Levothroid (Levothyroxine)

Levothroid treats hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone). It is also used to treat or prevent goiter (enlarged thyroid gland), which can be caused by hormone imbalances, radiation treatment, surgery, or cancer.

Levothroid is a replacement for a hormone that is normally produced by your thyroid gland to regulate the body's energy and metabolism. Levothroid is given when the thyroid does not produce enough of this hormone on its own.

Do not use Levothroid if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Levothroid;
• you have a history of heart attack, chest pain (angina), adrenal gland problems, or elevated thyroid hormone levels that have not been treated.

• Levothroid may rapidly swell and disintegrate resulting in choking, gagging, the tablet getting stuck in your throat, or difficulty swallowing. It is very important that you take the tablet with a full glass of water. Most of these problems disappeared when levothyroxine tablets were taken with water.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Levothroid before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• If you are taking blood thinners at the same time as Levothroid, lab tests will be required to adjust the blood thinners.
• Diabetes patients - Levothroid may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Lab tests will be required to monitor therapy. Be sure to keep appointments.
• Levothroid should be used with caution in children; overuse may reduce the child's final adult height.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It is not known if Levothroid can cause harm to the fetus. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Levothroid while you are pregnant. Levothroid is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Levothroid, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:

• anxiety; diarrhea; flushing; mood swings; muscle weakness; partial, temporary hair loss; sleeplessness; stomach cramps; tiredness; vomiting.

• severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); changes in appetite; changes in menstrual periods; chest pain; difficulty breathing; excessive sweating; fast heartbeat; fever; headache; hives or skin rash; hyperactivity; inability to handle warm or hot room/weather conditions; irregular heartbeat; irritability; leg cramps; nervousness; pounding in the chest; seizures; shortness of breath; tremors; weight gain or weight loss.

Levothroid is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.