Properties
What is it?
International Nonproprietary Name - levothyroxine sodium Clinical-pharmacological group: Endocrinology → Thyroid hormone preparations Composition Each tablet contains: Active ingredient: levothyroxine sodium – 25 mcg, 50 mcg, 75 mcg, 88 mcg, 100 mcg, 112 mcg, 125 mcg, 137 mcg, 150 mcg. Excipients: corn starch – 25.00 mg, gelatin – 5.00 mg, croscarmellose sodium – 3.50 mg, magnesium stearate – 0.50 mg, lactose monohydrate – 65.975/65.95/65.925/65.912/65.90/65.888/65.875/65.863/65.85 mg. Pharmacotherapeutic group: Thyroid agent. Indications for use - Hypothyroidism; - Euthyroid goiter; - As replacement therapy and for the prevention of goiter recurrence after surgery on the thyroid gland - Thyroid cancer (after surgical treatment); - Diffuse toxic goiter: after achieving euthyroid state with antithyroid agents (as combination or monotherapy); - As a diagnostic agent during the thyroid suppression test. Dosage and administration The daily dose is determined individually based on indications. The daily dose of levothyroxine is taken orally, in the morning on an empty stomach, in extreme cases 30 minutes before meals, with a small amount of liquid (half a glass of water) without chewing. For replacement therapy of hypothyroidism in patients under 55 years of age without cardiovascular diseases, levothyroxine is prescribed at a daily dose of 1.6 – 1.8 mcg per 1 kg of body weight. In patients over 55 years of age, or with cardiovascular disease – 0.9 mcg per 1 kg of body weight. In patients with severe chronic hypothyroidism, treatment should be started with extreme caution, at a low dose – 12.5 mcg/day, the dose is increased to the maintenance dose at relatively long intervals – by 12.5 mcg/day every 2 weeks, and the concentration of TSH in the blood is monitored more frequently. In hypothyroidism, levothyroxine is usually prescribed for life. In thyrotoxicosis, levothyroxine is prescribed in complex therapy with antithyroid drugs, after achieving euthyroid state. In all cases, the duration of treatment with the drug is determined by the doctor. For accurate dosing, it is necessary to use a more suitable dosage of the drug levothyroxine. Side effects When levothyroxine is used correctly under medical supervision, side effects are not observed. Cases of allergic reactions in the form of angioedema have been reported. Contraindications - Individual hypersensitivity to the drug; - Untreated thyrotoxicosis; - Untreated pituitary insufficiency; - Untreated adrenal insufficiency; - Use during pregnancy in combination with antithyroid agents; Treatment with the drug should not be started in the presence of acute myocardial infarction, acute myocarditis, acute pancarditis. The drug contains lactose, so its use is not recommended in patients with rare hereditary diseases associated with galactose intolerance, lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome. The drug should be prescribed with caution in patients with diseases of the cardiovascular system: (atherosclerosis, angina, history of myocardial infarction), arterial hypertension, arrhythmia; diabetes mellitus, severe chronic hypothyroidism, malabsorption syndrome (dose adjustment may be necessary).
