Thyquidity Drug Information

Generic name: LEVOTHYROXINE SODIUM

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Uses of Thyquidity

Hypothyroidism THYQUIDITY is indicated as a replacement therapy in primary (thyroidal), secondary (pituitary), and tertiary (hypothalamic) congenital or acquired hypothyroidism. Pituitary Thyrotropin (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, TSH) Suppression THYQUIDITY is indicated as an adjunct to surgery and radioiodine therapy in the management of thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Limitations of Use: THYQUIDITY 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 THYQUIDITY may induce hyperthyroidism.

THYQUIDITY is not indicated for treatment of hypothyroidism during the recovery phase of subacute thyroiditis. THYQUIDITY is levothyroxine sodium (T4) indicated for: Hypothyroidism: As replacement therapy in primary (thyroidal), secondary (pituitary), and tertiary (hypothalamic) congenital or acquired hypothyroidism. Pituitary Thyrotropin (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, TSH) Suppression: As an adjunct to surgery and radioiodine therapy in the management of thyrotropin-dependent well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

Limitations of Use: Not indicated for suppression of benign thyroid nodules and nontoxic diffuse goiter in iodine-sufficient patients Not indicated for treatment of hypothyroidism during the recovery phase of subacute thyroiditis

Dosage & Administration of Thyquidity

AGEDaily Dose Per Kg Body Weight a
0-3 months10-15 mcg/kg/day
3-6 months8-10 mcg/kg/day
6-12 months6-8 mcg/kg/day
1-5 years5-6 mcg/kg/day
6-12 years4-5 mcg/kg/day
Greater than 12 years but growth and puberty incomplete2-3 mcg/kg/day
Growth and puberty complete1.6 mcg/kg/day
aThe dose should be adjusted based on clinical response and laboratory parameters [seeDosage and Administration (2.4)and Use in Specific Populations (8.4)].

Side Effects of Thyquidity

Adverse reactions associated with THYQUIDITY therapy are primarily those of hyperthyroidism due to therapeutic overdosage . They include the following: General: fatigue, increased appetite, weight loss, heat intolerance, fever, excessive sweating Central nervous system: headache, hyperactivity, nervousness, anxiety, irritability, emotional lability, insomnia Musculoskeletal: tremors, muscle weakness, muscle spasm Cardiovascular: palpitations, tachycardia, arrhythmias, increased pulse and blood pressure, heart failure, angina, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest Respiratory: dyspnea Gastrointestinal: diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, elevations in liver function tests Dermatologic: hair loss, flushing, rash Endocrine: decreased bone mineral density Reproductive: menstrual irregularities, impaired fertility Seizures have been reported rarely with the institution of levothyroxine therapy. Adverse Reactions in Children Pseudotumor cerebri and slipped capital femoral epiphysis have been reported in children receiving levothyroxine therapy. Overtreatment may result in craniosynostosis in infants and premature closure of the epiphyses in children with resultant compromised adult height.

Hypersensitivity Reactions Hypersensitivity reactions to inactive ingredients have occurred in patients treated with thyroid hormone products. These include urticaria, pruritus, skin rash, flushing, angioedema, various gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), fever, arthralgia, serum sickness, and wheezing. Hypersensitivity to levothyroxine itself is not known to occur.

Adverse reactions associated with THYQUIDITY therapy are primarily those of hyperthyroidism due to therapeutic overdosage: arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, dyspnea, muscle spasm, headache, nervousness, irritability, insomnia, tremors, muscle weakness, increased appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, heat intolerance, menstrual irregularities, and skin rash. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Oliva Therapeutics, LLC at 1-877-200-6088 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Warnings & Cautions for Thyquidity

Cardiac Adverse Reactions in the Elderly and in Patients with Underlying Cardiovascular

Disease Over-treatment with levothyroxine may cause an increase in heart rate, cardiac wall thickness, and cardiac contractility and may precipitate angina or arrhythmias, particularly in patients with cardiovascular disease and in elderly patients. Initiate THYQUIDITY therapy in this population at lower doses than those recommended in younger individuals or in patients without cardiac disease . Monitor for cardiac arrhythmias during surgical procedures in patients with coronary artery disease receiving suppressive THYQUIDITY therapy. Monitor patients receiving concomitant THYQUIDITY and sympathomimetic agents for signs and symptoms of coronary insufficiency.

If cardiac symptoms develop or worsen, reduce the THYQUIDITY dose or withhold for one week and restart at a lower dose.

