Levoxyl (Levothyroxine Sodium) - Summary

LEVOXYL SUMMARY

SINEMET^® CR
(CARBIDOPA-LEVODOPA)

LEVOXYL (levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP) contain synthetic crystalline L-3,3',5,5'-tetraiodothyronine sodium salt [levothyroxine (T₄) sodium]. Synthetic T₄ is identical to that produced in the human thyroid gland.

Levothyroxine sodium is used for the following indications:

Hypothyroidism - As replacement or supplemental therapy in congenital or acquired hypothyroidism of any etiology, except transient hypothyroidism during the recovery phase of subacute thyroiditis. Specific indications include: primary (thyroidal), secondary (pituitary), and tertiary (hypothalamic) hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism. Primary hypothyroidism may result from functional deficiency, primary atrophy, partial or total congenital absence of the thyroid gland, or from the effects of surgery, radiation, or drugs, with or without the presence of goiter.

Pituitary TSH Suppression - In the treatment or prevention of various types of euthyroid goiters (see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS), including thyroid nodules (see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS), subacute or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis), multinodular goiter (see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS) and, as an adjunct to surgery and radioiodine therapy in the management of thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

See all Levoxyl indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Levoxyl (Levothyroxine)

levothyroxine sodium, Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Unithroid
Source: MedicineNet Pendred Syndrome Specialty [2007.11.16]
Title: levothyroxine sodium, Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Unithroid
Category: Medications
Created: 12/31/1997 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 11/16/2007 12:00:00 AM

Subclinical Hypothyroidism Treatment Reduces Ischemic Heart Disease Event Risk In Younger Patients
Source: Endocrinology News From Medical News Today [2012.04.24]
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine reveals that younger patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) who receive the medication levothyroxine are less likely to experience ischemic heart disease events. However, according to the researchers, this finding was not seen in older patients...

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Published Studies Related to Levoxyl (Levothyroxine)

The effect of levothyroxine and selenomethionine on lymphocyte and monocyte cytokine release in women with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. [2011.07]
CONTEXT: No previous study determined monocyte- and lymphocyte-suppressing effects of levothyroxine and selenomethionine and assessed whether their coadministration is superior to treatment with only one of these drugs. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to compare the effect of levothyroxine and selenomethionine on monocyte and lymphocyte cytokine release and systemic inflammation in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis... CONCLUSIONS: Despite affecting different types of inflammatory cells, levothyroxine and selenomethionine exhibit a similar systemic antiinflammatory effect in euthyroid females with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This action, which correlates with a reduction in thyroid peroxidase antibody titers, may be associated with clinical benefits in the prevention and management of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, particularly in subjects receiving both agents.

Pharmacokinetic equivalence of a levothyroxine sodium soft capsule manufactured using the new food and drug administration potency guidelines in healthy volunteers under fasting conditions. [2011.06]
CONCLUSIONS: The levothyroxine soft capsule formulated with the stricter new potency guideline set forward by the Food and Drug Administration met equivalence criteria in terms of rate and extent of exposure under fasting conditions to the reference tablet formulation. Clinical doses of the capsule formulation can be given using any combination of the commercialized strengths.

Effect of levothyroxine treatment on in vitro fertilization and pregnancy outcome in infertile women with subclinical hypothyroidism undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection. [2011.04]
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether levothyroxine (LT4) treatment has beneficial effects on IVF results and pregnancy outcome in infertile patients with subclinical hypothyroidism undergoing IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)...

Effects of evening vs morning levothyroxine intake: a randomized double-blind crossover trial. [2010.12.13]
BACKGROUND: Levothyroxine sodium is widely prescribed to treat primary hypothyroidism. There is consensus that levothyroxine should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach. A pilot study showed that levothyroxine intake at bedtime significantly decreased thyrotropin levels and increased free thyroxine and total triiodothyronine levels. To date, no large randomized trial investigating the best time of levothyroxine intake, including quality-of-life evaluation, has been performed... CONCLUSIONS: Levothyroxine taken at bedtime significantly improved thyroid hormone levels. Quality-of-life variables and plasma lipid levels showed no significant changes with bedtime vs morning intake. Clinicians should consider prescribing levothyroxine intake at bedtime. TRIAL REGISTRATION: isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN17436693 (NTR959).

Effect of levothyroxine treatment on clinical symptoms and serum cytokine levels in euthyroid patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria and thyroid autoimmunity. [2010.08]
BACKGROUND: Screening for thyroid autoimmunity in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is generally recommended. However, there are not yet sufficient data as to whether levothyroxine treatment is beneficial for the clinical symptoms of CIU in patients with thyroid autoimmunity. AIM: We investigated the effect of levothyroxine treatment on clinical symptoms and serum tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon (IFN)-gamma levels in euthyroid patients with CIU and thyroid autoimmunity... CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that levothyroxine treatment is not a reasonable option in euthyroid patients with CIU and thyroid autoimmunity. Augmentation of cytokine production after levothyroxine treatment seems to be related to the immunomodulatory effects of TSH-suppressive treatment.

