Althixin

Leaflet accompanying the packaging: information for the user

Althyxin, 25 micrograms, tablets
Althyxin, 50 micrograms, tablets
Althyxin, 75 micrograms, tablets
Althyxin, 100 micrograms, tablets
Althyxin, 125 micrograms, tablets
Althyxin, 150 micrograms, tablets
Althyxin, 175 micrograms, tablets
Althyxin, 200 micrograms, tablets
Levothyroxine sodium

You should carefully read the contents of the leaflet before taking the medicine, as it contains important information for the patient.

• You should keep this leaflet, so that you can read it again if you need to.
• If you have any doubts, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed specifically for you. Do not pass it on to others. The medicine may harm another person, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If the patient experiences any side effects, including any side effects not listed in this leaflet, they should tell their doctor or pharmacist. See section 4.

Table of contents of the leaflet

• 1. What is Althyxin and what is it used for
• 2. Important information before taking Althyxin
• 3. How to take Althyxin
• 4. Possible side effects
• 5. How to store Althyxin
• 6. Contents of the packaging and other information

1. What is Althyxin and what is it used for

The active substance of Althyxin is levothyroxine, a synthetic thyroid hormone used to treat thyroid function disorders and diseases. It has the same effect as the thyroid hormone that occurs naturally in the body.
Althyxin is used:

• to treat mild goiter in patients with normal thyroid function,
• to prevent goiter recurrence after surgery,
• to supplement the lack of natural thyroid hormones when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones,
• to inhibit tumor growth in patients with thyroid cancer. Althyxin is also used to balance thyroid hormone levels when thyroid hormone overproduction is treated with antithyroid medications. Althyxin 100 micrograms, 150 micrograms, and 200 micrograms may also be used in tests assessing thyroid function.

2. Important information before taking Althyxin

When not to take Althyxin:

• if the patient is allergic (hypersensitive) to the active substance or any of the other ingredients of Althyxin (listed in section 6),
• if the patient has untreated pituitary or adrenal gland disorders, or if thyroid hormones are overproduced (hyperthyroidism),
• in case of adrenal insufficiency (adrenal cortex insufficiency) and if the patient does not have adequate replacement therapy,

and

• in case of acute heart disease (myocardial infarction or myocarditis).

During pregnancy, do not take Althyxin at the same time as antithyroid medications (antithyroid drugs) (see "Pregnancy and breastfeeding").

Warnings and precautions

Before starting Althyxin, you should discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any of the following heart diseases:

• insufficient blood flow in the coronary arteries (angina pectoris),
• heart failure,
• rapid or irregular heart rhythm,
• high blood pressure (hypertension),
• fatty deposits in the arteries (arteriosclerosis).

It is necessary to treat these disorders before starting Althyxin or performing a thyroid function test. During Althyxin treatment, it is necessary to regularly monitor thyroid hormone levels. If you have any doubts about whether you have any of the above diseases or if they are not treated, you should consult a doctor.
If you have adrenal insufficiency (adrenal cortex insufficiency) before taking Althyxin, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will perform the necessary tests to determine if you have adrenal, pituitary, or thyroid disorders with uncontrolled overproduction of thyroid hormones (autonomous thyroid function), as in such cases, appropriate treatment or a thyroid function test is necessary before starting Althyxin.
You should discuss it with your doctor:

• if you are in menopause or postmenopause; the doctor may then recommend regular thyroid function monitoring due to the risk of osteoporosis;
• if you are changing your levothyroxine medication to another levothyroxine medication. The action of these medications may differ slightly, so more frequent monitoring and dose adjustment may be necessary;
• before starting orlistat (a medication used to treat obesity) and if you stop taking it or change your orlistat treatment, as in these cases, more frequent monitoring and dose adjustment may be necessary;
• in case of symptoms of psychotic disorders, as more frequent monitoring and dose adjustment may be necessary;
• if you are going to have laboratory tests to check your thyroid hormone levels, you should inform your doctor or laboratory staff if you are taking biotin (also known as vitamin H, vitamin B7, or vitamin B8). Biotin may affect laboratory test results (see "Warnings and precautions").
  Regular monitoring of thyroid hormone levels and Althyxin dose adjustment may be necessary.
  Thyroid function disorders may occur if you need to switch to another levothyroxine medication. If you have any questions about switching medications, you should consult a doctor. Close monitoring (clinical and biological) is necessary during the transition period. You should inform your doctor if you experience any side effects, as this may indicate that the dose needs to be increased or decreased.
  You should inform your doctor if you are taking amiodarone (a medication used to treat irregular heart rhythm), as it may affect thyroid function.
  You should tell your doctor that you are taking Althyxin if you need to have an X-ray or other diagnostic test with a contrast agent containing iodine, as this test involves an injection that affects thyroid function.
  You should inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medications, including those available without a prescription.
  Thyroid hormones are not suitable for weight loss. Taking thyroid hormones will not lead to weight loss if your thyroid hormone levels are normal. Increasing the dose without a doctor's recommendation can lead to serious and life-threatening side effects, especially when taken with other weight-loss medications.

