Levothroid medication is a synthetic analogue of thyroid hormone T4 (thyroxine). Its purpose is to replenish the human body with the hormone of the thyroid gland with its deficiency. In the human body, the thyroid gland under normal conditions creates a thyroid hormone T4. But it is not active. Further in the human body, it turns into an active form of the hormone, called T3 (triiodothyronine). Treatment is necessary. If left it untreated, hypothyroidism can cause fatigue, speech retardation, weight gain, hair loss, dry skin and increased sensitivity to cold. It does not affect either the stomach or the liver. Some manufacturers add lactose as an auxiliary substance to the tablets. In people with lactose intolerance, this can cause unpleasant sensations in the intestine.
In what kind of disease treatment Levothroid is helpful?
In a deficiency in the body of the thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), doctors prescribe this hormone, as prevention of relapse of nodular goiter and as part of complex therapy: Graves disease, autoimmune thyroiditis. If the thyroid gland is removed because of illness or cancer, then doctors prescribe T4 for life and daily.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take Generic Levothroid?
If you have symptoms of thyroid insufficiency, it is necessary to consult a doctor, for diagnosis to take tests and be treated. Inform your doctor about hypersensitivity, untreated thyrotoxicosis, acute myocardial infarction, acute myocarditis, untreated adrenal cortex insufficiency (should be compensated before the start of therapy).
How should I take Levothroid?
It should be taken in the morning, preferably at the same time. The Levothroid tablet should be washed down with water, not with tea, not with juice.
Levothroid levels in the body are significantly influenced by the food you take for breakfast, medications, vitamins and minerals, which you can take after breakfast. They affect the absorption of Levothroid and, ultimately, its levels in the blood. You can, eat 1 hour after taking the medicine, but this should not be cereals, bakery products, pancakes, fritters, milk and dairy products, vegetables that contain fiber. The best breakfast is boiled eggs, fried eggs. To take some types of food patients cannot earlier than 4 hours after taking pills. Food that slows the absorption:
•Fiber foods and all products containing it;
•Walnuts;
•Soy flour;
•Cottonseed flour;
•Calcium;
•Milk and juices with calcium supplements.
These products should be avoided within 4 hours after admission.
Dosage information
Treatment begins with small doses - 12.5-25 mcg per day. The average daily dose is 25-200 mcg. In the absence of heart disease, with hypothyroidism Levothroid is prescribed immediately from the calculated dose.
• If the dose is matched correctly (TSH within 0.4-4.0 mIU / L), then there will be no problems with the heart and pressure.
• If the dose is excessive (TTG<0.4 mIU / L), then palpitations and even arrhythmias can occur. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor in time to reduce the dose of the drug.
• If the dose is not sufficient (TSH> 4.0 mIU / L), then palpitation may be observed, so it is also important to see a doctor, but only for a timely increase in the dose of the drug.
What may interact with Generic Levothroid?
Levothroid can adversely affect the effectiveness of oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin used by patients with diabetes mellitus to control blood glucose levels.
Antacids can reduce the bioavailability of medication. The mechanism of interaction is unknown. It is believed that it includes nonspecific absorption of drug in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing the influence of Levothroid.
Estrogen interacts with it by increasing the concentration of thyroid-binding globulin in the blood.
Additives, especially those containing calcium or iron, are not recommended for use with the drug. They reduce the level of the thyroid gland.
What should I watch for while taking Levothroid?
Like many other medicines, caffeine affects the body's ability to absorb Levothroid. Coffee, other drinks and products containing caffeine are recommended to be taken no earlier than six (6) hours after taking GG.
When choosing the optimal dose or after changing the dose, it is necessary to monitor the concentration of TSH in the blood after 1-1.5 months. This is required in order to evaluate the correctness of the dose selection. The concentration of TTG is not affected if to take it the same day.
What side effects may I notice from Generic Levothroid?
Levothroid side effects of suppressive doses include violations of myocardial contractility, an increase in heart rate and atrial arrhythmias. Can also be manifested tachycardia, chest pain, tremor, anxiety, insomnia, hyperhidrosis, weight loss, and diarrhea.
In hypothyroidism, hair falls out due to the fact that the skin and its appendages, which also include hair, do not receive sufficient blood supply. The skin swells, from which the blood supply deteriorates even more and the hair follicles gradually die. In thyrotoxicosis, blood supply to the scalp is also impaired, but this is due to the fact that the activity of the sympathetic nervous system increases. It causes a spasm of blood vessels that supply blood to the hair bulb, which causes its death and hair loss. With prolonged intake of excessive doses, which some people do specifically, the body is in a state of thyrotoxicosis. And these people can have hair loss. With a temporary excess of Levothroid dosage during the selection of the treatment regimen, the death of the hair bulb does not have time to occur. Therefore with a properly selected dose, the hair does not suffer at all. Thus, if TTG is normal (with or without Levothroid), then it is better to consult a trichologist or even a therapist about hair loss.
Where can I keep Levothroid?
Incorrect storage conditions can cause deterioration of the product's quality. Useful tips about storage rules are indicated on the packaging. Also you can choose to purchase it in a regular drugstore or buy generic Levothroid online.
