Tirosint (Levothyroxine)

Do’s

• Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before starting to take Tirosint and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your healthcare provider for clarification.
• Tirosint should be taken orally, as directed by your healthcare provider, usually once daily on an empty stomach, 30 minutes to 1 hour before breakfast. It should be taken with a full glass of water unless directed otherwise.
• If you are taking the capsule form of Tirosint, it should be swallowed whole without splitting, crushing, or chewing. Individuals who cannot swallow the capsule whole, such as infants or small children, should use the tablet form of the medication.
• For infants or children who cannot swallow whole tablets, the tablet can be crushed and mixed in 1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to 10 milliliters) of water and administered using a spoon or dropper. 
• The dosage of Tirosint is based on factors such as age, weight, medical condition, lab test results, response to treatment, and other medications being taken.
• To derive the maximum benefit from Tirosint, it should be used regularly at the same time each day. This helps in establishing a consistent routine for medication intake.
• Certain medications can decrease the amount of thyroid hormone absorbed by the body. If taking any of these drugs, separate them from Tirosint by at least 4 hours.
• Symptoms of low thyroid hormone levels should be monitored, and any worsening condition or persistent symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider after several weeks of taking the medication.

Don’ts

• Do not prepare a supply in advance or mix the tablet in soy infant formula.
• Do not stop taking Tirosint without consulting with your healthcare provider first. Thyroid replacement treatment is typically a lifelong therapy, and any decisions regarding discontinuation should be made in consultation with a healthcare provider.
• There are different brands of levothyroxine available. Do not change brands without first consulting your healthcare provider.

Common Side Effects: 

• Slow speech
• Lack of energy
• Weight gain
• Hair loss
• Dry skin
• Feeling cold

Serious Side Effects:

• Femur fractures, particularly in males prescribed long-term thyroid hormone therapy, as indicated by a case-control analysis

Seek medical attention if severe side effects manifest.

Be aware of these potential side effects and consult your healthcare provider if you have any concerns or experience any unusual symptoms. 

Tirosint is not indicated for the suppression of benign thyroid nodules and nontoxic diffuse goiter in iodine-sufficient patients, as there are no clinical benefits, and overtreatment with Tirosint may induce hyperthyroidism.

Tirosint is not indicated for the treatment of transient hypothyroidism during the recovery phase of subacute thyroiditis.

The dose of Tirosint for hypothyroidism or pituitary TSH suppression depends on various factors, including the patient's age, body weight, cardiovascular status, concomitant medical conditions (including pregnancy), concomitant medications, co-administered food, and the specific nature of the condition being treated. Dosing must be individualized to account for these factors, and dose adjustments should be made based on periodic assessments of the patient's clinical response and laboratory parameters.

Inform your healthcare provider about all the medications being taken, including prescription or over-the-counter drugs, natural products, and vitamins, to ensure the safe use of Tirosint.

Elderly individuals may be more sensitive to levothyroxine, the active ingredient in Tirosint. Caution should be exercised, and lower doses should be considered. 

In patients with cardiac disease, particularly atrial fibrillation, caution is advised, and lower doses should be initiated. Close monitoring is necessary to avoid adverse effects on intellectual development, brain maturation, and linear growth due to overtreatment or undertreatment.

Be aware of these warnings and precautions and consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance and monitoring.