  Althyxin and other medications

  You should tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medications you are currently taking or have recently taken, as Althyxin may affect the action of the following medications:

  • Antidiabetic medications (medications that lower blood sugar levels): Althyxin may decrease the effect of blood sugar-lowering medications, which may require additional blood sugar monitoring, especially at the start of Althyxin treatment. During Althyxin treatment, it may be necessary to adjust the dose of antidiabetic medications.

  and

  • Warfarin and other coumarin derivatives (medications used to prevent blood clots): Althyxin may increase the effect of these medications, which may increase the risk of bleeding, especially in elderly patients. Therefore, periodic monitoring of blood coagulation parameters may be necessary before starting treatment and during Althyxin treatment. During Althyxin treatment, it may be necessary to adjust the dose of warfarin and other coumarin derivatives.

  You should follow the recommendations for time intervals between taking this medication and taking any of the following medications.

  • Medications that bind bile acids and lower cholesterol levels (e.g., cholestyramine or colestipol): Althyxin should be taken 4 to 5 hours before taking these medications, as they may inhibit Althyxin absorption from the gut.
  • Antacids (used to relieve heartburn), sucralfate (used to treat stomach or duodenal ulcers), other aluminum-containing medications, iron-containing medications, or calcium-containing medications: Althyxin should be taken at least 2 hours before taking these medications, as they may otherwise reduce the effect of Althyxin.

  You should discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any of the following medications, as they may reduce the effect of Althyxin:

  • Propylthiouracil (an antithyroid medication),
  • Corticosteroids (anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory medications),
  • Beta-blockers (medications that lower blood pressure, also used to treat heart diseases),
  • Sertraline (an antidepressant medication),
  • Chloroquine or proguanil (medications used to prevent or treat malaria),
  • Medications that stimulate certain liver enzymes, such as barbiturates (sedatives, sleep aids), carbamazepine (an antiepileptic medication, also used for certain types of pain and depressive disorders), or medications containing St. John's Wort (some herbal medications),
  • Medications containing estrogens, used in hormone replacement therapy during menopause and postmenopause or to prevent pregnancy,
  • Sevelamer (a phosphate binder used in patients with chronic kidney failure),
  • Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (anticancer and anti-inflammatory medications),
  • Orlistat (a medication used to treat obesity),
  • Proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, and lansoprazole) used to reduce stomach acid production, which may reduce levothyroxine absorption from the gut and make it less effective. If you are taking levothyroxine while being treated with proton pump inhibitors, your doctor should monitor your thyroid function and adjust the Althyxin dose if necessary.

  You should discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any of the following medications, as they may enhance the effect of Althyxin:

  • Salicylates (pain-relieving and antipyretic medications),
  • Dicumarol (a medication that reduces blood clotting),
  • Furosemide in high doses (above 250 mg) (a diuretic medication),
  • Clofibrate (a medication that lowers blood lipid levels).

  You should discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any of the following medications, as they may affect the action of Althyxin:

  • Protease inhibitors (ritonavir, indinavir, lopinavir) used to treat HIV and chronic hepatitis C, phenytoin (an antiepileptic medication).

