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Thyroid Hormone Replacement

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Thyroid Hormone Replacement, Thyroid Replacement, Levothyroxine, Synthroid, Thyroxine Replacement, T4 Replacement, Tirosint, Unithroid

  • See Also
  1. Hypothyroidism
  2. Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy
  3. Neonatal Hypothyroidism
  4. Subclinical Hypothyroidism
  • Indications
  1. Hypothyroidism
  • Contraindications
  1. Euthyroid patients
    1. Avoid use for weight loss in Obesity when Thyroid function is normal
    2. See Adverse Effects below, related to Excessive Thyroid Replacement
  • Mechanism
  1. See Thyroid Physiology
  • Medicatons
  1. See oral and intravenous dosing below
  2. Generic Levothyroxine is of similar quality to brand drugs
    1. However agents from different manufacturers are not bioequivalent
    2. When manufacturer changes, recheck TSH level in 6 to 8 weeks after change
  3. Levothyroxine alone is the only recommended replacement strategy
    1. T4 is converted in peripheral tissues to T3
    2. T3-T4 combination is not recommended
    3. Desiccated Thyroid Hormone is not recommended
    4. Grozinsky-Glasberg (2006) J Clin Endocrinol Metab 91(7): 2592-9 [PubMed]
  4. Available Formulations
    1. Capsules are also available under the trade name Tirosint
    2. Levothyroxine Tablets: 25, 50, 75, 88, 100, 112, 125, 137, 150, 175, 200 and 300 mcg
      1. Tablets may be crushed for use in infants and children
  • Dosing
  • Oral
  1. Use lower dosing in Subclinical Hypothyroidism
    1. See Subclinical Hypothyroidism
  2. Dosing precautions
    1. Take Levothyroxine at a consistent time each day
      1. However, any time of day is just as efficacious as another
    2. Doses should be taken 1 hour before a meal or 4 hours after the last meal (e.g. at bedtime) to maximize absorption
      1. Commonly taken before breakfast or at bedtime
      2. However, consistently taking Levothyroxine in the same way every day is more important than an empty Stomach
        1. If patient can only take at mealtime, then consistently take with meals and adjust dosing
    3. Avoid within 4 hours of products that decrease Levothyroxine absorption (e.g. Calcium, iron, Multivitamins)
      1. See Drug Interactions above
  3. Anticipated total dose (50 to 200 mcg/day in adults, maximum 300 mg/day)
    1. Child 0 to 6 months: 8 to 10 mcg/kg/day orally daily
    2. Child 6 to 12 months: 6 to 8 mcg/kg/day orally daily
    3. Child 1 to 5 years: 5 to 6 mcg/kg/day orally daily
    4. Child 6 to 12 years: 4 to 5 mcg/kg/day orally daily
    5. Child >12 years: 2 to 3 mcg/kg/day orally daily
    6. Adults: 1.6 mcg/kg/day (1.5 to 1.8 mcg/kg/day, or roughly 1 mcg/lb)
    7. Elderly: 1 mcg/kg/day
  4. Younger persons (no comorbid conditions)
    1. Usual starting dose: 75 to 100 mcg daily
    2. Options for initiating dosing
      1. Option 1
        1. Start at 75 to 100 mcg daily
      2. Option 2
        1. Start at 0.8 mcg/kg/day (50% of anticipated dose)
        2. Increase to 1.6 mcg/kg/day at 2 weeks
    3. Titrate dose based on Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
      1. Adjust dose by 12.5 to 25 mcg increments every 6 weeks until full replacement dose reached
    4. Typical dose
      1. Range: 100 to 200 mcg/day
      2. Maximum: 300 mcg/day
  5. Age over 50 years or history of heart disease
    1. Start at 25-50 mcg daily
    2. Adjust dose by 12.5 to 25 mcg increments every 6 weeks until full replacement dose reached
    3. Follow Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) closely
  6. Pregnancy
    1. See Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy
    2. Maintaining euthyroid state in pregnancy is critical
  • Dosing
  • Intravenous dosing
  1. Maintenance (patient unable to take oral dose for >7 days)
    1. Parenteral dose is 70-80% of usual oral dose
  2. Myxedema Coma (Hypothyroid Coma)