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Clinical Trials Related to Levoxyl (Levothyroxine)

Thyroid Hormone Dose Adjustment in Pregnancy [Recruiting]
Our aim is to compare the safety and efficacy of 2 different empiric levothyroxine dose adjustment recommendations to be made at the first confirmation of pregnancy in women with a history of hypothyroidism. Subjects will be women with a prior diagnosis of hypothyroidism who are taking thyroid hormone replacement and who are less than 8 weeks pregnant. Upon confirmation of pregnancy, subjects will be randomized to increase their weekly thyroid hormone dose by either 2 or 3 tablets (28 or 42%). Thyroid function will be evaluated every two weeks in the first 20 weeks and then again at week 30 and post-partum. Primary endpoints will be the proportion of women in each group who remain euthyroid throughout the first trimester and throughout pregnancy.

Fasting Study of Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets 200 mg to Synthroid Tablets 200 mg [Completed]
The objective of this study was to investigate the bioequivalence of Mylan's levothyroxine sodium 200 μg tablets to Abbott's Synthroid® 200 μg tablets following a single 600 μg (3 x 200 μg) dose administration in healthy volunteers under fasting conditions. Twenty-nine healthy, non-smoking, subjects between the ages of 18 and 47 completed this open-label, randomized, two-period, two-treatment, single-dose crossover study conducted by Dr. James D. Carlson at PRACS Institute, Ltd., Fargo, ND. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that 90% confidence intervals were within the acceptable bioequivalent range of 80% and 125% for the natural log transformed parameters LNAUC0-48hr and LNCPEAK for baseline corrected total L-thyroxine. This study demonstrated that Mylan's 200 μg levothyroxine sodium tablets are bioequivalent to Abbott's Synthroid® 200 μg tablets following a single, oral 600 μg (3 x 200 μg) dose under fasting conditions

Generic vs. Name-Brand Levothyroxine [Recruiting]
This study compares two different brands of thyroxine (thyroid hormone). Currently, pharmacists may be substituting generic formulations of thyroid hormone without your doctor knowing about this. Although a small difference in thyroid function is not significant in most healthy children, adolescents and adults, in infants and toddlers even a small difference in thyroid function can have important harmful consequences on brain development. The purpose of the present study is to learn whether the difference between brands of thyroid hormone that are currently being substituted is sufficient to cause a difference in thyroid function.

Fasting Study of Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets 300 μg to Synthroid® Tablets 300 μg [Completed]
The objective of this study was to investigate the bioequivalence of Mylan's levothyroxine sodium 300 μg tablets to Abbott's Synthroid® 300 μg tablets following a single 600 μg (2 x 300 μg) dose administered in healthy volunteers under fasting conditions. Single-dose pharmacokinetic parameters for baseline corrected total L-thyroxine and non-baseline corrected total L-triiodothyronine were calculated using noncompartmental techniques.

Fasting Study of Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets 300 μg to Levothroid® Tablets 300 μg [Completed]
The objective of this study was to investigate the bioequivalence of Mylan's levothyroxine sodium 300 μg tablets to Lloyd's Levothroid® 300 μg tablets following a single 600 μg (2 x 300 μg) dose administered in healthy adult volunteers under fasting conditions. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that 90% confidence intervals were within the acceptable bioequivalent range of 80% and 125% for the natural log transformed parameters LNAUC0-48hr and LNCPEAK for baseline corrected total levothyroxine.

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PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Levoxyl review by 54 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		No Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		hypothyroid problem
Dosage & duration:		0..150mg taken once a day for the period of 35 yrs so far
Other conditions:		none
Other drugs taken:		none
		Reported Results
Benefits:		made me feel normal
Side effects:		none
Comments:		i have to take a peel every morning at the same time.if i dont and i forget i get tired its a different kind of tired though.once they stopped giving me the pill for 7 weeks and my hair started falling out i was lethargik i thought i was moving fast but i was moving very slow.i bloated up,i started to think kind of weird.i wanted to sleep all the time i was a real mess.so i take the medication consistantley the best i can.

Levoxyl review by 63 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Considerably Effective
Side effects:		Mild Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		low thyroid levels
Dosage & duration:		100mcg (dosage frequency: once a day) for the period of 2years
Other conditions:		none
Other drugs taken:		none
		Reported Results
Benefits:		weight loss, more energy
Side effects:		hair loss at first. subsided after a few months
Comments:		take one pill each morning on an empty stomach with a large glass of water. each 3 months have blood test to determine the need to increase or decrease the medicines dose.

Levoxyl review by 56 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Ineffective
Side effects:		Extremely Severe Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		hypothyroidism
Dosage & duration:		75 mcg (dosage frequency: 1/day) for the period of 10 months
Other conditions:		allergies, high cholesterol
Other drugs taken:		n/a
		Reported Results
Benefits:		Hypothyroidism was already causing me to gain weight, this garbage accelerated the weight gain. I eat one fish fillet or chicken breast/day, nothing else, now gaining 3-6 lbs./month! Since I can't find a Dr. who will treat my T3 I'm ordering Cytomel online, from what I've read it's the ticket to eliminate hypo symptoms. Shame on physicians who treat lab results rather than the patient. I don't care what the numbers are, I still feel awful!
Side effects:		FAT
Comments:		Doesn't work! It's the T3!