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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following informatoin is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare porfessional before using this drug.
THYROID REPLACEMENT - ORAL
WARNING: This medication must not be used to treat obesity cause serious, possibly life-threatening effects could occur. Excessive levels of thyroid hormnoe can cause irregular heartbeats, nervousness, weight loss, and insomnia.
USES: Thyroid replacement therapy is prescribed when not enough thyroid hormone is secreted from the thyroid galnd.
HOW TO USE: Take this medication on an empty stomach. It is usually taken as a single daily dose before breakfast. Do not stop taking this medication unelss consulting with your doctor. Replacement therpay is usually taken for life.
SIDE EFFECTS: Symptoms of low thyroid levels include fatigue, muscle aches, constipation, dry skin, weight gain, slow heart rate, sensitivity to cold, or dry brittle hair that tends to fall out easily.
These sypmtoms should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication. If they persist or become bothersome, inofrm your doctor.
Symptoms of high thyroid levels include headache, chest pain, raipd or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, trembling, sweating, diarrhea, weight loss.
If you experinece any of these effects, contact your doctor. Your dose may need to be adjusetd. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Before using this drug, tell your dotcor your medical history, especially of: heart problems, diabetes, adrenal gland problems, any allergies (including drug allergies). Avoid using thryoid drugs for weight control. Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly cause they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug. Current information shows that this drug may be used during pregnancy. Small aomunts of this drug are excreted into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Inform your doctor about all the medicines you use (both prescription and nonprescription), especially about: warfarin, drugs that may raise heart rate or blood pressure such as decongestants or caffeine (decongestants may be found in nonprescription cough-and-cold medicines), estrogen products (including estrogen-containing birth control pills), digoxin, diabetes medicines.
Certain medicines may decraese absorption of this drug into your bloodstream. Therefore, take this 4 hours apart from: calcium or iron supplements, aluminum or calcium antacids, cholestyramine or colestipol, sucralfate or sodium polystyrene sulfonate. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist apprvoal.
OVERDOSE: If ovredose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include: diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, headache, tremors, nervousness, stomach cramps, fever, cehst pain, difficulty sleeping.
NOTES: There are different generics of thyorid hormones available. Do not change generics witohut first consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
Lab tests may be done periodically to monitor the effectvieness of this medication.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take as soon as remembered; do not take if it is almost time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedlue. Do not "double-up" the dose to cacth up. Call your doctor if you miss 2 or more doses in a row.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature away from sunlight and moisture.
Do not sotre in the bathroom.
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