Dose Adjustments Over Time
Throughout your lifetime, your doctor may need to adjust the dose of your hypothyroidism treatment. This is because the amount of thyroid hormone you may need changes with time and major life events.
Reasons for dose adjustments:
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Menopause. During menopause, your body makes less estrogen, so you might take estrogen replacement medication to manage menopause symptoms. This may require a dose adjustment to your hypothyroidism medicine.
In women, long-term use of Synthroid has been associated with a decrease in bone density, especially in menopausal women who are on high doses. You should take SYNTHROID as prescribed by your doctor.
- Pregnancy. Notify your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. To keep your thyroxine in balance, you might need a higher dose of levothyroxine (active ingredient in hypothyroidism medication) if you’re pregnant. Not only is your medication safe during pregnancy, but it’s necessary for your health and the health and proper development of your baby. Learn more about pregnancy and hypothyroidism.
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Aging. As you get older, you might not need as much levothyroxine to keep your thyroxine in balance. This is because older age sometimes makes you more sensitive to medication – or, you clear the drugs in your system more slowly.
If you are older than age 50 and are just starting treatment for hypothyroidism, your doctor may start you on a lower dose of medicine, check your TSH level after 6-8 weeks, then adjust your dosage slowly until you’re at the precise dose to keep you in balance. Notify your doctor if you are experiencing any new symptoms, such as rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, or shortness of breath.
On the other hand, some people need more levothyroxine to keep their thyroxine in balance as they age. This is because their thyroid function may be declining over time.
References:
1. American Thyroid Association. ATA Hypothyroidism Booklet. Falls Church, Va: American Thyroid Association; 2003.
Use and Important Safety Information you should know about Synthroid® (levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP)
Use
SYNTHROID® (levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP) is a prescription synthetic thyroid hormone that is used to treat a condition called hypothyroidism. It is intended to replace a hormone that is normally produced by your thyroid gland. Generally, thyroid replacement therapy is to be taken for life.
Important Safety Information You Should Know
- Thyroid hormones, including SYNTHROID, should not be used either alone or in combination with other medicines for the treatment of obesity or weight loss. In patients with normal thyroid levels, doses of SYNTHROID within the typical range used for hormone replacement are not effective for weight loss. Larger doses may result in serious or even life-threatening effects, especially when used in combination with certain other drugs used to reduce appetite.
- Notify your physician if you are allergic to any foods or medicines, are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, are breast-feeding or are taking any other medications, including prescription and over-the counter preparations.
- Notify your physician of any other medical conditions you may have, particularly heart disease, diabetes, clotting disorders, and adrenal or pituitary gland problems. Your dose of medications used to control these other conditions may need to be adjusted while you are taking SYNTHROID. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood and/or urinary glucose levels as directed by your physician and immediately report any changes to your physician. If you are taking anticoagulants (blood thinners), your clotting status should be checked frequently.
- Use SYNTHROID only as prescribed by your physician. Do not discontinue or change the amount you take, or how often you take it, unless directed to do so by your physician.
- Agents such as iron and calcium supplements and antacids can decrease the absorption of levothyroxine sodium tablets. Therefore, levothyroxine sodium tablets should not be administered within 4 hours of these agents.
- Take SYNTHROID as a single dose, preferably on an empty stomach, one-half to one hour before breakfast. Levothyroxine absorption is increased on an empty stomach.
- Notify your physician if you experience any of the following symptoms: rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, leg cramps, headache, nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, tremors, change in appetite, weight gain or loss, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, heat intolerance, fever, changes in menstrual periods, hives or skin rash, or any other unusual medical event.
- Notify your physician or dentist that you are taking SYNTHROID prior to any surgery.
- After a stable response has been established, it is important to have follow-up laboratory tests done, as ordered by your health care provider, at least annually.
This is the most important information to know about SYNTHROID. For more information, talk with your health care provider.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).
If you cannot afford your medication, contact www.pparx.org or call the toll free phone number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) (1-888-477-2669) for assistance.
Reference: Synthroid [package insert]. North Chicago, IL: Abbott Laboratories.
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