Some patients with hypothyroidism can be challenging to treat and require special consideration. Use this section to review the cases of Steve, Jennifer, and Diana to see how to effectively manage their hypothyroidism with SYNTHROID (levothyroxine sodium).
Recently diagnosed patient*
Pregnant patient*
Elderly patient*
*Hypothetical patient profile.
*Hypothetical patient profile.
Study of more than 1500 patients found that 40% of patients being treated for hypothyroidism were not within the normal therapeutic TSH range15
60%
Euthyroid†
40%
Outside of therapeutic TSH range
(N=1525)
Therapeutic TSH range: 0.3-5.1 mIU/L
†Euthyroid=normal thyroid function.
Achieving steady TSH levels and hormonal stability requires precise, individualized dosing, and adequate monitoring is essential in stabilizing TSH levels.2
Adapted from a 1988 biochemical study conducted in 21 adult Caucasian patients in the United Kingdom with primary hypothyroidism who were tested on a series of different thyroxine dosages to evaluate effectiveness of measuring TSH levels to monitor thyroid function.16
Following a 25-mcg dose change of levothyroxine, most patients had changes in TSH levels.
*Hypothetical patient profile.
TSH levels may increase during pregnancy. TSH should be monitored and SYNTHROID dosage adjusted during pregnancy.
Between 50% and 85% of treated hypothyroid women need to increase their levothyroxine dosing during pregnancy
*Hypothetical patient profile.
Gastric acidity is essential for adequate absorption of levothyroxine; therefore, administration of a PPI may affect the intragastric pH, which can reduce absorption
Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach and at least 4 hours before or after medications known to interfere with absorption
Dietary fiber may bind and decrease the absorption of levothyroxine from the gastrointestinal tract
Hypothyroidism
SYNTHROID® (levothyroxine sodium) tablets for oral use is an L-thyroxine (T4) indicated in adult and pediatric patients, including neonates, as a replacement therapy in primary (thyroidal), secondary (pituitary), and tertiary (hypothalamic) congenital or acquired hypothyroidism.
Pituitary Thyrotropin (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, TSH) Suppression
SYNTHROID is indicated in adult and pediatric patients, including neonates, as an adjunct to surgery and radioiodine therapy in the management of thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated thyroid cancer.
SYNTHROID is not indicated for suppression of benign thyroid nodules and nontoxic diffuse goiter in iodine-sufficient patients, as there are no clinical benefits and overtreatment with SYNTHROID may induce hyperthyroidism.
SYNTHROID is not indicated for treatment of hypothyroidism during the recovery phase of subacute thyroiditis.
Thyroid hormones, including SYNTHROID, either alone or with other therapeutic agents, should not be used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss. In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction. Larger doses may produce serious or even life-threatening manifestations of toxicity, particularly when given in association with sympathomimetic amines such as those used for their anorectic effects.
US-SYNT-220356