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Levothroid

Levothyroxine sodium

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RateADrug users have reported 8 Levothroid side effects and 3 Levothroid benefits.

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Description | Uses & Side Effects | Warnings

There is currently no information to display in this section. RateADrug provides information about drugs and supplements though a wiki format provided by researchers, health care providers and others. We encourage you to add to this description by clicking on the button below.

Common Uses:

Levothroid (levothyroxine sodium) is a prescription medicine that is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring thyroid hormone. Levothroid is used to treat the following conditions:
An underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism
Goiters (including thyroid nodules)
Certain types of thyroid cancer (when used with surgery or other treatments).

Off Label Uses:

Levothroid can also be used off-label to treat depression (in conjunction with antidepressants). Levothroid works by boosting the body's thyroid hormones, but it should never be used to increase energy or cause weight loss in people without a thyroid problem

Side Effects:
Side effects typically occur when the Levothroid dosage is too high. Too much Levothroid causes symptoms of an overactive thyroid (known medically as hyperthyroidism). These symptoms can be dangerous, and any of these symptoms should be reported to your healthcare provider (as they may signal that your Levothroid dosage needs to be decreased). These side effects may include:

Feeling hot all the time and increased sweating
Fever
Hyperactivity, nervousness, anxiety, or irritability
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Insomnia (see Levothroid and Insomnia)
Broken bones or other signs of weakened bones
Menstrual problems or fertility problems
Shakiness (tremors) or muscle weakness
Heart palpitations
Emotional changes
Hair loss (see Levothroid and Hair Loss)
Flushing
A rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
Heart failure, chest pain, or a heart attack
Difficult or painful breathing
An increased appetite, along with weight loss
Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal cramps (stomach cramps)
Seizures.

As with any medication, Levothroid can also cause allergic reactions. Seek medical attention immediately if you develop signs of an allergic reaction, including:

An unexplained rash or hives
Itching
Wheezing or difficulty breathing
Unexplained swelling (especially of the lips, mouth, or throat).

Cautions / Warnings:

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Levothroid(levothyroxine sodium) if you have:

Adrenal insufficiency
Osteoporosis
Any heart problems, including a recent heart attack
An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
Diabetes
Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.

Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:

Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
Breastfeeding.

Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Drug Interactions:
Levothroid or levothyroxine sodium may interact with several other medications, including numerous non-prescription products. Some of the medicines that may potentially lead to Levothroid interactions include:

Antacids or gas-relieving medications
Antidepressant medications
Calcium products, including vitamin supplements and calcium-rich foods
Certain seizure medications, such as:

Carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®)
Phenobarbital (Luminal®)
Phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®)

Cholestyramine (Prevalite®, Questran®, Questran® Light)
Colestipol (Colestid®)
Diabetes drugs, including insulin and oral diabetes medications
Digoxin (Digitek®, Lanoxin®)
Estrogens, such as birth control pills, patches, rings, or hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Iron (including iron found in multivitamins)
Orlistat (Alli™, Xenical®)
Raloxifene (Evista®)
Rifampin (Rifadin®)
Sucralfate (Carafate®)
Theophylline (Uniphyl®, Theocron®, TheoCap®, Theo-24®, Elixophyllin®)
Warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®).

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About Levothroid

Levothroid is manufactured by Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Although it is synthetic, Levothroid is identical to the naturally occurring thyroid hormone levothyroxine. Levothroid is available in tablet form and the active ingredient of this medication is levothyroxine sodium. The inactive ingredients of Levothroid include microcrystalline cellulose, calcium phosphate dibasic, povidone and magnesium stearate. The dosage of Levothroid that is sufficient to maximize benefits depends upon several factors like the patient's age, weight, cardiovascular condition, ongoing medical conditions, pregnancy status, other medications being taken, and the characteristic features of the condition being treated. Levothroid is generally administered as a single daily dose, given an hour and a half prior to breakfast. Levothroid must be adminstered at a minimum of four hours prior to or after taking any other medication that could potentially interefere with Levothroid.

Source: Wikipedia

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Medication Name:

Levothroid

RateADrug users have reported 8 Levothroid side effects and 3 Levothroid benefits.

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