Country of origin: Argentina
Pharm-Group: Drugs that stimulate thyroid function
Manufacturers: Kimika Montpellier S.A. (Argentina)
International name: Levothyroxine sodium
Synonyms: L-thyroxine, L-thyroxine 25 Berlin-Chemie, L-thyroxine 50 Berlin Hemi, L-thyroxine-100 Berlin Hemi, L-Thyroxine-Acri, L-thyroxine-Farmak, Thyro-4, Eutirox, Eferox
Dosage forms: tablets 150 µg, tablets 50 µg
Ingredients: Active ingredient - Levothyroxine sodium.
Indications for use: Hypothyroid conditions of various etiologies, suppressive thyroid therapy of simple (non-toxic) goiter, Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis, multinodular goiter, thyrostatic treatment of hyperthyroidism (complex therapy) after achieving a euthyroid state, prevention of goiter relapse after resection, conducting a suppression scintigraphic test of the thyroid gland, thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated papillary or follicular carcinomas of the thyroid gland.
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity, untreated thyrotoxicosis, acute myocardial infarction, severe hypertension, angina pectoris, myocarditis, heart failure, tachysystolic arrhythmias, old age (over 65 years), uncorrected dysfunction of the adrenal cortex.
Side effects: Tachycardia, rhythm disturbances, chest pain, tremor, insomnia, anxiety, hyperhidrosis, alopecia, weight loss, diarrhea, dysfunction of the adrenal glands (with pituitary or hypothalamic hypothyroidism), renal dysfunction in children.
Interaction: Reduces the effect of insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs, cardiac glycosides, enhances - indirect anticoagulants, tricyclic antidepressants. Phenobarbital and phenytoin accelerate metabolic Cl without increasing the proportion of free T3 and T4 in the blood. Cholestyramine, colestipol, aluminum hydroxide reduce plasma concentrations by inhibiting absorption in the intestine.
Overdose: Symptoms: thyrotoxic crisis, sometimes delayed for several days after administration. Treatment: prescription of beta-blockers, intravenous corticosteroids, plasmapheresis.
Special instructions: It is recommended to periodically determine the content of thyroid-stimulating hormone in the blood, an elevated level of which indicates an insufficient dose. In case of long-standing multinodular goiter, a stimulation test with thyrotropin-releasing hormone should be performed before starting treatment. For elderly patients, the initial dose should not exceed 50 mcg. Prescribe with caution for severe, long-term hypofunction of the thyroid gland. When used in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, the dose is usually increased by 25%. Before starting treatment, the possibility of pituitary or hypothalamic hypothyroidism should be excluded.
Literature: Encyclopedia of Medicines 2003 Encyclopedia of Medicines 2006