Myxedema Coma Myxedema coma is a life-threatening emergency characterized by poor circulation

and hypometabolism, and may result in unpredictable absorption of levothyroxine sodium from the gastrointestinal tract. Use of oral thyroid hormone drug products is not recommended to treat myxedema coma. Administer thyroid hormone products formulated for intravenous administration to treat myxedema coma.

Acute Adrenal Crisis in Patients with

Concomitant Adrenal Insufficiency Thyroid hormone increases metabolic clearance of glucocorticoids. Initiation of thyroid hormone therapy prior to initiating glucocorticoid therapy may precipitate an acute adrenal crisis in patients with adrenal insufficiency. Treat patients with adrenal insufficiency with replacement glucocorticoids prior to initiating treatment with THYQUIDITY.

Prevention of Hyperthyroidism or Incomplete Treatment of Hypothyroidism

THYQUIDITY has a narrow therapeutic index. Over- or undertreatment with THYQUIDITY may have negative effects on growth and development, cardiovascular function, bone metabolism, reproductive function, cognitive function, emotional state, gastrointestinal function, and glucose and lipid metabolism . Titrate the dose of THYQUIDITY carefully and monitor response to titration to avoid these effects . Monitor for the presence of drug or food interactions when using THYQUIDITY and adjust the dose as necessary .

Worsening of Diabetic Control Addition of levothyroxine therapy in patients with diabetes

mellitus may worsen glycemic control and result in increased antidiabetic agent or insulin requirements. Carefully monitor glycemic control after starting, changing, or discontinuing THYQUIDITY .

Decreased Bone Mineral Density Associated with Thyroid Hormone Over-Replacement Increased bone resorption

and decreased bone mineral density may occur as a result of levothyroxine over-replacement, particularly in post-menopausal women. The increased bone resorption may be associated with increased serum levels and urinary excretion of calcium and phosphorous, elevations in bone alkaline phosphatase, and suppressed serum parathyroid hormone levels. Administer the minimum dose of THYQUIDITY that achieves the desired clinical and biochemical response to mitigate this risk.

Drug Interactions with Thyquidity

Drugs Known to Affect Thyroid Hormone Pharmacokinetics Many drugs can exert effects

on thyroid hormone pharmacokinetics (e.g., absorption, synthesis, secretion, metabolism, protein binding, and target tissue response) and may alter the therapeutic response to THYQUIDITY (see Tables 2-5 below). Table 2. Drugs That May Decrease T4 Absorption (Hypothyroidism) Potential impact: Concurrent use may reduce the efficacy of THYQUIDITY by binding and delaying or preventing absorption, potentially resulting in hypothyroidism. Drug or Drug Class Effect Calcium Carbonate Ferrous Sulfate Calcium carbonate may form an insoluble chelate with levothyroxine, and ferrous sulfate likely forms a ferric- thyroxine complex. Administer THYQUIDITY at least 4 hours apart from these agents.

Orlistat Monitor patients treated concomitantly with orlistat and THYQUIDITY for changes in thyroid function. Bile Acid Sequestrants -Colesevelam -Cholestyramine -Colestipol Ion Exchange Resins -Kayexalate -Sevelamer Bile acid sequestrants and ion exchange resins are known to decrease levothyroxine absorption. Administer THYQUIDITY at least 4 hours prior to these drugs or monitor TSH levels.

Other drugs: Proton Pump Inhibitors Sucralfate Antacids - Aluminum & Magnesium Hydroxides - Simethicone Gastric acidity is an essential requirement for adequate absorption of levothyroxine. Sucralfate, antacids and proton pump inhibitors may cause hypochlorhydria, affect intragastric pH, and reduce levothyroxine absorption. Monitor patients appropriately.

Table 3. Drugs That May Alter T4 and Triiodothyronine (T3) Serum Transport Without Affecting Free Thyroxine (FT4) Concentration (Euthyroidism) Drug or Drug Class Effect Clofibrate Estrogen-containing oral contraceptives Estrogens (oral) Heroin / Methadone 5-Fluorouracil Mitotane Tamoxifen These drugs may increase serum thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) concentration. Androgens / Anabolic Steroids Asparaginase Glucocorticoids Slow-Release Nicotinic Acid These drugs may decrease serum TBG concentration. Potential impact (below): Administration of these agents with THYQUIDITY results in an initial transient increase in FT4. Continued administration results in a decrease in serum T4 and normal FT4 and TSH concentrations.

Salicylates (> 2 g/day) Salicylates inhibit binding of T4 and T3 to TBG and transthyretin. An initial increase in serum FT4 is followed by return of FT4 to normal levels with sustained therapeutic serum salicylate concentrations, although total T4 levels may decrease by as much as 30%. Other drugs: Carbamazepine Furosemide (> 80 mg IV) Heparin Hydantoins Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs -Fenamates These drugs may cause protein-binding site displacement. Furosemide has been shown to inhibit the protein binding of T4 to TBG and albumin, causing an increase free T4 fraction in serum.

