans. It is best to ask your child's pharmacist for suggestions on how to take the medication.
• If you ever miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if several hours have passed and it is time for the next dose, you must not double your dosage to catch up. Never take two dosages at the same time.

Do not hesitate to ask your doctor if you have any queries regarding the dosage schedule and usage of Levothyroxine.

Things to consider when taking Levothyroxine:

• The tablet may quickly enlarge and disintegrate which may result in the patient getting choked, gagged, or having the tablet stuck in ones throat. You must always drink Levothyroxine with a full glass of water to prevent this from happening.
• Notify your dentist or doctor took Levothyroxine beforehand if you are receiving dental or medical care, surgery, or emergency care.
• If you are under medication such as blood thinners, you need to take a test so that the doctor can adjust your medication.
• Levothyroxine may affect the level of sugar in you blood. Monitor your blood closely. Your doctor might ask you to adjust your diabetes medication.
• Laboratory tests will be required so that your doctor can monitor the Levothyroxine therapy. Always keep your lab appointments.
• Doctors will hesitate to give Levothyroxine to the elderly since they may be more vulnerable to its effects.
• Doctors will watch the intake of Levothyroxine in children, since too much Levothyroxine may influence the potential adult height of the child.
• If you are pregnant, make sure to discuss the effects of Levothyroxine with your doctor. Levothyroxine causes damage to the fetus. At the same time, breastfeeding is not recommended if you are under Levothyroxine. Talk to your doctor about the various risks to your child.

Some Side Effects of Levothyroxine:

Medicines all have side effects; but these effects not manifest to most people, or appear negligible to some. However, if you have a mild side effect that has become bothersome, contact your doctor for any relief available. The common side effects are:

• Anxiety
• Diarrhea
• Flushing
• Mood swings
• Muscle weakness
• Partial/Temporary hair loss
• Sleeplessness
• Stomach cramps
• Tiredness
• Vomiting

If you have any of these severe side effects, seek medical attention immediately:

• Severe allergies such as rash, hives, itching, breathing difficulty, chest tightness, swelling in the mouth, lips, face, or tongue
• Change in appetite
• Change in menstruation
• Chest pain
• Difficulty in breathing
• Excess sweat
• Fast heartbeat
• Fever
• Headache
• Irregular heartbeat
• Irritability
• Leg cramps
• Nervousness
• Pounding in chest
• Seizures
• Shortness in breath
• Tremors
• Weight gain
• Weight loss

Shelf life of Levothyroxine:

The expiration date of Levothyroxine is mentioned in its blister pack. Take note that the expiration date is varied from different batches. Usually, the shelf life is two years from the time of manufacture.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.