Levothyroxine Ati Template (2024)

FAQs

What is the format of levothyroxine? ›

For oral dosage form (capsules): For hypothyroidism: Adults and children older than 12 years of age (growth and puberty complete)—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 1.7 microgram (mcg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day but may be less in older adults.

Monitor for signs and symptoms of overtreatment with levothyroxine. Indications of overtreatment mimic signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as anxiety, palpitations, tachycardia, heat intolerance, fever, excessive sweating, changes in appetite, and weight loss.

Levothyroxine is mainly used to treat hypothyroidism and myxedema coma, but it is also used to suppress the growth of thyroid cancer and suppress euthyroid goiters (also called a nontoxic goiter). This is a goiter not related to hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, cancer or inflammation.

Levothyroxine works by supplementing the low hormone levels with exogenous T4. Some patients, however, have mildly elevated TSH and normal Free T4. Providers diagnose this as subclinical hypothyroidism, and sometimes this is also treated with levothyroxine to lower TSH.

Description and Brand Names

Levothyroxine is used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. This medicine is also used to help decrease the size of enlarged thyroid glands (also called a goiter).

How to take levothyroxine. Levothyroxine is usually taken in a single dosage, at the same time every day, generally in the morning. It's recommended that you take levothyroxine on an empty stomach, as food and drinks can interfere with its absorption.

Response to thyroxine (levothyroxine sodium) is best monitored biochemically. Thyroid function should be assessed every 6-8 weeks until the patient is euthyroid and then rechecked annunally, aiming to maintain T4 and TSH within the normal range (1).

Nursing Assessment

Assess skin lesions; orientation and affect; blood pressure, pulse, peripheral perfusion, and vessel evaluation; respiration and adventitious breath sounds; thyroid function test to determine baseline status before beginning therapy and for any potential adverse effects.

What are the guidelines for levothyroxine? ›

Nursing considerations

Levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach with water, at least 1 hour before eating. Even coffee has been shown to interfere with the absorption of T4. And levothyroxine is incompatible with many other medications, so it should be taken alone.

Levothyroxine is a thyroid hormone replacement medication used to treat hypothyroidism. To ensure proper absorption and effectiveness of the medication, it should be taken on an empty stomach, preferably in the morning, and at least 30 minutes before eating.

Check with your doctor right away if you have weakness, confusion or non-responsiveness, feeling cold, low body temperature, swelling of the body, especially the face, tongue, and lower legs, or difficulty breathing.

When a person is taking the correct dosage, they will begin to feel better in several ways, including more energy, stronger hair and nails, an increased appetite and metabolism, as well as not feeling cold.

This medicine is a orange, oblong, scored, tablet imprinted with "T 4" and "25".

Multiple dosage forms of levothyroxine are available, including oral tablets, capsules, solutions, and parenteral dosage forms.

Levothyroxine is a synthetic version of a hormone called thyroxine. It replaces thyroxine if your thyroid gland cannot produce it and prevents the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine starts working straight away, but it may be several weeks before your symptoms start to improve.

Levo- is a prefix meaning on the left side, as in levorotation (turning or twisting to the left)¹. It is often used to indicate the configuration of certain molecules, such as levodopa (a drug used to treat Parkinson's disease) or levofloxacin (an antibiotic).