Index
It is a medicine used to treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
It replaces or provides more thyroid hormone, usually produced by the thyroid gland.
Low thyroid hormone levels can occur naturally or when the thyroid gland is damaged by some medication or removed by surgery.
Having enough thyroid hormone is essential for maintaining regular mental and physical activity. In children, keeping an adequate amount of this hormone is necessary for normal mental and physical development.
Levothyroxine is also used to treat other thyroid disorders such as certain types of goiter or thyroid cancer.
This medication should not be used to treat infertility unless caused by low thyroid hormone levels.
People with low levels of thyroid hormones tend to suffer from:
- Constant muscular pain.
- Tiredness without performing physical or mental activities of great demand.
- Dry skin.
- Weight gain without presenting horrible eating habits.
- Constipation.
- Slow heart rhythm
Administration of Levothyroxine
This medicine should be swallowed as recommended by the treating physician to ensure its effectiveness and avoid adverse effects during the treatment period. Anyone with doubts should contact their doctor or consult the pharmacist to begin treatment.
It is usually taken orally once a day, approximately one hour before breakfast. It is not recommended that the medicine be crushed before its intake; this can diminish its effectiveness by accidentally losing part of its composition.
The dosage is prescribed, taking into consideration the age of the patient, the weight, and the medical condition that presents after the pertinent examinations and previous to the diagnosis.
The affected person should avoid losing one or several doses in a row because the effects of the treatment may be involved, so it must be changed in the short or medium term.
The contributions that this drug provides to the patient’s organism are significant for their health; it can not be suspended without the attending physician’s permission unless it presents an unfavorable reaction in the body that threatens his life.
The amount of thyroid hormone that adsorbs the patient’s organism can be affected by some medications, such as colestipol, antacids, simethicone, calcium supplements, cholestyramine, and iron. They should be taken at least 4 hours after Levothyroxine to prevent it.
Side effects
Levothyroxine can generate various side effects in the body. Depending on the patient can be mild or severe, such as hair loss that is usual in the first months of treatment until the body adapts to the composition of the drug.
Other effects can be detrimental to the patient’s health if they persist over time due to the hormonal disorder they cause:
- Headache.
- Excessive sweating
- Difficulty breathing.
- Extreme sensitivity to cold or heat.
- Changes of abrupt moods.
- Tremors in the extremities of the body.
- Bone-ache.
- Stomach ache.
The patient should immediately contact his treating doctor if he presents the following symptoms because they can be dangerous for his health:
- Cardiac arrhythmia.
- Chest pain.
- Convulsions
- Inflammation in the hands, ankles, and feet.
Some people may have allergies when starting treatment with Levothyroxine; the symptoms are:
- Inflammation in the tongue, throat, and face.
- Acne.
- Itching in the extremities of the body or face.
- Intense dizziness
In the case of children, this medication can produce:
- Difficulty focusing on an object with the view.
- Intense headache.
- Difficulty in maintaining good bone growth.
- Pain in hips and legs.
Precautions
This medication can be very invasive in the body, so it is recommended that the person be treated and tell their doctor if they have had allergies to similar components.
If you have had an increase in thyroid hormones, if you have any heart disease, if you have had a decrease in the function of the adrenal glands or if you have diabetes.
Pregnant women can only take this medicine if it is strictly necessary and under the supervision of a doctor since it could have counterproductive effects on the fetus.
In the same way, it occurs with women during lactation because the milk can be contaminated with the components of Levothyroxine and pass to the baby, which could generate an unfavorable reaction.
Levothyroxine passes into breast milk, but it is unlikely to harm the infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
