Levothyroxine Sodium

LEVOTHYROXINE SODIUM- levothyroxine sodium tablet
NuCar Pharmaceuticals,Inc.

WARNING: NOT FOR TREATMENT OF OBESITY OR FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Thyroid hormones, including Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets, either alone or with other therapeutic agents, should not be used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss.

In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction.

Larger doses may produce serious or even life threatening manifestations of toxicity, particularly when given in association with sympathomimetic amines such as those used for their anorectic effects [see Adverse Reactions ( 6) , Drug Interactions ( 7.7) , and Overdosage ( 10)] .

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Hypothyroidism

Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets are indicated as a replacement therapy in primary (thyroidal), secondary (pituitary), and tertiary (hypothalamic) congenital or acquired hypothyroidism.

Pituitary Thyrotropin (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, TSH) Suppression

Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets are indicated as an adjunct to surgery and radioiodine therapy in the management of thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

Limitations of Use:

  • Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets are not indicated for suppression of benign thyroid nodules and nontoxic diffuse goiter in iodine-sufficient patients as there are no clinical benefits and overtreatment with Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets may induce hyperthyroidism [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4)].
  • Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets are not indicated for treatment of hypothyroidism during the recovery phase of subacute thyroiditis.

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 General Administration Information

Administer Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets as a single daily dose, on an empty stomach, one-half to one hour before breakfast.

Administer Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets at least 4 hours before or after drugs known to interfere with Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets absorption [see Drug Interactions ( 7.1)] .

Evaluate the need for dose adjustments when regularly administering within one hour of certain foods that may affect Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets absorption [see Drug Interactions ( 7.9) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3)] .

Administer Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets to infants and children who cannot swallow intact tablets by crushing the tablet, suspending the freshly crushed tablet in a small amount (5 mL to 10 mL or 1 teaspoon to 2 teaspoons) of water and immediately administering the suspension by spoon or dropper. Do not store the suspension. Do not administer in foods that decrease absorption of Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets, such as soybean-based infant formula [see Drug Interactions ( 7.9)] .

2.2 General Principles of Dosing

The dose of Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets for hypothyroidism or pituitary TSH suppression depends on a variety of factors including: the patient’s age, body weight, cardiovascular status, concomitant medical conditions (including pregnancy), concomitant medications, co-administered food and the specific nature of the condition being treated [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3), Warnings and Precautions ( 5) , and Drug Interactions ( 7)] . Dosing must be individualized to account for these factors and dose adjustments made based on periodic assessment of the patient’s clinical response and laboratory parameters [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.4)] .

The peak therapeutic effect of a given dose of Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets may not be attained for 4 to 6 weeks.

2.3 Dosing in Specific Patient Populations

Primary Hypothyroidism in Adults and in Adolescents in Whom Growth and Puberty are Complete

Start Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets at the full replacement dose in otherwise healthy, non-elderly individuals who have been hypothyroid for only a short time (such as a few months). The average full replacement dose of Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets is approximately 1.6 mcg per kg per day (for example: 100 mcg per day to 125 mcg per day for a 70 kg adult).

Adjust the dose by 12.5 mcg to 25 mcg increments every 4 to 6 weeks until the patient is clinically euthyroid and the serum TSH returns to normal. Doses greater than 200 mcg per day are seldom required. An inadequate response to daily doses of greater than 300 mcg per day is rare and may indicate poor compliance, malabsorption, drug interactions, or a combination of these factors.

For elderly patients or patients with underlying cardiac disease, start with a dose of 12.5 mcg per day to 25 mcg per day. Increase the dose every 6 to 8 weeks, as needed until the patient is clinically euthyroid and the serum TSH returns to normal. The full replacement dose of Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets may be less than 1 mcg per kg per day in elderly patients.

In patients with severe longstanding hypothyroidism, start with a dose of 12.5 mcg per day to 25 mcg per day. Adjust the dose in 12.5 mcg to 25 mcg increments every 2 to 4 weeks until the patient is clinically euthyroid and the serum TSH level is normalized.

Secondary or Tertiary Hypothyroidism

Start Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets at the full replacement dose in otherwise healthy, non-elderly individuals. Start with a lower dose in elderly patients, patients with underlying cardiovascular disease or patients with severe longstanding hypothyroidism as described above. Serum TSH is not a reliable measure of Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets dose adequacy in patients with secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism and should not be used to monitor therapy. Use the serum free-T4 (L-thyroxine) level to monitor adequacy of therapy in this patient population. Titrate Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets dosing per above instructions until the patient is clinically euthyroid and the serum free-T4 level is restored to the upper half of the normal range.

Pediatric Dosage — Congenital or Acquired Hypothyroidism

The recommended daily dose of Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets in pediatric patients with hypothyroidism is based on body weight and changes with age as described in Table 1. Start Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets at the full daily dose in most pediatric patients. Start at a lower starting dose in newborns (0-3 months) at risk for cardiac failure and in children at risk for hyperactivity (see below). Monitor for clinical and laboratory response [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.4)].

Table 1. Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets Dosing Guidelines for Pediatric Hypothyroidism
AGE Daily Dose Per Kg Body Weight *
*
The dose should be adjusted based on clinical response and laboratory parameters [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) and Use in Specific Populations (8.4)] .
0-3 months 10 mcg/kg/day to 15 mcg/kg/day
3-6 months 8 mcg/kg/day to 10 mcg/kg/day
6-12 months 6 mcg/kg/day to 8 mcg/kg/day
1-5 years 5 mcg/kg/day to 6 mcg/kg/day
6-12 years 4 mcg/kg/day to 5 mcg/kg/day
Greater than 12 years but growth and puberty incomplete 2 mcg/kg/day to 3 mcg/kg/day
Growth and puberty complete 1.6 mcg/kg/day

Newborns (0-3 months) at risk for cardiac failure: Consider a lower starting dose in newborns at risk for cardiac failure. Increase the dose every 4 to 6 weeks as needed based on clinical and laboratory response.

Children at risk for hyperactivity: To minimize the risk of hyperactivity in children, start at one-fourth the recommended full replacement dose, and increase on a weekly basis by one-fourth the full recommended replacement dose until the full recommended replacement dose is reached.

Pregnancy

Pre-existing Hypothyroidism: Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets dose requirements may increase during pregnancy. Measure serum TSH and free-T4 as soon as pregnancy is confirmed and, at minimum, during each trimester of pregnancy. In patients with primary hypothyroidism, maintain serum TSH in the trimester-specific reference range. For patients with serum TSH above the normal trimester-specific range, increase the dose of Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets by 12.5 mcg/day to 25 mcg/day and measure TSH every 4 weeks until a stable Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets dose is reached and serum TSH is within the normal trimester-specific range. Reduce Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets dosage to pre-pregnancy levels immediately after delivery and measure serum TSH levels 4 to 8 weeks postpartum to ensure Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets dose is appropriate.

New Onset Hypothyroidism: Normalize thyroid function as rapidly as possible. In patients with moderate to severe signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, start Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets at the full replacement dose (1.6 mcg per kg body weight per day). In patients with mild hypothyroidism (TSH less than 10 units per liter) start Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets at 1 mcg per kg body weight per day. Evaluate serum TSH every 4 weeks and adjust Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets dosage until a serum TSH is within the normal trimester specific range [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1)] .

TSH Suppression in Well-differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Generally, TSH is suppressed to below 0.1 units per liter, and this usually requires a Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets dose of greater than 2 mcg per kg per day. However, in patients with high-risk tumors, the target level for TSH suppression may be lower.

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