  If you are taking biotin, you must inform your doctor or laboratory staff if you are going to have thyroid hormone level tests. Biotin may affect laboratory test results (see "Warnings and precautions").
  Regular monitoring of thyroid hormone levels and Althyxin dose adjustment may be necessary.
  Thyroid function disorders may occur if you need to switch to another levothyroxine medication. If you have any questions about switching medications, you should consult a doctor. Close monitoring (clinical and biological) is necessary during the transition period. You should inform your doctor if you experience any side effects, as this may indicate that the dose needs to be increased or decreased.
  You should inform your doctor if you are taking amiodarone (a medication used to treat irregular heart rhythm), as it may affect thyroid function.
  You should tell your doctor that you are taking Althyxin if you need to have an X-ray or other diagnostic test with a contrast agent containing iodine, as this test involves an injection that affects thyroid function.
  You should inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medications, including those available without a prescription.
  Thyroid hormones are not suitable for weight loss. Taking thyroid hormones will not lead to weight loss if your thyroid hormone levels are normal. Increasing the dose without a doctor's recommendation can lead to serious and life-threatening side effects, especially when taken with other weight-loss medications.

  Althyxin with food and drink

  You should inform your doctor if your diet includes soy products, especially if you change the proportion of these products in your diet. Soy products may reduce Althyxin absorption from the gut, which may require a dose adjustment.

  Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  If you are pregnant, you should continue taking Althyxin, but you should discuss it with your doctor, as a dose adjustment may be necessary.
  If you are taking Althyxin at the same time as antithyroid medications used to treat hyperthyroidism, your doctor will recommend stopping Althyxin at the beginning of pregnancy.
  If you are breastfeeding, you can continue taking Althyxin as directed by your doctor. The amount of medication that passes into breast milk is small and does not affect the baby.

  Driving and using machines

  No studies have been conducted to assess the impact on the ability to drive and use machines. It is not expected that Althyxin will affect the ability to drive and use machines, as the levothyroxine in this medication is identical to the thyroid hormone that occurs naturally in the body.

  Althyxin contains lactose

  If you have been diagnosed with intolerance to some sugars, you should discuss it with your doctor before taking this medication.

  Althyxin contains sodium

  This medication contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per tablet, which means that the medication is considered "sodium-free".

  3. How to take Althyxin

  This medication should always be taken as directed by your doctor. If you have any doubts, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
  Your doctor will determine the individual dose for you based on the tests and laboratory results. Treatment usually starts with a small dose, which is increased every 2-4 weeks until the full dose is reached, adjusted individually for you. In the first few weeks, you will be prescribed laboratory tests to allow your doctor to adjust the dose.
  If a child is born with hypothyroidism, the doctor may recommend starting treatment with a higher dose, as it is essential to quickly supplement the lack of thyroid hormones. The recommended initial dose is 10-15 micrograms per kilogram of body weight for the first 3 months. Then, the doctor will adjust the dose individually.
  Typical dose ranges are presented in the table below. Lower doses may be sufficient for:

  • elderly patients,
  • patients with heart disease,
  • patients with severe or prolonged hypothyroidism,
  • patients with a small body mass or giant goiter.

  Althyxin administration	Recommended daily dose of Althyxin
  treatment of goiter in patients with normal thyroid function	75-200 micrograms
  prevention of goiter recurrence after surgery	75-200 micrograms
  supplementation of natural thyroid hormones when their production by the thyroid gland is insufficient initial dose maintenance dose	adults	children
  	25-50 micrograms* 100-200 micrograms	12.5-50 micrograms* 100-150 micrograms per m2 body surface area
  inhibition of tumor growth in patients with thyroid cancer	150-300 micrograms
  balancing thyroid hormone levels when thyroid hormone overproduction is treated with antithyroid medications	50-100 micrograms

  in tests assessing thyroid function

  100 micrograms: 200 micrograms (2 tablets) 2 weeks before the test 150 micrograms: 4 weeks before the test 75 micrograms (½ tablet) for 2 weeks, then 150 micrograms (1 tablet) until the test 200 micrograms: 200 micrograms (1 tablet) 2 weeks before the test

  * Althyxin 125 micrograms, 150 micrograms, 175 micrograms, or 200 micrograms tablets are not suitable for the lower dose range, but your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of Althyxin in tablets.
  Method of administration
  Althyxin is intended for oral administration.
  The entire daily dose of Althyxin should be taken in the morning, on an empty stomach (at least 30 minutes before breakfast), with a small amount of liquid, such as half a glass of water.
  Infants should be given the entire daily dose of Althyxin at once, at least 30 minutes before the first meal of the day. To do this, the tablet should be crushed and mixed with a small amount of water immediately before administration. The resulting suspension should be given with an additional small amount of liquid. A new suspension should be prepared each time before administration.
  Duration of treatment
  The duration of treatment may vary depending on why you are taking Althyxin. Your doctor will discuss with you individually how long you should take this medication. Most patients need to take Althyxin for life.

