Package Leaflet: Information for the Patient
Levotiroxina sódica Teva 100 microgramos comprimidos EFG
Levotiroxina sódica
Read this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
-Keep this leaflet, as you may need to read it again.
-If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
-This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not give it to others, even if they have the same symptoms of disease as you, as it may harm them.
-If you experience any side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
1. What Levotiroxina sódica Teva is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you start taking Levotiroxina sódica Teva
3. How to take Levotiroxina sódica Teva
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Levotiroxina sódica Teva
6. Contents of the pack and additional informationl
Levotiroxina sódica Teva contains a thyroid hormone as active ingredient.
The goal of treatment with levotiroxina sódica is to replace the thyroid hormone and/or alleviate the stress on the thyroid gland.
Levotiroxina sódica is used as:
Do not take Levotiroxina sódica Teva
During pregnancy, Levotiroxina sódica Teva should not be used at the same time as medications for an overactive thyroid gland (antithyroid medications)(see also “Pregnancy, lactation and fertility”).
Check for diseases
Before starting treatment with Levotiroxina sódica Teva, the following diseases must be ruled out or treated:
These conditions and diseases must be ruled out or treated before performing a thyroid suppression test, except in thyroid autonomy, which may be the reason for performing the thyroid suppression test.
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take Levotiroxina sódica Teva.
–Ifyou have already had a heart attack or havecoronary heart failure, heart muscle weakness, arrhythmias with tachycardiaor non-acute myocardial inflammation, or if you have achronic thyroid insufficiency.
A medical check-up of the symptoms caused by excessive thyroid hormone due to the administration of Levotiroxina sódica Teva,(see section 4. “Possible side effects”)and thus avoid excessively high levels of hormone in the blood. In these cases, you must undergo frequent checks of your thyroid hormone levels (see section 3).
–If you have a thyroid dysfunction caused by pituitary insufficiency (see also “Do not take Levotiroxina sódica Teva”).
–If you have underactive adrenal glands (adrenal insufficiency).
This disease must be treated (hydrocortisone treatment) before starting treatment with thyroid hormones (see also “Do not take Levotiroxina sódica Teva”).
–If you suspect uncontrolled overproduction of thyroid hormones (thyroid autonomy) in areas of the thyroid gland, recommended checks to review the thyroid regulation system before starting treatment.
–If you have diabetes, you may need to adjust your antidiabetic medication (see also “Do not take Levotiroxina sódica Teva”).
– If you are being treated with certain anticoagulantsor medications that may affect thyroid function (for example, amiodarone, tyrosine kinase inhibitors [for cancer treatment], salicylates, and furosemide in high doses). Please note the information provided in the section "Other medications and Levotiroxina sódica Teva”.
–If you have epilepsy (seizures). Seizures may occur at the beginning of treatment with levotiroxina.
Consult your doctor:
Improper use
Thyroid hormones are not suitable for weight loss. Taking thyroid hormones
will not reduce your weight, if you have a normal level of thyroid hormone. If you increase the dose without
any special control by your doctor, serious side effects may occur or even
put your life at risk, especially if taken with other
weight loss medications.
Change of therapy
If you need to change your medication to another treatment that contains levotiroxina, it may
produce a thyroid imbalance. Consult your doctor if you have any doubts about the change
of treatment.A close monitoring (clinical and biological) is necessary during the transition period.You must inform your doctor if you have any side effects, as your dose may need to be adjusted upwards or downwards.
Children
Regular blood pressure control will be performed when starting treatment with levotiroxina in premature newborns with very low birth weight because it may cause a rapid drop in blood pressure (known as circulatory collapse).
If your child is receiving thyroid hormone replacement therapy, hair loss may occur during the first few months of starting this medication, although it is a transient and normal phenomenon and hair usually grows back.
Older adults
In elderly patients, the dose must be carefully measured and individually determined, especially in patients with heart failure, and must be closely monitored by your doctor.
Levotiroxina sódica Teva with other medications
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently or may need to take any other medication.
