Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects .
Chemical Name: LEVOTHYROXINE (LEE-voe-thye-ROX-een)
Unithroid 75mcg is a thyroid hormone used for treating low thyroid hormone levels and certain types of goiters. It is also used with surgery and other medicines for managing certain types of thyroid cancer. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
WARNING: Do not use Unithroid 75mcg alone or with other medicines to treat obesity or to lose weight. Incorrect use of Unithroid 75mcg may cause serious and sometimes fatal side effects. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with Unithroid 75mcg. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are also taking prescription or nonprescription medicines (eg, used for infections, inflammation, aches and pains, nasal congestion, asthma, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat or other heart problems, blood thinning, mental or mood problems, depression, diabetes, other thyroid problems, high cholesterol, hepatitis, weight loss, heartburn, birth control, hormone replacement therapy, growth hormone deficiency, cancer, seizures), multivitamin products, or herbal or dietary supplements (eg, herbal teas, coenzyme Q10, garlic, ginseng, gingko, St. John's wort). DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, including trouble swallowing, heart or blood vessel problems (eg, coronary artery disease), high blood pressure, blood clotting or bleeding problems, pernicious anemia, diabetes, bone problems (eg, osteoporosis), fertility problems, pituitary problems, adrenal gland problems, other thyroid problems, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if you have problems absorbing nutrition from your stomach or intestines into your body or if you had a recent surgery or have an upcoming surgery. USE OF UNITHROID 75mcg IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you have untreated adrenal gland problems, high thyroid hormone levels, or you have had a recent heart attack. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using Unithroid 75mcg.
Follow the directions for taking Unithroid 75mcg provided by your doctor. TAKE UNITHROID 75mcg by mouth on an empty stomach at least one-half to one hour before breakfast. SOME BRANDS OF UNITHROID 75mcg MUST BE TAKEN WITH A FULL GLASS OF WATER (8 oz/240 mL). Ask your pharmacist how you should take your brand of Unithroid 75mcg. DO NOT TAKE AN ANTACID OR PRODUCT THAT HAS IRON OR CALCIUM in it within 4 hours of taking Unithroid 75mcg. IF THE PATIENT IS A CHILD OR IF YOU CANNOT SWALLOW the tablet whole, you may crush the correct dose of the medicine. Add the crushed medicine to 1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to 10 mL) of water. Mix well. Use a spoon or dropper to give the medicine as soon as possible. Do not store the mixture for later use. Do not mix crushed tablets in soybean infant formula. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions STORE UNITHROID 75mcg between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Protect from heat, light, and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Unithroid 75mcg works best if it is taken at the same time each day. CONTINUE TO TAKE UNITHROID 75mcg even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. IF YOU MISS A DOSE of Unithroid 75mcg, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. DO NOT take 2 doses at once.
DO NOT USE UNITHROID 75mcg IF you are allergic to any ingredient in Unithroid 75mcg. SOME BRANDS OF UNITHROID 75mcg may cause choking, gagging, or trouble swallowing. Ask your pharmacist if your brand may cause these effects. If your brand may cause these effects, be sure to take your medicine with a full glass of water. Tell your doctor if you have trouble swallowing. IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS before you notice an improvement in your symptoms. Do not stop or change your dose of Unithroid 75mcg without first checking with your doctor. It is important to take Unithroid 75mcg exactly as prescribed. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE without checking with your doctor. LAB TESTS, including thyroid hormone level and growth checks, may be performed while you use Unithroid 75mcg. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LAB APPOINTMENTS. BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENTS, EMERGENCY CARE, OR SURGERY, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Unithroid 75mcg. FOODS THAT CONTAIN soybean flour (including infant formula), cottonseed meal, walnuts, or dietary fiber may decrease the absorption of Unithroid 75mcg. Tell your doctor if your diet includes any of these foods. Your doctor may need to change your dose of Unithroid 75mcg. MILD HAIR LOSS may rarely occur during the first few months of treatment with Unithroid 75mcg. This is usually temporary. Contact your doctor if hair loss is severe or persistent. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINES, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. USE UNITHROID 75mcg WITH CAUTION IN THE ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially heart problems. CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS MAY NEED REGULAR GROWTH CHECKS while they take Unithroid 75mcg. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU BECOME PREGNANT, contact your doctor. Your doctor may need to change your dose of Unithroid 75mcg. UNITHROID 75mcg IS FOUND in breast milk. IF YOU ARE OR WILL BE BREAST-FEEDING while you use Unithroid 75mcg, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby. IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, Unithroid 75mcg may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
NO COMMON SIDE EFFECTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED with the proper use of Unithroid 75mcg. If you notice any unusual effects, contact your health care provider. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience changes in appetite; changes in menstrual periods; chest pain; diarrhea; excessive sweating; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; heat intolerance; joint pain; leg cramps; mental or mood changes (eg, anxiety, irritability, nervousness); muscle weakness; seizures; severe or persistent headache or fatigue; shortness of breath; stomach cramps; tremors; trouble sleeping; unusual weight gain or weight loss; vomiting; or wheezing. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to Unithroid 75mcg is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; flushing; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include coma, confusion, disorientation, and seizures.
DO NOT SHARE UNITHROID 75mcg with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE UNITHROID 75mcg for other health conditions. KEEP UNITHROID 75mcg out of the reach of children and pets. IF YOU WILL BE USING UNITHROID 75mcg FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, be sure to obtain necessary refills before your supply runs out.