"L-thyroxine" is a synthetic hormone that supports the thyroid gland. The drug, getting into the kidneys and liver, partially turns into triiodothyronine, promotes the development of tissues and their growth, improves metabolism.
Form of release of the drug, its components
The drug is made on the basis of sodium levothyroxine, the dosage of which can be different - 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 μg. You can purchase a pack of 25, 50 and 100 tablets. Excipients are represented by dextrin, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate type A, calcium dihydrogen phosphate, partial long chain glycerides.
Pharmacodynamics of the drug "L-Thyroxine"
The composition of the drug contains synthetic levothyroxine, which has the same effect as the natural thyroid hormone, the production of which is carried out mainly by the thyroid gland.
Due to the partial transformation of the drug into the T3 hormone and distribution in the cells of the body, it affects the development and growth processes, as well as metabolic processes.
Substitution of thyroid hormones is the basis for the normalization of metabolism. The effect of the drug can reduce cholesterol in hypothyroidism.
Pharmacokinetics of the drug "L-Thyroxine"
Absorption is not more than 80% after taking fasting L-Thyroxine. Instructions for use show that the absorption rate is determined by the galenic form of the drug. This process occurs mainly in the small intestine. Eating significantly reduces the absorption of components.
In blood plasma, the highest level of the main component is achieved within about three hours. The therapeutic effect develops on the third to fifth day after the first oral administration. Communication with plasma proteins is almost complete (more than 99%), this is not a covalent interaction, therefore, a quick exchange occurs between hormones (bound and free), which is constant. Hemoperfusion and hemodialysis do not affect the content of the thyroxine drug components in the body, the instructions for use report that this happens due to good binding to proteins.
Partial elimination of the drug occurs in about seven days, with hypothyroidism, this process can take ten days. With hyperthyroidism, partial removal of the drug from the body occurs quickly - in three to four days. Some of the active component accumulates in the liver. Metabolic processes occur mainly in the muscles, brain tissue, liver and kidneys, ending with the formation of metabolites that are present in the feces and urine.
Indications for the use of the drug "L-Thyroxine"
Indications depend on the amount of active substance in the composition of the drug.
For tablets "Thyroxin 50" and "Thyroxin 100" instructions for use displays such indications:
- hypothyroidism (replacement therapy);
- benign thyroid disease;
- hyperthyroidism (a medication is used in the implementation of thyrostatic therapy as an adjuvant when a functional euthyroid state is achieved);
- goiter (the medicine is used for prophylactic purposes so that there is no relapse of such a pathology as goiter after its resection).
For a drug with a basic substance content of 100 μg, additional readings are as follows:
- diagnostic test;
- thyroid cancer (conduct replacement and suppressive therapy, in most cases after thyroidectomy).
With other doses of the active substance “L-Thyroxine”, the instructions for use recommend the appointment in the following cases:
- euthyroid goiter;
- hypothyroidism;
- malignant thyroid tumor (the drug is used for replacement or thyroidostatic therapy, usually as a result of thyroidectomy);
- the need to exclude relapse of goiter.
Contraindications to taking the drug "L-Thyroxine"
The medication is not prescribed for hypersensitivity to the substance on the basis of which it is made, or to its auxiliary components. There are other contraindications for taking the drug "Thyroxine" (tablets). Instructions for use include:
- acute myocardial infarction;
- thyrotoxicosis;
- Ischemic heart disease;
- acute flowing pancreatitis;
- insufficiency of decompensated pituitary or adrenal cortex;
- acute myocarditis;
- decompensated hyperthyroidism of different origin.
Pregnant women should not use "L-thyroxine" together with thyreostatic drugs - it is unacceptable to combine such drugs.
Levothyroxine treatment, dosage of the drug
The instructions indicate the recommended dosage of the drug, the doctor should determine the necessary dose for patients. First, the specialist prescribes a low dose of the drug and gradually increases it, observing the interval of 14-28 days, until a therapeutic effect is obtained. The tablet is swallowed with water, do not chew. The drug is taken at least half an hour before eating. If you could not take the pill on time, the next time you drink the drug, as usual. The dose of the active substance in the described medication, as mentioned above, is different.
Taking the drug with a dosage of 50, 100 mcg
The treatment regimen depends on the age of the patient.