Levotiroxina sódica Teva affects the efficacy of the following medications:
Antidiabetic medications (medications to reduce blood sugar levels)
Levotiroxina may reduce the effect of these medications that reduce blood glucose levels such as metformin, glimepiride, glibenclamide, and insulin. You may need additional checks of your blood sugar levels, especially at the beginning and end of treatment, and if necessary, the dose of antidiabetic medications will be adjusted.
Coumarin derivatives (medications used to prevent blood coagulation)
Levotiroxina may potentiate the effect of these medications due to protein displacement. You may need periodic checks of your blood coagulation values during treatment with levotiroxina; if necessary, the dose of your coumarin medication will be adjusted.
The efficacy of Levotiroxina sódica Teva may be affected by the following medications:
Ion exchange resins,bile acid sequestrants
Medications for cholesterol treatment (such as cholestyramine, colestipol, colesevelam) or to reduce high potassium or phosphate levels in the blood (calcium and sodium sulfate polystyrene, sevelamer) by blocking the absorption of levotiroxina from the intestine. Therefore, make sure to take Levotiroxina sódica Teva 4-5 hours beforesthese medications.
Antacids containing aluminum, medications containing iron, or calcium
Medications containing aluminum used to bind stomach acid (antacids, sucralfate), medications containing iron and calcium may reduce the absorption of levotiroxina from the intestine. Therefore, make sure to take Levotiroxina sódica Teva 2 hours beforesthese medications.
Proton pump inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, and lansoprazole) are used to reduce stomach acid production, which may reduce levotiroxina absorption in the intestine, and thus making it less effective. If you are taking levotiroxina at the same time as proton pump inhibitors, your doctor must monitor your thyroid function and may need to adjust the dose of Levotiroxina sódica Teva.
Propylthiouracil (antithyroid medication), glucocorticoids (cortisol hormones), and beta-blockers (medications that reduce heart rate and low blood pressure)
These substances block the conversion of levotiroxina to its active form, triiodothyronine, and thus may make Levotiroxina sódica Teva less effective.
Amylase (medication used to treat heart rhythm disorders) and contrast agents containing iodine(certain agents used in X-ray diagnosis),may lead to high iodine content resulting in hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Special caution should be exercised in patients with nodular thyroid autonomy (nodules in the thyroid gland that secrete hormones).
Amylase blocks the conversion of levotiroxina to triiodothyronine, the active form, and thus may affect the effect of Levotiroxina sódica Teva. You may need to adjust the dose of Levotiroxina sódica Teva.
Salicylates, dicumarol, furosemide, clofibrate
Levotiroxina may be displaced from its plasma protein binding by salicylates (medications used to relieve pain and reduce fever), specifically in doses above 2.0 g / day, dicumarol (medication to prevent blood coagulation), furosemide in high doses of 250 mg (diuretic), clofibrate (medication to reduce blood lipid levels) and other substances. This may cause an increase in free thyroxine levels in the blood.
Medications containing estrogens used in hormone replacement therapy during and after menopause or to prevent pregnancy
The need for levotiroxina may increase in patients receiving hormone replacement therapy (the pill) or hormone replacement therapy during and after menopause.
Sertraline (antidepressant), chloroquine or proguanil (medication to prevent or treat malaria and rheumatic disorders)
These substances reduce the effect of levotiroxina and increase TSH levels in the blood.
Tricyclic antidepressants (such as amitriptyline, imipramine)
If you take levotiroxina, the response to treatment with tricyclic antidepressants will be accelerated, due to increased sensitivity of receptors to catecholamines.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (cancer and anti-inflammatory medications)
These medications (e.g. imatinib, sunitinib, sorafenib, motesanib) may reduce levotiroxina (thyroxine) levels in the blood. Your doctor may need to adjust the dose of Levotiroxina sódica Teva.
Digoxin (medication used to treat heart disorders)
If you start treatment with levotiroxina while taking digoxin, your doctor may need to adjust the dose of digoxin. Hypothyroid patients may need a gradual increase in digoxin dose due to initial sensitivity to digoxin.
Sympathomimetic agents (such as adrenaline)
When sympathomimetic agents are used together with levotiroxina, their effect is potentiated.