  Taking a higher dose of Althyxin than recommended

  If you take a higher dose than recommended, you may experience symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excitement, or involuntary movements. In patients with neurological disorders such as epilepsy, single seizures have been observed. Patients at risk of psychotic disorders may experience symptoms of acute psychosis. In such cases, you should contact your doctor.

  Missing a dose of Althyxin

  Do not take a double dose of the medication to make up for a missed dose. The next day, take your usual dose of the medication.
  If you have any doubts about taking this medication, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.

  4. Possible side effects

  Like all medications, Althyxin can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
  If you take a higher dose of Althyxin than recommended or if you have poor tolerance to the recommended dose (e.g., if the dose is increased too quickly), you may experience the following side effects: rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, headache, weakness or muscle cramps, hot flashes (feeling of heat and facial flushing), fever, vomiting, menstrual disorders, pseudotumor cerebri (increased intracranial pressure with papilledema), tremors, restlessness, sleep disturbances, sweating, weight loss, diarrhea.
  If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor. Your doctor may decide to stop treatment for a few days or reduce the dose until the symptoms resolve.
  Allergic reactions to the other ingredients of Althyxin (see section 6) are possible. The frequency of occurrence is unknown. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include facial and throat swelling (angioedema), rash, and urticaria. In this case, you should see a doctor immediately.

  Reporting side effects

  If you experience any side effects, including any side effects not listed in this leaflet, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Drug Safety Monitoring of the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products:
  Jerozolimskie Avenue 181C, 02-222 Warsaw, phone: +48 22 49 21 301, fax: +48 22 49 21 309,
  website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl
  By reporting side effects, you can help gather more information on the safety of this medication.
  Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder.

  5. How to store Althyxin

  The medication should be stored out of sight and reach of children.
  Do not use this medication after the expiration date stated on the blister pack and carton. The expiration date refers to the last day of the specified month.
  Do not store above 25°C.
  Medications should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste.
  You should ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed. This will help protect the environment.

  6. Contents of the packaging and other information

  What Althyxin contains

  • The active substance of Althyxin is levothyroxine sodium.
  • Each tablet contains 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, or 200 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium.
  • The other ingredients are lactose monohydrate, cornstarch, gelatin, croscarmellose sodium, and magnesium stearate.

  What Althyxin looks like and contents of the pack

  Althyxin 25 micrograms are round, white tablets with the number "25" embossed on one side and a score line in the shape of a "+" on the other side.
  Althyxin 50 micrograms are round, white tablets with the number "50" embossed on one side and a score line in the shape of a "+" on the other side.
  Althyxin 75 micrograms are round, white tablets with the number "75" embossed on one side and a score line in the shape of a "+" on the other side.
  Althyxin 100 micrograms are round, white tablets with the number "100" embossed on one side and a score line in the shape of a "+" on the other side.
  Althyxin 125 micrograms are round, white tablets with the number "125" embossed on one side and a score line in the shape of a "+" on the other side.
  Althyxin 150 micrograms are round, white tablets with the number "150" embossed on one side and a score line in the shape of a "+" on the other side.
  Althyxin 175 micrograms are round, white tablets with the number "175" embossed on one side and a score line in the shape of a "+" on the other side.
  Althyxin 200 micrograms are round, white tablets with the number "200" embossed on one side and a score line in the shape of a "+" on the other side.
  The tablets are packaged in PVC/PE/PVDC/Aluminum blisters of 30, 50, 84, 90, or 100 tablets, in a carton.
  Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

  Marketing authorization holder

  Zentiva k.s.
  U Kabelovny 130
  Dolní Měcholupy
  102 37 Prague 10
  Czech Republic

  Manufacturer

  Interpharma Services Ltd.
  43A Cherni Vrach Blvd. 1407- Sofia
  Bulgaria

  This medicinal product has been authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:

  Czech Republic, Poland: Althyxin

  Netherlands:
  Levothyroxine Abdi

  For more information about this medication, you should contact the representative of the marketing authorization holder in Poland:

  Zentiva Polska Sp. z o.o.
  Bonifraterska Street 17
  00-203 Warsaw
  phone: +48 22 375 92 00
  Date of last revision of the leaflet:December 2023