Levothroid is prescribed when the thyroid cannot produce enough of this hormone on its own. Levothyroxine replaces hormone, normally produced by your thyroid gland for regulation body's energy and metabolism.
Use Levothroid by your doctor’s advice.
- It is advised to take Levothroid in the morning.
- Take Levothroid with a full glass (8 ounces) of water on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before eating.
- Contact to your health care provider if any questions regarding how to use Levothyroxine.
In case of missed dose, take Levothroid as soon as possible. If you discover that you forgot your dose and it is time for next one, skip it and get back to regular schedule. Don’t take 2 doses at a time.
Store Levothroid in dark, well-closed container, at temperature between 68-77ºF (20-25ºC). Keep away from moisture, heat, and light. Do not store Levothyroxine in the bathroom. Medicine must not be used after the expiration date mentioned on the label. Keep away from reach of children and/or pets.
Levothroid Safety information
Do not use Levothyroxine in case of:
- allergy to any of Levothroid’s ingredient;
- having heart attack, chest pain (angina), adrenal gland problems, or untreated elevated thyroid hormone levels.
If any of the above applies to you, immediately contact to your doctor or health care provider.
Please read and remember:
- Do not forget to take the tablet with full glass of water; While taking Levothroid it may rapidly swell and disintegrate causing choking, gagging, the tablet getting stuck in your throat, or difficulty swallowing. Taking this medicine with water eliminates most of mentioned problems.
- Lab tests to adjust the blood thinners are necessary if you take Levothyroxine the same time with blood thinners. Do not miss any lab and doctor’s appointments.
- Make sure to tell your doctor or dentist that you take Levothroid before receiving any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- Levothroid may affect blood sugar of diabetes patients. Attentively check blood sugar level. Before changing dosage of diabetes medicines contact to your doctor.
- Children should be carefully treated with Levothroid; child’s final adult height can be damaged if overdosed.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: No harm to the fetus registered while using Levothroid. In case you become pregnant contact your doctor to discuss the benefits and risks of using Levothroid during pregnancy. Levothroid is found in breast milk. Discuss with your doctor if you should breast-feed while taking medicine and what risks to your baby it may cause.
- Levothyroxine should be used only if prescribed. Never share this medicine with other people. Contact with your doctor if symptoms are not improving or becoming worse.
Levothroid Side Effects
Contact to your doctor if you discover any of these most common side effects:
- Anxiety or mood swings; diarrhoea or vomiting; flushing; muscle weakness; partial, temporary hair loss; sleeplessness and unusual tiredness; stomach cramps.
Immediate medical attention is a must if any of these severe side effects occur:
- harsh allergic reactions (rash; itching; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; difficulty breathing; excessive sweating; fast heartbeat; inability to handle warm or hot room/weather conditions; fever; headache; hives or skin rash; hyperactivity; irregular heartbeat; irritability; leg cramps; nervousness; shortness of breath; pounding in the chest; seizures; tremors.