Medications that activate certain enzymes
Rifampicin (antibiotic), carbamazepine (medication used to treat seizures), phenytoin (medication used to treat seizures and heart rhythm disorders), barbiturates (used in seizures, for anesthesia; certain sleeping pills) and products containing St. John's Wort (a plant-based medication) may weaken the effect of levotiroxina.
Protease inhibitors (medications to treat HIV and chronic hepatitis C infection)
A loss of therapeutic effect of levotiroxina has been reported when used together with –lopinavir/ritonavir. Therefore, thyroid function and clinical symptoms must be closely monitored in patients taking levotiroxina and protease inhibitors.
Orlistat (weight loss medication)
When orlistat and levotiroxina are administered together, hypothyroidism and/or reduced control of hypothyroidism may occur.
Semaglutide
If you are taking levotiroxina at the same time as semaglutide (an antidiabetic medication), this may affect levotiroxina levels and your doctor may need to monitor your thyroid function and adjust the dose of levotiroxina.
Interference with laboratory tests
Biotin
If you are taking or have recently taken biotin, inform your doctor and/or laboratory personnel when you are about to undergo laboratory tests to control your thyroid hormone levels. Biotin may affect the results of your laboratory tests (see “Warnings and precautions”).
Levotiroxina sódica Teva with food and beverages
If your diet contains soy, your doctor will monitor your thyroid hormone levels more frequently. Your doctor may need to adjust the dose of levotiroxina during and after the interruption of this diet (you may need unusually high doses), as soy products may alter levotiroxina absorption in the intestine and thus make it less effective.
Do not take Levotiroxina sódica Teva with coffee, as this may reduce levotiroxina absorption in the intestine and thus reduce its effectiveness. After taking levotiroxina, wait at least half an hour to an hour before taking coffee. It is recommended that patients already being treated with levotiroxina not change their coffee drinking habit without their thyroid hormone levels being controlled and monitored by their doctor.
Pregnancy, lactation, and fertility
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you think you may be pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication.
Thyroid hormone treatment is especially important during pregnancy and lactation, so it must be continued under the supervision of your doctor. Despite extensive use during pregnancy, no adverse effects of levotiroxina on pregnancy or fetal or newborn health have been reported.
During pregnancy, the need for levotiroxina may increase due to high estrogen levels (female sex hormone). Therefore, thyroid function must be monitored during and after pregnancy, and the dose of thyroid hormone will be adjusted accordingly.
During pregnancy, do not take Levotiroxina sódica Teva at the same time as antithyroid medications (the so-called thyroid suppressants), as this will result in the need for a higher thyroid suppressant dose. Antithyroid medications (unlike levotiroxina) can enter the bloodstream of the fetus through the placenta and are capable of causing hypothyroidism in the fetus. If you have an overactive thyroid gland, your doctor must treat you during pregnancy only with thyroid suppressants in low doses.
If you are breastfeeding, continue taking levotiroxina as directed by your doctor.
Even during treatment with high doses of levotiroxina, the amount of levotiroxina that passes into breast milk during lactation is very low and harmless.
Thyroid suppression tests should not be performed during pregnancy and lactation.
It is likely that hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism will affect fertility. When treating patients with hypothyroidism, the dose of Levotiroxina sódica Teva must be adjusted based on laboratory test results, as an insufficient dose may not improve hypothyroidism and an excessive dose may cause hyperthyroidism.
Driving and operating machinery
No studies have been conducted on the effects on driving and operating machinery. Since levotiroxina is identical to the naturally produced thyroid hormone, it is not expected that Levotiroxina sódica Teva will interfere with driving and operating machinery.
Levotiroxina sódica Teva contains sodium
This medication contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per tablet, which is essentially “sodium-free”.
Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
Your doctor will determine your individual dose based on the tests and laboratory analyses that have been performed on you.
If any thyroid function remains, a low dose of thyroid hormone will be sufficient.
When starting treatment, special caution is required in elderly patients, patients with heart failure, and patients with severe or long-standing hypothyroidism. This means starting with a low dose that will be gradually increased slowly and at large time intervals, with frequent laboratory tests. It has also been shown that in patients with low body weight and large goiters, it is necessary to start with low doses.