Furosemide competes for T4-binding sites on TBG, prealbumin, and albumin, so that a single high dose can acutely lower the total T4 level. Phenytoin and carbamazepine reduce serum protein binding of levothyroxine, and total and free T4 may be reduced by 20% to 40%, but most patients have normal serum TSH levels and are clinically euthyroid. Closely monitor thyroid hormone parameters.

Table 4. Drugs That May Alter Hepatic Metabolism of T4 (Hypothyroidism) Potential impact: Stimulation of hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzyme activity may cause increased hepatic degradation of levothyroxine, resulting in increased THYQUIDITY requirements. Drug or Drug Class Effect Phenobarbital Rifampin Phenobarbital has been shown to reduce the response to thyroxine. Phenobarbital increases L-thyroxine metabolism by inducing uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) and leads to a lower T4 serum levels.

Changes in thyroid status may occur if barbiturates are added or withdrawn from patients being treated for hypothyroidism. Rifampin has been shown to accelerate the metabolism of levothyroxine. Table 5. Drugs That May Decrease Conversion of T4 to T3 Potential impact: Administration of these enzyme inhibitors decreases the peripheral conversion of T4 to T3, leading to decreased T3 levels.

However, serum T4 levels are usually normal but may occasionally be slightly increased. Drug or Drug Class Effect Beta-adrenergic antagonists (e.g., Propranolol > 160 mg/day) In patients treated with large doses of propranolol (> 160 mg/day), T3 and T4 levels change, TSH levels remain normal, and patients are clinically euthyroid. Actions of particular beta-adrenergic antagonists may be impaired when the hypothyroid patient is converted to the euthyroid state.

Glucocorticoids (e.g., Dexamethasone > 4 mg/day) Short-term administration of large doses of glucocorticoids may decrease serum T3 concentrations by 30% with minimal change in serum T4 levels. However, long-term glucocorticoid therapy may result in slightly decreased T3 and T4 levels due to decreased TBG production (See above). Other drugs: Amiodarone Amiodarone inhibits peripheral conversion of levothyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3) and may cause isolated biochemical changes (increase in serum free-T4, and decrease or normal free-T3) in clinically euthyroid patients.

Antidiabetic Therapy Addition of

THYQUIDITY therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus may worsen glycemic control and result in increased antidiabetic agent or insulin requirements. Carefully monitor glycemic control, especially when thyroid therapy is started, changed, or discontinued.

Oral Anticoagulants

THYQUIDITY increases the response to oral anticoagulant therapy. Therefore, a decrease in the dose of anticoagulant may be warranted with correction of the hypothyroid state or when the THYQUIDITY dose is increased. Closely monitor coagulation tests to permit appropriate and timely dosage adjustments.

Digitalis Glycosides

THYQUIDITY may reduce the therapeutic effects of digitalis glycosides. Serum digitalis glycoside levels may decrease when a hypothyroid patient becomes euthyroid, necessitating an increase in the dose of digitalis glycosides.

Antidepressant Therapy Concurrent use of tricyclic (e.g., amitriptyline) or tetracyclic (e.g., maprotiline)

antidepressants and THYQUIDITY may increase the therapeutic and toxic effects of both drugs, possibly due to increased receptor sensitivity to catecholamines. Toxic effects may include increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias and central nervous system stimulation. THYQUIDITY may accelerate the onset of action of tricyclics.

Administration of sertraline in patients stabilized on THYQUIDITY may result in increased THYQUIDITY requirements.

Ketamine Concurrent use of ketamine and

THYQUIDITY may produce marked hypertension and tachycardia. Closely monitor blood pressure and heart rate in these patients.

Sympathomimetics Concurrent use of sympathomimetics and

THYQUIDITY may increase the effects of sympathomimetics or thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones may increase the risk of coronary insufficiency when sympathomimetic agents are administered to patients with coronary artery disease.

Tyrosine-Kinase Inhibitors Concurrent use of tyrosine-kinase inhibitors such as imatinib may cause

hypothyroidism. Closely monitor TSH levels in such patients.

