Do you also feel tired all the time? Are you gaining weight? Sometimes this tiredness may be accompanied by things like dry skin and constipation. These may be symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland, or as we medically call it, hypothyroidism. So, for such people, doctors often prescribe medications called Levothyroxine and Liothyronine. Let's talk about these medications in more detail today.
What is this medicine for? Simply put...
Simply put, both these medications, Levothyroxine and Liothyronine, are used to treat hypothyroidism, which means that your thyroid gland is not producing enough hormones. These medications work just like the thyroid hormones that our bodies naturally produce.
Now you might be wondering what these thyroid hormones do. In fact, these hormones play a very important role in our body . These thyroid hormones are essential for many things, such as controlling our body's energy levels, maintaining proper metabolism, heart function, brain development, and bone strength. So, when these hormones are low, the symptoms mentioned earlier, such as fatigue and weight gain, appear.
This medication may also be prescribed by doctors for other thyroid-related conditions. If you have any questions, it's best to ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Things you should tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Okay, now before you start this medication, there are a few things you need to tell your doctor or healthcare team before you start. Because it's very important for your safety to know how any other medical conditions you have or other medications you're taking interact with this thyroid medication.
Here are a few such things:
- Do you have any problems with your adrenal glands? For example, a condition like Addison's disease .
- Do you have chest pain (angina) or other heart disease?
- Do you have any bone problems?
- Are you a diabetic ?
- Are you following a special diet/weight loss program to lose weight?
- Are there fertility problems?
- Is there any disorder in the pituitary gland?
- Are you taking any medication to prevent blood clots? (e.g. Warfarin)
- This is very important: Be sure to tell your doctor if you have an allergy, that is, an allergic reaction, to levothyroxine, liothyronine, other thyroid hormones, any other medication, food, food dyes, or preservatives.
- Are you currently pregnant? Or are you trying to get pregnant soon?
- Are you a breastfeeding mother?
Not only these things, but it is very important to tell your doctor about any health problems you have.
How should I use this medicine?
This medicine comes in the form of a tablet. You should take it with a glass of water. It is very important to take the prescribed dose, at the prescribed time, every day, exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
Usually, this medicine is said to be taken in the morning, about half an hour before or an hour before eating, on an empty stomach. That's when the medicine is properly absorbed into the body.
You should continue to use this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop. Do not stop taking it suddenly.
If you give this medicine to children:
This medicine is also recommended for children in some selected cases. However, you should discuss it with your doctor and follow his instructions exactly. There are some things to be careful about when giving it to children.
What if I take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much medicine, do not panic and go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately. Or call a poison control center if possible.
Remember this:
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Never give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you.
What do you do if you miss a medication appointment?
If you miss a dose, don't worry. Take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose when you remember (for example, within a few hours), skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose, which can cause side effects.
Other things that may interact with this medicine (Interactions)
Now, this is something you need to be a little more careful about. When taken with this thyroid medication, it can interact with some other medications, foods, vitamins, herbal remedies, or dietary supplements you take. This means that the effectiveness of the thyroid medication may be reduced, increased, or new side effects may occur.
Therefore, you should tell your doctor about all the medications you use, not just the ones prescribed by your doctor, but also the ones you buy from the pharmacy, vitamin pills, traditional medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, and any nutritional supplements you take.
Here are some things you can specifically react to:
- Some medications for heart disease (e.g. Amiodarone , Digoxin )
- Types of antacids for stomach inflammation and gastritis
- Calcium supplements
- Iron supplements
- Some medicines for epilepsy/seizures (e.g. Carbamazepine , Phenytoin , Phenobarbital )
- Some medications for depression
- Some medications for cancer
- Cholesterol-lowering medications (e.g. Cholestyramine , Colestipol , Colesevelam )
- Birth control pills, patches, rings, or injections that contain female hormones, i.e. estrogens
- Medicines for diabetes
- Some medicines for colds and breathing difficulties
- Take certain medications or supplements to lose weight
- Some painkillers (e.g. Methadone )
- Niacin
- Rifampin for tuberculosis
- Products containing soy (Soy isoflavones) (these can be found in some milk powders and nutritional supplements)
- Steroid-type medications (e.g. Prednisone , Cortisone )
- Blood thinners (e.g. Warfarin )
- Liquid nutrition products like Ensure
- There are many other medications like Ketamine , Lithium , Orlistat , Oxandrolone , Sevelamer , Simethicone , Sodium polystyrene sulfonate , Sucralfate , Testosterone , and Theophylline .