    1. Load 300 to 500 mcg IV once
    2. Next: 50 to 100 mcg IV daily until patient able to take oral dosing
  • Adverse Effects
  • Excessive Thyroid Replacement
  1. Osteoporosis
  2. Atrial Fibrillation
  3. Cardiac hypertrophy
    1. Increased Intraventricular septum thickness
    2. Increased Left Ventricular posterior wall thickness
    3. Increased End Diastolic Dimension
    4. Increased Left Ventricular Mass Index
  4. Decreased Exercise Tolerance
    1. Decreased VO2 Max
    2. Decreased Anaerobic threshold
  • Safety
  1. Considered safe in Lactation
  2. Considered safe in pregnancy
    1. See Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy
    2. Maintaining euthyroid state in pregnancy is critical
  • Monitoring
  1. Protocols for monitoring
    1. Monitoring every 6 to 8 weeks
      1. TSH not yet stabilized after initiation
      2. Recent change in Thyroid Replacement dosing
      3. Recent change in manufacturer
    2. Consider monitoring less frequently than annually (usually done annually in this group)
      1. Requires dose stable
      2. Age under 50 years with weight stable
      3. No comorbid condition
      4. Levothyroxine dose 125 mcg or less
      5. Pecina (2014) Am J Med 127(3): 240-5 [PubMed]
    3. Monitoring at least annually (when on stable dose)
      1. Age over 50 years
      2. Weight change
  2. Specific Testing
    1. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
      1. Lags Levothyroxine dose change by 6 weeks
      2. Target adjusting TSH to the normal mid-range (<3 mg/dl)
    2. Thyroxine (T4)
      1. Lags Levothyroxine dose change by 1-2 weeks
  • Drug Interactions (Take 4 hours apart)
  1. Foods that interfere with Levothyroxine absorption (lower levels)
    1. Regular use of these foods may require increased dose
    2. Grapefruit should be avoided regardless of time taken
    3. Walnuts
    4. Dietary Fiber
    5. Soy products including soybean flour
  2. Interfere with GI absorption (lower levels)
    1. Bile Acid Sequestrants (e.g. Cholestyramine, Colestipol)
    2. Ferrous Sulfate
    3. Orlistat
    4. Sucralfate
    5. Aluminum hydroxide or Magnesium HydroxideAntacids
    6. Calcium Supplementation (e.g. Calcium Carbonate)
    7. Proton Pump Inhibitors
    8. Cation-Exchange Resin (e.g. Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate)
  3. Increase metabolism of Thyroxine (lowers levels)
    1. Phenytoin (Dilantin)
    2. Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
    3. Rifampin
    4. Phenobarbital
    5. Warfarin (Coumadin)
    6. Oral Hypoglycemic agents
    7. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or Tricyclic Antidepressants
      1. Most common with Sertraline (Zoloft)
  4. Medications interfere with T4 production and T3 conversion (lower levels)
    1. Lithium
    2. Amiodarone
    3. Medications containing Iodine
    4. Beta Adrenergic Agonists
    5. Glucocorticoids
  5. Medications increasing Protein binding (lowers levels)
    1. Pregnancy (high Estrogenic state)
    2. Oral Contraceptive
    3. Estrogen Replacement
  6. Medications decreasing Protein binding (raises levels)
    1. Furosemide (Lasix)
    2. Mefenamic Acid (Ponstel)
    3. Salicylates
    4. Androgens
    5. Decreased Serum Proteins with aging
    6. Nephrotic Syndrome
    7. Cirrhosis
    8. Protein-losing Enteropathy
  • Resources
  1. Levothyroxine (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=e95720f2-91c9-a6d0-f7d5-8bcb94d07bbc
  • References
  1. (2023) Presc Lett 30(7): 39-40
  2. Svec (2001) CMEA Medicine Lecture, San Diego
  3. Dong (1997) JAMA, 277:1205-13 [PubMed]
  4. Hueston (2001) Am Fam Physician 64:1717-24 [PubMed]
  5. Jonklaas (2014) Thyroid 24(12):1670-751 +PMID:25266247 [PubMed]
  6. Mercuro (2000) J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85:159 [PubMed]
  7. Singer (1995) JAMA 273:808-12 [PubMed]
  8. Surks (1995) N Engl J Med 333:1688-94 [PubMed]