What is Liothyronine Sodium

Liothyronine Sodium is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the thyroid. It is important for normal energy and metabolism. For a variety of reasons, the body may not produce enough of this hormone on its own. In these cases, liothyronine is taken to replace the body's natural thyroid hormone.

Liothyronine Sodium is used to treat hypothyroidism (low thyroid function). Liothyronine is also used to prevent and treat goiter (growth or enlargement of the thyroid gland). Causes of goiter include hormonal imbalances, radiation, surgery, and cancer.

Liothyronine Sodium may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Before taking Liothyronine Sodium

Some medical conditions may interact with Liothyronine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you are planning to have surgery
• if you are taking blood thinners
• if you have heart disease, angina or chest pain, high blood pressure, diabetes, an overactive thyroid, a long-standing condition of underactive thyroid, or myxedema (a condition characterized by chest pain, increased heart rate, pounding in the chest, excessive sweating, heat intolerance, and nervousness)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Liothyronine. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Estrogen or birth control pills because they may decrease Liothyronine's effectiveness
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), digitalis glycosides (eg, digoxin), ketamine, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), or vasopressors (eg, norepinephrine) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Liothyronine
• Insulin or any other medicine for diabetes (eg, glyburide) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Liothyronine

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Liothyronine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Taking Liothyronine Sodium

Take this medication exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them to you.

Take this medication at the same time each day. Thyroid hormone is usually taken in the morning to prevent insomnia at night.

It is important to take liothyronine regularly to get the most benefit.

Do not stop taking this medication without talking to your doctor. It is important to take this medication to replace the thyroid hormone that the body is not producing. Even if you feel well, you may still need to take this medicine every day.

Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with liothyronine to monitor progress and side effects.

Store liothyronine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Liothyronine Sodium Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur since they may indicate an overdose or an allergic reaction: Less common or rare Headache (severe) in children; skin rash or hives Signs and symptoms of overdose Chest pain; confusion; fast or irregular heartbeat; mood swings; muscle weakness; psychosis; restlessness (extreme); yellow eyes or skin; shortness of breath For patients taking this medicine for underactive thyroid: * This medicine usually takes several weeks to have a noticeable effect on your condition. Until it begins to work, you may experience no change in your symptoms. Check with your doctor if the following symptoms continue: Clumsiness; coldness; constipation; dry, puffy skin; listlessness; muscle aches; sleepiness; tiredness; weakness; weight gain

Other effects may occur if the dose of the medicine is not exactly right. These side effects will go away when the dose is corrected. Check with your doctor if any of the following symptoms occur:

Changes in appetite; changes in menstrual periods; diarrhea; fever; hand tremors; headache; increased sensitivity to heat; irritability; leg cramps; nervousness; sweating; trouble in sleeping; vomiting; weight loss

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Effects with other drugs

Other drugs may bind to liothyronine and reduce the amount that is available in the body, making it less effective. Separate liothyronine doses from the following medicines:

• antacids that contain aluminum,

• the prescription ulcer medicine sucralfate (Carafate),

• the cholesterol-lowering drugs cholestyramine (Questran) and colestipol (Colestid), and

• ferrous sulfate (a type of iron supplement).

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with liothyronine or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Proper Use

Use this medicine only as directed by your doctor . Do not use more or less of it, and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. Your doctor has prescribed the exact amount your body needs and if you take different 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 medicine for the rest of your life. It is very important that you do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor .

Dosing—The dose of these medicines will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of tablets that you take depends on the patient. The amount of thyroid hormone that you need to take every day depends on the results of your thyroid tests. However, treatment 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 replacing the thyroid hormone:

Adults and teenagers—At first, 25 micrograms (mcg) a day. Some patients with very serious conditions caused by too little thyroid hormone may need to take only 2.5 to 5 mcg a day at first. Also, some patients with heart disease or the elderly may need lower doses at first. Then, your doctor may increase your dose a little at a time to up to 50 mcg a day if needed. Your 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 patients with heart disease or the elderly may need lower doses at first. Then, your doctor may increase your dose a little at a time to 50 to 100 mcg a day.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, 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 doctor.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• 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 medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.