How to Use

Use this drug only as directed by your family doctor . Do not use more or less of it and do not use it more often than your family doctor ordered. Your family doctor has prescribed the exact amount your body needs and if you take various amounts, you may experience symptoms of an overactive or underactive thyroid. Take it at the same time each day to make sure it always has the same effect.

If your condition is due to a lack of thyroid hormone, you may have to take this drug for the rest of your life. The best for you that you do not stop taking this drug without first checking with your family doctor .

Dosage

The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the drug. The amount of thyroid hormone that you need to take every day depends on the results of your thyroid tests. However, treat is usually started with lower doses that are increased a little at a time until you are taking the full amount. This helps prevent side effects.

For levothyroxine
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For replacing the thyroid hormone:
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 0.0125 to 0.05 milligrams - mg once a day. Then, your family doctor may increase your dose a little at a time to 0.075 to 0.125 mg a day. The dose is usually no higher than 0.15 mg once a day.
    • Children less than 6 months of age The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 0.025 to 0.05 mg once a day.
    • Children 6 months to 12 months of age The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 0.05 to 0.075 mg once a day.
    • Children 1 to 5 years of age The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 0.075 to 0.1 mg once a day.
    • Children 6 to 10 years of age The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 0.1 to 0.15 mg once a day.
    • Children over 10 years of age The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 0.15 to 0.2 mg once a day.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For replacing the thyroid hormone:
    • Adults and teenagers 50 to 100 micrograms - mcg injected into a muscle or into a vein once a day. People with very serious conditions causing by too little thyroid hormone may need higher doses.
    • Children less than 6 months of age The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 0.019 to 0.038 mg once a day.
    • Children 6 months to 12 months of age The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 0.038 to 0.056 mg once a day.
    • Children 1 to 5 years of age The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 0.056 to 0.075 mg once a day.
    • Children 6 to 10 years of age The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 0.075 to 0.113 mg once a day.
    • Children over 10 years of age The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your family doctor. The usual dose is 0.113 to 0.15 mg once a day.

For liothyronine sodium
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For replacing the thyroid hormone:
    • Adults and teenagers At first, 25 micrograms - mcg a day. Some diseaseds with very serious conditions causing by too little thyroid hormone may need to take only 2.5 to 5 mcg a day at first. Always some diseaseds with heart disease or the elderly may need lower doses at first. Then, your family doctor may increase your dose a little at a time to up to 50 mcg a day if needed. Your family doctor may want you to divide your dose into smaller amounts that are taken two or more times a day.
  • For treating a large thyroid gland - goiter:
    • Adults At first, 5 mcg a day. Some diseaseds with heart disease or the elderly may need lower doses at first. Then, your family doctor may increase your dose a little at a time to 50 to 100 mcg a day.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For replacing the thyroid hormone in very serious conditions - myxedema coma:
    • Adults At first, 10 to 50 mcg injected into a vein every four to twelve hours. Then, your family doctor may want to adjust your dose depending on your condition.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

For liotrix - levothyroxine and liothyronine combination
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For replacing the thyroid hormone:
    • Adults, teenagers and children At first, 50 micrograms - mcg of levothyroxine and 12.5 mcg of liothyronine once a day. Some people with very serious conditions causing by too little thyroid hormone may need only 12.5 mcg of levothyroxine and 3.1 mcg of liothyronine once a day. Always some elderly diseaseds may need lower doses at first. Then, your family doctor may want to increase your dose a little at a time to up to 100 mcg of levothyroxine and 25 mcg of liothyronine.

For thyroglobulin
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For replacing the thyroid hormone:
    • Adults, teenagers and children At first, 32 milligrams - mg a day. Some people with very serious conditions causing by too little thyroid hormone may need to take only 16 to 32 mg a day at first. Then, the family doctor may want you to increase your dose a little at a time to 65 to 160 mg a day.

For thyroid
• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For replacing thyroid hormone:
    • Adults, teenagers and children 60 milligrams - mg a day. Some people with very serious conditions causing by too little thyroid hormone may need to take only 15 mg a day at first. Always some elderly diseaseds may need lower doses at first. Then, your family doctor may want you to increase your dose a little at a time to 60 to 120 mg a day.

Missed dose If you miss a dose of this drug, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. If you miss 2 or more doses in a row or if you have any questions about this, check with your family doctor.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.