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|Dextrothyroxine

DEXTROTHYROXINE (Systemic) **

** Not commercially available in the U.S. and Canada.

Category

• Antihyperlipidemic

Description

Dextrothyroxine (dex-troe-thye-ROX-een) is used to lower high cholesterol levels in the blood. However, it has generally been replaced by safer medicines for the treatment of high cholesterol.

Dextrothyroxine is available only with your doctor"s prescription, in the following dosage form:

• Oral
• Tablets (other countries)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For dextrothyroxine, the following should be considered:

Allergies- Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to dextrothyroxine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet- Before prescribing medicine for your condition, your doctor will probably try to control your condition by prescribing a personal diet for you. Such a diet may be low in fats, sugars, and/or cholesterol. Many people are able to control their condition by carefully following their doctor"s orders for proper diet and exercise. Medicine is prescribed only when additional help is needed and is effective only when a schedule of diet and exercise is properly followed.

Also, this medicine is less effective if you are greatly overweight. It may be very important for you to go on a weight-reducing diet. However, check with your doctor before going on any diet.

Make certain your health care professional knows if you are on any special diet, such as a low-sodium or low-sugar diet.

Pregnancy- Dextrothyroxine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have not shown that dextrothyroxine causes birth defects or other problems. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding- It is not known whether dextrothyroxine passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children- There is no specific information comparing use of dextrothyroxine in children to use in other age groups. However, use is not recommended in children under 2 years of age since cholesterol is needed for normal development.

Older adults- Side effects are more likely to occur in the elderly, who are usually more sensitive to the effects of dextrothyroxine.

Other medicines- Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking dextrothyroxine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners)-The effects of the anticoagulant may be altered; a change in dosage of the anticoagulant may be necessary

• Cholestyramine (e.g., Questran) or
• Colestipol (e.g., Colestid)-The effects of dextrothyroxine may decrease; these two medicines should be taken at least 4 to 5 hours before or after dextrothyroxine

Other medical problems- The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of dextrothyroxine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)-Blood sugar levels may be increased

• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• High blood pressure or
• Overactive thyroid-Dextrothyroxine may make these conditions worse

• Kidney disease-Higher blood levels of dextrothyroxine may result and increase the chance of side effects

• Liver disease-May lead to an increase in cholesterol blood levels

• Underactive thyroid-There may be an increased sensitivity to the effects of dextrothyroxine

Proper Use of This Medicine

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor . Try not to miss any doses and do not take more medicine than your doctor ordered.

Remember that this medicine will not cure your cholesterol problem but it does help control it. Therefore, you must continue to take it as directed if you expect to lower your cholesterol level.

Follow carefully the special diet your doctor gave you . This is the most important part of controlling your condition, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly.

Dosing- The dose of dextrothyroxine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor"s orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of dextrothyroxine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.

• For tablets dosage form:
  • For treatment of high cholesterol:
    • Adults-1 to 8 milligrams (mg) a day.
    • Children up to two years of age-Use is not recommended.
    • Children two years of age and older-50 to 100 micrograms (0.05 to 0.1 mg) per kilogram of body weight a day.

Missed dose- If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage- To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits . This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly to lower your cholesterol levels and if you should continue to take it.

Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor . When you stop taking this medicine, your blood cholesterol levels may increase again. Your doctor may want you to follow a special diet to help prevent this from happening.

Before having any kind of surgery (including dental surgery) or emergency treatment, tell the medical doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking this medicine .

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if the following side effects occur, since they may indicate too much medicine is being taken:

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Revised: 07/18/1998

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