Drug-Food Interactions Consumption of certain foods may affect

THYQUIDITY absorption thereby necessitating adjustments in dosing . Soybean products, such as infant formula and soybean flour, cottonseed meal, walnuts, and dietary fiber may bind and decrease the absorption of THYQUIDITY from the gastrointestinal tract. Grapefruit juice may delay the absorption of levothyroxine and reduce its bioavailability. 7.10 Drug-Laboratory Test Interactions Consider changes in TBG concentration when interpreting T4 and T3 values. Measure and evaluate unbound (free) hormone and/or determine the free-T4 index (FT4I) in this circumstance.

Pregnancy, infectious hepatitis, estrogens, estrogen-containing oral contraceptives, and acute intermittent porphyria increase TBG concentration. Nephrosis, severe hypoproteinemia, severe liver disease, acromegaly, androgens, and corticosteroids decrease TBG concentration. Familial hyper- or hypo-thyroxine binding globulinemias have been described, with the incidence of TBG deficiency approximating 1 in 9000.

Pregnancy Safety for Thyquidity

Pregnancy Risk Summary Prolonged experience with levothyroxine use in pregnant women, including data from post-marketing studies, to maintain a euthyroid state have not reported increased rates of major birth defects, miscarriages, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. There are risks to the mother and fetus associated with untreated hypothyroidism in pregnancy. Since TSH levels may increase during pregnancy, TSH should be monitored and THYQUIDITY dosage adjusted during pregnancy ( see Clinical Considerations ). There are no animal studies conducted with levothyroxine during pregnancy.

THYQUIDITY should not be discontinued during pregnancy and hypothyroidism diagnosed during pregnancy should be promptly treated. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss or other adverse outcomes.

In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk Maternal hypothyroidism during pregnancy is associated with a higher rate of complications, including spontaneous abortion, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, stillbirth, and premature delivery. Untreated maternal hypothyroidism may have an adverse effect on fetal neurocognitive development.

Dose Adjustments During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period Pregnancy may increase THYQUIDITY requirements. Serum TSH levels should be monitored and the THYQUIDITY dosage adjusted during pregnancy to maintain TSH within normal trimester specific ranges. Since postpartum TSH levels are similar to preconception values, the THYQUIDITY dosage should return to the pre-pregnancy dose immediately after delivery.

Pediatric Use of Thyquidity

Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness of THYQUIDITY has been established for the treatment of congenital hypothyroidism and acquired hypothyroidism in pediatric patients down to birth. Glycerol has the potential to cause gastrointestinal irritation resulting in vomiting and/or osmotic diarrhea. Patients in the first 3 months of life may be particularly susceptible to serious fluid and electrolyte complications from glycerol-induced gastrointestinal irritation.

Closely monitor patients from birth to 3 months of age receiving THYQUIDITY for signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal irritation. Congenital Hypothyroidism Rapid restoration of normal serum T4 concentrations is essential for preventing the adverse effects of congenital hypothyroidism on intellectual development as well as on overall physical growth and maturation. Therefore, initiate THYQUIDITY therapy immediately upon diagnosis.

Levothyroxine is generally continued for life in these patients. Closely monitor patients during the first 2 weeks of THYQUIDITY therapy for cardiac overload, arrhythmias, and aspiration from avid suckling. Closely monitor patients to avoid undertreatment or overtreatment.

Undertreatment may have deleterious effects on intellectual development and linear growth. Overtreatment is associated with craniosynostosis in infants, may adversely affect the tempo of brain maturation, and may accelerate the bone age and result in premature epiphyseal closure and compromised adult stature. Acquired Hypothyroidism in Pediatric Patients Closely monitor patients to avoid undertreatment and overtreatment.

Undertreatment may result in poor school performance due to impaired concentration and slowed mentation and in reduced adult height. Overtreatment may accelerate the bone age and result in premature epiphyseal closure and compromised adult stature. Treated children may manifest a period of catch-up growth, which may be adequate in some cases to normalize adult height.

In children with severe or prolonged hypothyroidism, catch-up growth may not be adequate to normalize adult height.

Contraindications for Thyquidity

is contraindicated in patients with: Uncorrected adrenal insufficiency . Uncorrected adrenal insufficiency.

Overdosage Information for Thyquidity

The signs and symptoms of overdosage are those of hyperthyroidism . In addition, confusion and disorientation may occur. Cerebral embolism, shock, coma, and death have been reported. Seizures occurred in a 3-year­ old child ingesting 3.6 mg of levothyroxine.

Symptoms may not necessarily be evident or may not appear until several days after ingestion of levothyroxine sodium. Reduce the THYQUIDITY dose or discontinue temporarily if signs or symptoms of overdosage occur. Initiate appropriate supportive treatment as dictated by the patient's medical status.

For current information on the management of poisoning or overdosage, contact the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or www.poison.org.

Drug information sourced from the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making any medication decisions.

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