Adult patients
In order to prevent, when it is necessary to exclude the risk of re-development of goiter, and in case of benign disorders “L-Thyroxine 50”, the instructions for use recommend that it be prescribed in an amount of 75 to 200 μg / day. When prescribing replacement therapy, patients with hypothyroidism are advised to take from 25 to 50 micrograms, and when prescribing maintenance treatment - from 100 micrograms, but not more than 200. Hyperthyroidism, when it is planned to carry out concomitant therapy, is treated with a drug in a dose of 50 to 100 micrograms. In cancer, when replacement or suppressive therapy is required, 150 to 300 micrograms are taken per day. To perform a diagnostic test, it is required to take 200 mcg of the drug inside two days before the procedure.
Children with hypothyroidism (acquired, congenital)
With a congenital disease, children and infants are first prescribed 10 μg per kilogram of weight during the implementation of substitution therapy. Such a quantity of “Thyroxin 50” medicine is recommended for use for three months. In the future, the dose is changed after the necessary studies.
For children whose hypothyroidism is acquired, the drug is prescribed in an amount of 12.5 to 50 micrograms for use before breakfast. Gradually increasing the dose, it is brought to the optimum for the implementation of replacement therapy. For children under the age of three years, the dose is increased at least 30 minutes before the first meal on that day. The tablets are dissolved in 10-15 ml of water, after which a little more water is added, about 5-10 ml. The size of the daily maintenance dose corresponds to 100-150 μg per 1 m 2 of body area.
Elderly patients
"L-Thyroxine 50" instructions for use by such patients are advised to be taken with caution when treatment is at the initial stage, especially in the presence of IHD, a prolonged decrease in thyroid function or its severe hypofunction. A minimum daily dose of 12.5 mcg is required. Increase the dose for a long time, little by little. With maintenance therapy, 12.5 μg of the drug is added, adhering to an interval of 14 days. In addition to “Thyroxine”, other drugs are prescribed to patients. In older people, it is necessary to check blood for the content of TSH more often. It should be borne in mind that a dose that is not optimal will not lead to the necessary correction of TSH levels. The minimum dose is sufficient in the presence of nodular goiter, which is large, and with low body weight.
Taking a drug with a dose of the active substance 75, 125 and 150 mcg
Let us further consider the treatment regimen for children and adults with the L-Thyroxine preparation, depending on the concentration of the active substance in it.
Adults
In hypothyroidism, from 25 mcg of the drug is prescribed first, no more than 50. In this disease, a dose of 100 mcg to 200 is considered supportive, an increase is made with an interval of 14-28 days by 25-50 mcg. The "L-Thyroxine Berlin-Chemie" application instruction, if necessary, to eliminate relapse of goiter, is recommended to be used in a dose of 75 mcg to 200. With a goiter of a benign nature and euthyroid state, the recommended dose is the same. If hyperthyroidism is treated with thyreostatics and it is planned to carry out concomitant treatment with the use of Thyroxin, it is necessary to adhere to a dose of 50 μg to 100. After performing thyroidectomy in the presence of a malignant tumor, you need to take an agent from 150 to 300 μg.
Children over three years old
If hypothyroidism is acquired, first take from 12.5 μg to 50, gradually increasing the dose every two to four weeks, taking into account the results of the analyzes.
Elderly people
"Thyroxine" instructions for use at this age are advised to be used with caution, starting with a minimum dose of 12.5 mcg. The amount of drug needed for administration is increased slowly.
How long does treatment with L-Thyroxine last?
In case of hypothyroidism, the use of L-Thyroxine-Acre is recommended constantly. When carrying out prophylaxis aimed at eliminating relapse of goiter, its minimum duration is several months and can be increased to several years, in some cases tablets are taken for life for prophylactic purposes. Therapy with euthyroid goiter in mild form lasts for six months, but no more than two years, if there is no necessary result, choose another treatment option. In severe forms, the drug is taken for several months or for several years, sometimes such a need exists throughout life. When a person with a malignant tumor was diagnosed with a thyroidectomy, usually the medicine must be used all his life. If “Thyroxine” is used as an auxiliary medicine for hyperthyroidism, the instructions for use advise you to take it the same way as when using tablets during thyreostatic therapy.
Pregnancy, breast milk feeding.
At this time, it is very important to carry out replacement therapy with the use of thyroid hormones, it can not be interrupted. Even with intensive use of the drug, there is no risk to the fetus, but you should not exceed the dose recommended by the doctor. Very little medicine passes into breast milk, so there is no danger.
Since the level of estrogen is increased during the gestation of a child, the need for the use of L-thyroxine also increases. Instructions for use show that with hypofunction it is necessary to check the state of the thyroid gland both during pregnancy and after the end of this period. In addition, if necessary, you need to adjust the dose of the drug depending on the needs of the body.
If a pregnant woman uses thyreostatics to treat hyperthyroidism, their dose should be minimal. Pregnant patients are not tested for thyroid function suppression.
