Warnings & Recalls for Levothyroxine sodium
Warnings
Not to be used for weight loss. Large doses of this medication may cause serious and
possibly fatal side effects, especially when combined with diet pills.
Tell your doctor
If you are allergic to any foods of medications, are pregnant, or intend to become pregnant, or are breast feeding. Also if you have medical conditions, especially heart disease, clotting disorders, and adrenal or pituitary gland problems. Tell your doctor if you have
diabetes or are
taking anticoagulants. Be sure to inform your dentist that you're on Synthroid before any surgery.
Drugs that may interact with levothyroxine sodium and should be avoided:
- sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate, Kionex, and others)
- ferrous sulfate iron supplement
- cholesterol-lowering drugs cholestyramine (Questran) and colestipol (Colestid)
- sucralfate (Carafate)
- calcium carbonate (Caltrate, Citracal, Oystercal, and others)
- antacids that contain aluminum or magnesium (such as Acid Gone, Aldroxicon, Alternagel, Di-Gel, Gaviscon, Gelusil, Genaton, Maalox, Maldroxal, Milk of Magnesia, Mixtox, Mylagen, Mylanta, Pepcid Complete, Rolaids, Rulox)
Family planning
The FDA categorizes Levothyroxine sodium as a
category A pregnancy. This medication is not expected to harm an unborn baby.
Do not stop taking this medication if you become pregnant without your doctor's advice. Low thyroid levels while pregnant can
potentially harm both mother and baby. Your dosage needs may change during pregnancy. Levothyroxine sodium can pass into breast milk, but isn't expected to harm a nursing baby. Do not use the medication without first telling your doctor that you're breast feeding. The dosage may change while you are nursing.
Levothyroxine sodium Treatment and Use
What is Levothyroxine sodium?
Levothyroxine sodium is used as a replacement hormone to substitute a depleted amount of hormones from the thyroid glands. The drug will regulate the body’s energy and metabolism.
How does Levothyroxine sodium work?
Levothyroxine sodium treats a condition called hypothyroidism. It is also used to treat or prevent goiter which is an enlarged thyroid gland that can be the caused by radiation treatment, surgery, cancer, or hormone imbalances. I should not be used for treating obesity or weight problems.
Dosage information
Take Synthroid as prescribed by your doctor, no more or less. Take as a single dose, half an hour to an hour before breakfast, preferably on an empty stomach. The absorption of the drug is increased on an empty stomach and some food may cause the body to absorb less Synthroid. Food to avoid include infant soy formula, cotton seed meal, walnuts, and high-fiber foods.
