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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
1. About levothyroxine Levothyroxine is a medicine used to treat an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).The thyroid gland makes thyroid hormones which help to control energy levels and growth. Levothyroxine is taken to replace the missing thyroid hormone thyroxine.Levothyroxine is only available on prescription. It comes as tablets or as a liquid that you swallow. 2. Key facts Levothyroxine is a synthetic version of a hormone called thyroxine. It replaces thyroxine if your thyroid gland cannot produce it and prevents the symptoms of hypothyroidism.Levothyroxine starts working straight away, but it may be several weeks before your symptoms start to improve.The most common side effects of levothyroxine are caused by taking a bigger dose than you need. Your doctor can lower your dose to help reduce any side effects.Before you start taking levothyroxine, your doctor will do a blood test. Once you start taking the medicine you'll have regular blood tests to see how well it's working.Levothyroxine doses need to be carefully monitored during pregnancy. If you're planning to become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, it's important to talk to your doctor to get the right care for you and your baby. 3. Who can and cannot take levothyroxine Levothyroxine can be taken by most adults and children. However, it’s not suitable for some people.Check with your doctor before taking levothyroxine if you:have ever had an allergic reaction to levothyroxine or any other medicineyou have an overactive thyroid that produces too much thyroid hormone (thyrotoxicosis)have a health problem that affects your adrenal glands (your doctor will be able to tell you if you're not sure)have a heart problem including angina, heart disease or heart failurehave high blood pressurehave ever had a heart attackhave diabetes – the dose of your diabetes medicine may need to change because levothyroxine can raise blood sugar levels 4. How and when to take levothyroxine Take levothyroxine once a day in the morning, ideally at least 30 minutes before having breakfast or a drink containing caffeine, like tea or coffee.Food and caffeinated drinks can both stop your body taking in levothyroxine properly so it does not work as well.If you stop taking levothyroxine, your symptoms are likely to come back.Dosage and strengthThe dose of levothyroxine varies from person to person.You may need to take several different tablets to make up your dose. Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take each day.Levothyroxine comes in 12.5 microgram, 25 microgram, 50 microgram, 75 microgram and 100 microgram tablets.If you're taking levothyroxine as a liquid, 5ml can have 25 micrograms, 50 micrograms, 100 micrograms or 125micrograms in it.Although starting doses are usually the same, the dose of levothyroxine you end up taking, or how quickly the dose
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