Weight Loss with L-Thyroxine
To reduce body weight, 1.8 μg of the drug is taken per 1 kg of weight. The dose of the drug in some cases may vary. The amount of the “Thyroxine” agent used recommends that the instructions for use be reduced if a person has heart or vascular disease. In such cases, the dose per kilogram is 0.9 mcg. With obesity, on the contrary, it is increased, it is recommended to use 2 μg of medication per kilogram of weight.
At the very beginning, when losing weight, no one should take more than 100 mcg per day. If the drug was taken for a week, while there were no negative reactions of the body, a dosage increase of up to 300 mcg is allowed. For both treatment and weight loss, it is forbidden to take more L-Thyroxine, instructions for use. For weight loss, a drug containing 50 μg of the active ingredient or 100 is used. When using tablets containing 50 μg of the main ingredient, drink one tablet for four days half an hour before breakfast, from the fifth to the seventh day, two tablets. In the future, you can take up to four tablets per day, no more. The course is completed after 21 days by gradually reducing the dose of the drug.
At a dose of levothyroxine sodium 100 μg until the seventh day inclusive, the drug is taken in the same way as in the previous case. From the eighth day they constantly drink three tablets. The course should last seven weeks. In the normal state of the thyroid gland, it is not recommended to take “Thyroxine” instructions for use for longer. For weight loss, the drug is best used in minimal quantities, so that the risk of harming health is reduced. But even under such conditions, hormonal levels may be disturbed. Starting to lose weight, based on the use of "Thyroxine", you must consider this risk. In addition, you must adhere to a diet.
Doctors usually do not approve of misuse of medication. It is worth remembering that taking "Thyroxine" in the normal state of the thyroid gland and without consulting a specialist can be dangerous. Nevertheless, one must lose weight in a natural way, with the use of physical activity and diets, and not medications.
Side effects of "L-thyroxine"
When using 50 and 100 micrograms of L-Thyroxine, the instructions for use include negative manifestations in cardiac activity, in the work of the nervous, digestive and reproductive systems as possible side effects. General disturbances of the state of the body and changes from the subcutaneous tissue and skin are possible. Usually undesirable reactions in the body occur when the prescribed dose of the drug is not suitable or an overdose has occurred associated with a sharp increase in the amount of the drug used at the initial stage of therapy.
With symptoms of an overdose, the prescribed dose of the medication is reduced or they do not take the medicine for several days. Cases of death occurring suddenly due to a malfunction of the heart are known. Death occurred in people who for a long time drank tablets containing large doses of the active substance.
If negative changes in the body have disappeared after discontinuation of the thyroxin Berlin-Chemie drug, the instructions for use can restore treatment. However, the dose should be selected with caution. If allergic reactions have been noticed, the drug is no longer used.
For dosages of the active substance 75, 125 and 150 μg, the following violations exist:
- menstrual problems;
- sleep disturbance;
- weakness;
- tachycardia;
- a change in normal body temperature;
- cardiopalmus;
- headache;
- diarrhea;
- nausea accompanied by vomiting;
- anxiety;
- convulsive conditions;
- heat;
- pseudotumor of the brain;
- tremor;
- weight loss;
- angina pectoris;
- arrhythmia;
- increased sweating;
- allergic reactions.
With an overdose, they do the same as in the previous case.
Special instructions for the drug "L-Thyroxine"
Does not associate with a decrease in body weight, the use of L-Thyroxine, instructions for use. Nevertheless, many people use the drug for weight loss, despite this, and some even report good results.
Before taking the medication, the presence of contraindications is excluded, its use is possible after normalization of the patient's condition, but not in all cases. Some patients often have to check the state of the thyroid gland, if such a need exists, the doctor will report this.
With early termination of treatment, the symptoms of the disease may return, so you need to go through the entire course. The possibility of combining the drug with other drugs should be obtained from the doctor. If it is forbidden to use “Thyroxine” instructions for use, analogues (“Bagotirox”, “L-Tyrok”, “Eutiroks”, etc.) are considered by a specialist and are selected taking into account the patient's condition, indications, contraindications.
Reviews about the drug "L-Thyroxine"
Testimonials indicate that L-Thyroxine helps the thyroid gland fulfill its function. Many are satisfied with the price, the effectiveness of the drug. People note that it is convenient to use. The medication normalizes the level of thyroid hormones, allows you to eliminate goiter, many patients notice significant improvements after treatment with the course, which is confirmed by the results of the analyzes. , , . , , , «-». , , , , . , , , . , , . .
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