Dose
For individual treatment, tablets are available in different doses from 25 to 200 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium. In most cases, only one tablet will be taken per day.
Adults with hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism) will start with 25-50 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium per day (equivalent to 25-50 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium). This dose will be increased following the doctor's instructions in 25-50 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium (equivalent to half a tablet to one tablet) at intervals of 2 to 4 weeks, until a daily dose of 100 to 200 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium is reached.
To prevent the reappearance of goiter after surgery and to treat benign goiter, 75-200 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium will be taken daily.
As an adjunct to antithyroid treatment in the case of hyperthyroidism, 50-100 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium will be taken per day.
After thyroid gland surgery for malignant thyroid tumor, the daily dose is 150-300 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium.
For thyroid suppression testing, 200 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium should be taken per day for 14 days until the test is performed.
Generally, treatment starts with a low dose that will be gradually increased in adults and for treatment in children.
The tablet can be divided into equal doses.
Use in children
In newborns and infants with hypothyroidism, who need to start treatment as soon as possible to achieve normal mental and physical development, the recommended initial dose is 10-15 micrograms per kilogram of body weight for the first 3 months. From then on, your doctor will adjust the dose individually.
Children with acquired hypothyroidism will start with a maximum daily dose of 12.5-50 micrograms of levothyroxine sodium; this dose will be gradually increased and at prolonged intervals, following the doctor's instructions. The dose for long-term treatment will depend on the child's age and body weight.
Administration form
Take a single dose per day with an empty stomach in the morning, at least half an hour before breakfast, as the active principle is better absorbed with an empty stomach than before or after meals. Tablets should be swallowed whole without chewing, preferably with a little liquid, for example, with half a glass of water.
Children can take their entire daily dose at least half an hour before the first meal of the day. Immediately before taking, crush the tablet and mix it with a little water (10-15 ml) and give it to the child with a little more liquid (5-10 ml). Prepare the mixture at the time of taking.
Treatment duration
- If you have hypothyroidism or have undergone surgery for a malignant thyroid tumor, you will take levothyroxine for the rest of your life.
- To prevent the reappearance of goiter after surgery and to treat benign goiter, the treatment duration is 6 months to 2 years for the rest of your life.
- Concomitant treatment of hyperthyroidism is indicated during the period in which the antithyroid drug is administered.
- For the treatment of benign goiter with normalized thyroid function, the treatment duration is 6 months to 2 years. If Levotiroxina sódica Teva treatment does not produce the expected result within this time period, other treatments should be considered.
If you take more Levotiroxina sódica Teva than you should
In case of overdose, typical symptoms of hyperthyroidism (see section 4 "Possible adverse effects") will be observed. Consult your doctor immediately if these symptoms appear.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicological Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.
If you forgot to take Levotiroxina sódica Teva
Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed doses.
Continue taking your tablets regularly as prescribed.
If you interrupt treatment with Levotiroxina sódica Teva
You must take Levotiroxina sódica Teva daily at the dose prescribed by your doctor. In no circumstances should you modify, suspend, or interrupt the treatment prescribed without consulting your doctor. Symptoms may return if you suspend or interrupt treatment before you should. The nature of these symptoms depends on the underlying disease.
If you have any other doubts about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine may cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or to the other components of levotiroxina
In case of hypersensitivity to sodium levotiroxine or to any of the other components of Levotiroxina sódica Teva, allergic reactions may occur in the skin and in the respiratory tract region (immediately or several days after administration of the drug), which may put life at risk. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, throat, or tongue (angioedema), skin rash, urticaria, or itching.Immediately contact a doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately.
Intolerance to the dose, overdose
If the administered dose is not tolerated or the dose is too high, typical symptoms of hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis) may appear, particularly if the dose is increased rapidly at the beginning of treatment.
