Unithroid

UNITHROID- levothyroxine sodium tablet
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC

WARNING: NOT FOR TREATMENT OF OBESITY OR FOR WEIGHT LOSS

  • Thyroid hormones, including UNITHROID, 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

UNITHROID is indicated in pediatric and adult patients as a replacement therapy in primary (thyroidal), secondary (pituitary), and tertiary (hypothalamic) congenital or acquired hypothyroidism.

Pituitary Thyrotropin (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, TSH) Suppression

UNITHROID is indicated in pediatric and adult patients as an adjunct to surgery and radioiodine therapy in the management of thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

Limitations of Use:

  • UNITHROID is 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 UNITHROID may induce hyperthyroidism [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].
  • UNITHROID is not indicated for treatment of hypothyroidism during the recovery phase of subacute thyroiditis.

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 General Administration Information

Administer UNITHROID tablets orally as a single daily dose, on an empty stomach, one-half to one hour before breakfast.

Administer UNITHROID at least 4 hours before or after drugs that are known to interfere with UNITHROID absorption [see Drug Interactions (7.1)].

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

Administer UNITHROID 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 UNITHROID, such as soybean-based infant formula [see Drug Interactions (7.9)].

2.2 General Principles of Dosing

The dose of UNITHROID 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), 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 UNITHROID may not be attained for 4 to 6 weeks.

2.3 Dosing in Specific Populations

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

Start UNITHROID 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 UNITHROID 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 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 UNITHROID 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 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 UNITHROID 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 UNITHROID dose adequacy in patients with secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism and should not be used to monitor therapy. Use the serum free-T4 level to monitor adequacy of therapy in this patient population. Titrate UNITHROID 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 UNITHROID in pediatric patients with hypothyroidism is based on body weight and changes with age as described in Table 1. Start UNITHROID at the full daily dose in most pediatric patients. Start at a lower starting dose in newborns (0 to 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: UNITHROID Dosing Guidelines for Pediatric Hypothyroidism
Age Daily Dose Per Kg Body Weight a
0 to 3 months 10 mcg/kg daily to 15 mcg/kg daily
3 to 6 months 8 mcg/kg daily to 10 mcg/kg daily
6 to 12 months 6 mcg/kg daily to 8 mcg/kg daily
1 to 5 years 5 mcg/kg to 6 mcg/kg daily
6 to 12 years 4 mcg/kg to 5 mcg/kg daily
Greater than 12 years but growth and puberty incomplete 2 mcg/kg to 3 mcg/kg daily
Growth and puberty complete 1.6 mcg/kg daily

a — The dose should be adjusted based on clinical response and laboratory parameters [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4), Drug Interactions (7.10), and Use In Specific Populations (8.4)].

Newborns (0 to 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.

Pediatric Patients at Risk for Hyperactivity:

To minimize the risk of hyperactivity in pediatric patients, 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: UNITHROID 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 UNITHROID by 12.5 mcg daily to 25 mcg daily and measure TSH every 4 weeks until a stable UNITHROID dose is reached and serum TSH is within the normal trimester-specific range. Reduce UNITHROID dosage to pre-pregnancy levels immediately after delivery and measure serum TSH levels 4 to 8 weeks postpartum to ensure UNITHROID 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 UNITHROID at the full replacement dose (1.6 mcg per kg body weight per day). In patients with mild hypothyroidism (TSH less than 10 mIU per liter) start UNITHROID at 1 mcg per kg body weight per day. Evaluate serum TSH every 4 weeks and adjust UNITHROID 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

The dose of UNITHROID should target TSH levels within the desired therapeutic range. This may require a UNITHROID dose of greater than 2 mcg per kg per day, depending on the target level for TSH suppression.

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