This list is not exhaustive. That's why we say, be sure to tell your doctor about everything you take, and if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use any illegal drugs. That way, he or she can treat you in the most appropriate way.
Things to be careful about when using this medicine
There are a few things we need to be careful about while using this medicine.
- Do not change the brand of this medicine without your doctor's approval. Sometimes there can be slight differences from brand to brand. If you have any problems, ask your doctor about it.
- You will need to have regular medical checkups, especially blood tests, to check if the medication is working properly and if your thyroid hormone levels are normal.
- If you are taking this medicine for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), it may take a few weeks for your symptoms (such as fatigue and weight gain) to improve and you may feel better. So don't worry. But if your symptoms don't improve, talk to your doctor.
- > It is very important to note that some people may need to take this medication for the rest of their lives. Do not stop taking this medication without your doctor's advice.
- This medicine may affect your blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar levels regularly as directed by your doctor.
- When you first start taking the medication, some people may experience a little more hair loss than usual. But this is usually temporary. It usually goes away on its own over time. There is nothing to worry about, but if it does happen, it is a good idea to tell your doctor .
What are the possible side effects of this medicine?
Like all medications, some people may experience side effects from these levothyroxine and liothyronine tablets. However, this is not the case for everyone. Also, most of the time, these are not serious and are minor. However, there are some side effects that you should inform your doctor immediately if you notice them.
Side effects that you should tell your doctor about immediately:
- Allergic reactions: This means skin rashes, hives, severe itching, and sometimes swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat (this can be dangerous, as it can cause difficulty breathing).
- Constantly feeling anxious and nervous.
- Sweating more than necessary, feeling completely intolerant to heat.
- Fever.
- Heart palpitations: This is a feeling that the heart is beating rapidly, hard, or irregularly, as if it is skipping beats.
- Heart rhythm changes: A persistently fast or irregular heartbeat, accompanied by dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
- For women, irregular menstrual cycles or spotting between periods.
- Severe diarrhea.
- Tremors or shaking.
- Trouble sleeping.
If something like this happens to you, please let your doctor know immediately.
Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to your doctor if they persist:
- Change in appetite.
- Hair loss - As mentioned earlier, this can usually occur early in the treatment and will resolve after a while.
- Headache.
- Nausea - This means feeling like you're going to vomit.
- Vomiting.
If you have any new symptoms that are not listed here that you think are troubling you, talk to your doctor about them. In countries like the United States, you can report side effects to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Sri Lanka, your doctor is the best person to help you with this.
How should I store this medicine?
It is also very important to store this medicine properly.
- Always keep it in a safe place, up high, out of reach of children and pets in your home. This is a must-do.
- Store the medicine bottle/packet in the refrigerator at a temperature between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius (36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Keep the cap of the medicine bottle tightly closed.
- Do not place in places where direct light falls.
- Never use expired medications. Dispose of them properly.
Remember, this article is only a summary of this medicine. It may not contain all the information. If you have any further questions about this medicine, it is best to ask your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider who is treating you.
Some important things for you to remember
From what we've discussed, here are some of the most important things you need to remember:
- Levothyroxine and liothyronine are medications that are given to treat hypothyroidism, a condition where your body has low levels of thyroid hormones. Using them correctly is very important for your health.
- Take the exact dose, at the exact time, as your doctor tells you. It is usually best to take it in the morning, before eating, on an empty stomach.
- Be sure to tell your doctor about all other medications you take (not just those prescribed by doctors, but also those bought from pharmacies, traditional medicines, and vitamins), about any other illnesses you have, and about any allergies you have. Because some things can interact with this medication.
- Do not stop taking this medication suddenly, change the dosage at will, or change the brand of medication without your doctor's advice.
- If you experience any unusual side effects, that is, if you notice something new that wasn't there before, tell your doctor about it immediately.
- Even though you may have to take this medicine for the rest of your life, it will help you live a normal and healthy life. So don't worry, maintain a good relationship with your doctor, and follow his instructions exactly. Then you can stay healthy.
If you want to know anything else, you can leave a comment below.
` Thyroid, hypothyroidism, levothyroxine, liothyronine, hormones, medication, side effects
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