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 patients)
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 patients)
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000 patients)
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):
- shortness of breath, excessive sweating,
- weight loss,
- tremor, restlessness, excitability,
- angina (chest pain with oppression),
- cardiac arrhythmias,
- high blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure, myocardial infarction,
- circulatory collapse in premature neonates with very low birth weight (see section 2. “What you need to know before starting to take Levotiroxina Teva”),
- difficulty breathing (dyspnea),
- increased appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
- muscle weakness and muscle cramps,
- fragile bones (osteoporosis) at high doses of levotiroxine, especially in postmenopausal women, mainly when treated for a prolonged period,
- fever,
- intolerance to heat,
- mild hair loss in children,
- menstrual disorders in women.
Consult your doctor if you notice any of these side effects. Normally, side effects disappear when the dose is changed.
In children, an overdose of sodium levotiroxine may cause premature fusion of bones and interruption of growth.
Measures to treat an overdose
In case of adverse effects, report to your doctor. Your doctor may consider interrupting treatment for several days or reducing the daily dose until adverse effects have disappeared. Treatment may be resumed when adverse effects have disappeared.
Reporting of adverse effects:
If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse effect that does not appear in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the Spanish System for Pharmacovigilance of Medicines for Human Use: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the packaging and blister pack after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Do not store at a temperature above 25°C.
Do not use this medication if you observe visible signs of deterioration.
Medications should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Dispose of the packaging and medications you no longer need at the SIGRE collection point at the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medications you no longer need. By doing so, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Levotiroxina sódica Teva
- The active ingredient is levotiroxina sódica.
Cada comprimido contains 100 micrograms of levotiroxina sódica.
- The other excipients are cornstarch, pregelatinized cornstarch, microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous colloidal silica, magnesium stearate.
Aspect of the product and content of the package
Levotiroxina sódica Teva 100 micrograms tablets are white or off-white, round, 8 mm in diameter, and flat with a cross-shaped groove on one face and the inscription “L4” on the other face.
Levotiroxina sódica Teva 100 micrograms is available in the following package sizes: 20, 28, 30, 50, 56, 60, 84, 90, 100, 112, and 250 (blister packs),
50x1 (single-dose blister pack), 98 (calendar pack);
Not all package sizes may be marketed.
Holder of the marketing authorization and responsible for manufacturing
Holder
Teva Pharma, S.L.U.
Anabel Segura, 11 Edificio Albatros B, 1st Floor
28108 Alcobendas,Madrid
Responsible for manufacturing
TEVA Pharmaceutical Works Private Limited Company
Pallagi út 13, 4042 Debrecen,
Hungary
or
PLIVA Krakow Zaklady Farmaceutyczne S.A.,
ul. Mogilska 80. 31-546, Krakow,
Poland
or
Pharmachemie B.V.,
Swensweg5, 2031 GA Haarlem,
Netherlands
or
TEVA Santé,
Rue Bellocier, 89107 Sens,
France
or
Teva Czech Industries s.r.o.,
Ostravska 29, c.p. 305, 74770
Opava-Komarov, Czech Republic
or
TEVA PHARMA S.L.U.,
C/C, n. 4, Poligono Industrial Malpica, 50016 Zaragoza,
Spain
or
Teva Kutno S.A.,
Ul. Sienkiewicza 25,
99-300 Kutno, Poland
or
Merckle GmbH,
Ludwig-Merckle Strasse 3,
D-89143 Blaubeuren, Germany
This medicine is authorized in the member states of the European Economic Area with the following names:
Bulgaria: Teva Thyroxin
Germany: L-Thyroxin-Na-CT
Italy: Levotiroxina Teva
Ireland: Levothyroxine Teva
Poland: Wolarex
Spain: Levotiroxina sódica Teva 100 micrograms tablets EFG
Netherlands: Levothyroxinenatrium Teva
Portugal: Levotiroxina sódica Ratiopharm
Last review date of this leaflet: December 2024
The detailed information of this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS)http://www.aemps.gob.es/
You can access detailed and updated information about this medicine by scanning with your smartphone the QR code included in the packaging. You can also access this information at the following internet address:https://cima.aemps.es/cima/dochtml/p/77045/P_77045.html
QR code+ URL
Есть вопросы по этому лекарству или вашим симптомам? Свяжитесь с лицензированным врачом для получения помощи и персонализированного ухода.