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Thyroid

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Treatment & Uses
Side Effects
Treating Overdose
Safety Information
Before Using

Generic Name: thyroid (desiccated) (THYE roid (DES i kay ted))
Brand Names: Armour Thyroid, Nature-Throid, Westhroid

What is thyroid?

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Desiccated (dried) thyroid is a combination of hormones that are normally produced by your thyroid gland to regulate the body's energy and metabolism. Thyroid is given when the body does not produce enough of this hormone on its own.

Desiccated thyroid treats hypothyroidism (low levels of hormone). Desiccated thyroid is also used to treat or prevent goiter (enlarged thyroid gland), and is also given as part of a medical tests for thyroid disorders.

This medicine should not be used to treat obesity or weight problems.

Important information about thyroid?

Since thyroid hormone occurs naturally in the body, almost anyone can take desiccated thyroid. You should not use this medication if you have a thyroid disorder called thyrotoxicosis, or an adrenal gland problem that is not controlled by treatment.

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, angina (chest pain), coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes, or problems with your adrenal glands.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

To be sure thyroid is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any follow-up visits to your doctor.

Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. You may need to use this medication for the rest of your life.

Call your doctor if you notice any signs of thyroid toxicity, such as chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, feeling hot or nervous, or sweating more than usual.

Before taking thyroid

Since thyroid hormone occurs naturally in the body, almost anyone can take desiccated thyroid. You should not use this medication if you have a disorder called thyrotoxicosis, or an adrenal gland problem that is not controlled by treatment.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication:

heart disease, angina (chest pain);
coronary artery disease;
congestive heart failure;
diabetes; or
problems with your adrenal gland.

FDA pregnancy category A. Desiccated thyroid is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. However, tell your doctor if you become pregnant, since your dose needs may change. Small amounts of thyroid can pass into breast milk, but this is not expected to harm a nursing baby. However, do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take thyroid?

Take thyroid exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any follow-up visits to your doctor.

Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. You may need to use this medication for the rest of your life.

Call your doctor if you notice any signs of thyroid toxicity, such as chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, feeling hot or nervous, or sweating more than usual.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using thyroid.

Store desiccated thyroid at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include headache, sweating, diarrhea, irregular menstrual periods, feeling restless or irritable, confusion, weakness, swelling in your hands or feet, fast heart rate, chest pain, feeling short of breath, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking thyroid?

If you also take cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran) or colestipol (Colestid), avoid taking these medications within 4 hours before or after you take desiccated thyroid.

Thyroid side effects

Stop using desiccated thyroid and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Less serious side effects may include temporary hair loss (especially in children).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Thyroid Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Hypothyroidism:

Initial: 30 mg orally once a day on an empty stomach. Increase by 15 mg per day every 2 to 3 weeks to achieve normal serum T3 and T4 levels.

Maintenance: 60 to 120 mg per day.

Usual Adult Dose for Thyroid Cancer:

In follicular and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid:
Doses larger than the ones suggested for replacement therapy (30 mg to 120 mg per day) are required . TSH should be suppressed to low or undetectable levels.

Usual Adult Dose for TSH Suppression:

Doses higher than those produced physiologically by the gland results in suppression of the production of endogenous hormone.

Iodine (131) uptake is determined before and after the administration of exogenous hormone. A 50% or greater suppression of uptake indicates a normal thyroid-pituitary axis and thus rules out thyroid gland autonomy.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Hypothyroidism:

Administered orally on an empty stomach:
0 to 6 months: 4.8 to 6 mg/kg/day

6 to 12 months: 3.6 to 4.8 mg/kg/day

1 to 5 years: 3 to 3.6 mg/kg/day

6 to 12 years: 2.4 to 3 mg/kg/day

>=12 years: 1.2 to 1.8 mg/kg/day

What other drugs will affect thyroid?

The following drugs can interact with desiccated thyroid. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these:

birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy;
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
insulin or diabetes medication you take by mouth;
medications that contain iodine (such as I-131);
salicylates such as aspirin, Backache Relief Extra Strength, Novasal, Nuprin Backache Caplet, Doan's Pills Extra Strength, Tricosal, and others; or
steroids such as prednisone and others.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with thyroid. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about desiccated thyroid.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.