Liotrix, Oral

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is taken by mouth or given by injection to treat hypothyroidism, goiter, and thyroid cancer. It may also be used to test for certain types of thyroid conditions. Use it exactly as directed.
• Keep all appointments for tests to see how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Do not change brands of this medicine without talking to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Other brands may affect you differently. Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: thyroid hormone

Generic and brand names: liotrix, oral; Thyrolar

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat hypothyroidism (when your body does not produce enough thyroid hormone). It may also be used to treat goiter and thyroid cancer.

This medicine may be used to test for certain types of thyroid conditions.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have:

• An allergy to any medicine
• Adrenal or pituitary gland problems
• Diabetes
• Heart disease or a heart attack
• High blood pressure
• Osteoporosis
• Problems with blood clotting
• Trouble swallowing

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. Do not take more or less of it or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. It may take several weeks before you notice an improvement in your symptoms. You may need to take this medicine for the rest of your life.

It is best to take this medicine on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before you eat or 2 hours after you eat. Do not take antacids, iron, or calcium supplements within 4 hours of taking this medicine.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in infants or children. If your child cannot swallow the tablet, tell your healthcare provider. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions carefully for giving this medicine to an infant or child.

What if I miss a dose?

Do not miss a dose. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, headache, nervousness, irritability, trouble sleeping, tremors, leg cramps, muscle weakness, fever, sweating, confusion, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, seizures.

What should I watch out for?

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine should not be used for weight loss. You could have life-threatening effects.

Do not change brands of this medicine without talking to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Other brands may affect you differently.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

If you have diabetes: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Chest pain, trouble breathing, rash, fast or irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, severe dizziness or fainting, unusual sweating, severe nausea or vomiting, severe headache, shakiness or tremors, fever, heat sensitivity, severe diarrhea, seizures.

Other: Unexplained weight gain or loss, change in appetite, mild headache, irritability, change in menstrual periods, leg cramps, nervousness, trouble sleeping, temporary hair loss.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
• Androgen hormones such as methyltestosterone (Android, Testred), oxandrolone (Oxandrin), and testosterone (Androderm, AndroGel, Axiron, Testim)
• Antacids or vitamins that contain aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium, or simethicone (Take them at least 4 hours before or after you take this medicine.)
• Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), rifabutin (Mycobutin), and rifampin (Rifadin)
• Antidepressants such as amitriptyline, citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine, desipramine (Norpramin), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Tofranil), maprotiline, nortriptyline (Pamelor), and sertraline (Zoloft)
• Antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), and primidone (Mysoline)
• Aspirin and other salicylates
• Cholestyramine (Prevalite), colesevelam (Welchol), and colestipol (Colestid) (Take them at least 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take this medicine.)
• Corticosteroids such as betamethasone, cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone, hydrocortisone (A-Hydrocort, Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol, Solu-Medrol), prednisolone (Omnipred, Orapred, Prelone), prednisone (Prednisone Intensol), and triamcinolone (Aristospan, Kenalog)
• Diabetes medicines such as alogliptin (Nesina), canagliflozin (Invokana), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Glynase), insulin, linagliptin (Tradjenta), metformin (Fortamet, Glucophage, Riomet), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), and sitagliptin (Januvia)
• Digoxin (Lanoxin)
• Doxepin (Silenor)
• Epinephrine (Adrenalin, Asthmanefrin, Auvi-Q, EpiPen)
• Hormonal birth control implants, IUDs, patches, pills, shots, and vaginal rings, and hormones such as conjugated estrogens (Premarin), estradiol (Climara, Estrace, Estraderm, Vivelle), medroxyprogesterone (Depo-Provera, Provera), megestrol (Megace), and norethindrone (Aygestin, Micronor)
• Imatinib (Gleevec)
• Iodine (including contrast dye used in CT scans)
• Lithium (Lithobid)
• Medicines to treat high phosphate levels such as lanthanum (Fosrenol) and sevelamer (Renagel, Renvela)
• Mitotane (Lysodren)
• Natural remedies such as guarana and ma huang (ephedra)
• Orlistat (alli, Xenical) (Take at least 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take this medicine.)
• Paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil, Pexeva)
• Raloxifene (Evista)
• Sucralfate (Carafate) (Take at least 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take this medicine.)
• Sulfa antibiotics such as sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra), and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
• Tamoxifen
• Theophylline
• Warfarin (Coumadin)

Certain foods, such as soybean flour (infant formula), cottonseed meal, walnuts, and dietary fiber, may affect how this medicine is absorbed into your body. Talk with your healthcare provider if you eat these types of foods.

Make sure your healthcare provider knows about all other medicines you are taking. Many medicines may affect the levels of thyroid in your body and may change the results of blood tests to check your thyroid.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine in the refrigerator. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.