How Effective is Levoxyl & What are It’s Side Effects?

Levoxyl or levothyroxine should not be taken if you are with certain specific medical conditions. Inform your doctor in prior if you have an uncontrolled or untreated disorder of adrenal gland, thyrotoxicosis (thyroid disorder) or if you have any current symptoms of heart attack.

The thyroid medicine levoxyl or levothyroxine is used to effectively replace a hormone which is typically produced by thyroid gland in order to regulate the body’s energy and metabolism. Levoxyl or levothyroxine is typically given when the thyroid gland is unable to produce sufficient of this hormone on its own.

Hypothyroidism-(the low thyroid hormone) is effectively treated by levoxyl or levothyroxine.

Levoxyl or levothyroxine is also used in the effective treatment or prevention of enlarged thyroid gland (goiter) that is caused due to radiation treatment, hormone imbalances, cancer or surgery.

Weight problems or obesity must not be treated using levoxyl or levothyroxine. Hazardous side effects and also death can occur due to levoxyl or levothyroxine misuse especially if you are taking any appetite suppressants or any other weight-loss medications.

Majority of the people can take levoxyl or levothyroxine since thyroid hormone naturally occurs in the body. But in case you have certain specific medical conditions, you may not be able to take this medicine.

To ensure levoxyl or levothyroxine is safe, inform your doctor if you have the following symptoms:

• Thyrotoxicosis – a thyroid disorder;
• A disorder in blood-clotting;
• Diabetes (oral diabetes medication or insulin doses may need to be changed when you begin to take levothyroxine);
• Coronary artery disease, heart disease or a history of blood clots;
• Low bone mineral density or osteoporosis;
• Lack of red blood cells – anemia
• Pituitary gland problems;
• Drug or any food allergies;
• An adrenal gland disorder that is uncontrolled or untreated;
• If you also intake a blood thinner like coumadin, warfarin, jantoven); or
• If you have any heart attack symptoms or if you have had a heart attack recently ( pain in the chest or heavy feeling, spread of pain on the shoulder or jaw, sweating, nausea or general feeling of illness).

Inform your doctor if you have received any radiation therapy recently with iodine like I-131.

Levoxyl or levothyroxine is not expected to harm an unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking Levoxyl, do not stop taking the medicine without your doctor’s advice. Having low thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy could harm both mother and baby. Your dose needs may be different during pregnancy.

Levoxyl or levothyroxine is not likely to harm an unborn child. Do not stop the intake of Levothyroxine in case you become pregnant without getting advice from your doctor. Having low levels of thyroid hormone during pregnancy can harm both the baby and the mother. You may need different levels of dosage, during pregnant

Levoxyl or levothyroxine is not expected to harm a nursing child by way of passing through breast milk. Inform your medical doctor if you are breast-feeding your baby. You may require different levels of dosage, during nursing

Do not give levoxyl or levothyroxine to an infant without any medical advice.

It is advisable to get emergency medical help if you have symptoms of allergic reaction to levoxyl or levothyroxine: breathing difficulty, hives, and inflammation on lips, tongue, throat or face.

In case you have the following serious side effects of levoxyl or levothyroxine, contact your doctor immediately:

• Irregular or fast heart rate;
• Feeling short breath, chest pain;
• Hot flashes, fever and sweating;
• Feeling cold unusually
• Tiredness, insomnia(sleeping problems), weakness;
• Feeling irritable or depressed, memory problems;
• Muscle aches;
• Dryness of your hair or skin, loss of hair;
• Changes in menstrual period; or
• Diarrhea, vomiting, appetite and weight changes.
• Some side effects may be more probable in older adults.

Common levoxyl or levothyroxine side effects may comprise of:

• Weakness in the muscle, leg cramps;
• Headache;
• Feeling irritable and nervous
• Diarrhea; or
• Mild hair loss, skin rash are also side effects of levoxyl or levothyroxine.

Levoxyl or levothyroxine can become less effective when taken with certain medications when taken simultaneously. Avoid taking any of the following drugs within 4 hours after or before you take levoxyl or levothyroxine:

• Calcium carbonate(Calcium Oyster Shell, Alka-Mints, Oyster Shell Calcium, Os-Cal, Caltrate, Tums, Rolaids Soft Chew, and others);
• Colestipol, cholestyramine;
• Sucralfate;
• Ferrous sulfate iron supplement;
• Sodium polystyrene sulfonate like Kayexalate, Kionex, Kalexate; or
• Antacids which contain magnesium or aluminum – Gaviscon, Acid Gone, Milk of Magnesia, Maalox, Mintox, Pepcid Complete, Mylanta, , and others).
• Do not consume the following food products that can make your body absorb less levoxyl or levothyroxine: infant soy formula, grapefruit juice, walnuts, cotton seed meal and high-fiber foods.