Generic Levothroid

Common use

Levothroid contains levothyroxine sodium, a substance identical to the thyroid gland hormone. It is used either alone or in combination with diet pills to treat primary (thyroidal), secondary (pituitary), tertiary (hypothalamic) hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, and obesity.



Dosage and direction

The dose is be administered individually. Follow all recommendations of your doctor, do not exceed the recommended dose. Take it as a single daily dose 0.5-1.0 hour before breakfast with a full glass of water. Intake of Levothroid and the medications known to interfere with its absorption should be separated by at least four hours. Do not stop treatment without permission of your doctor even if you do not feel immediate effect. It may take several weeks till the medication starts to act. Yo may need Levothroid till the end of your life to replace the thyroid hormone deficit.



Precautions

Cautiousness should be exercised in treatment of the patients with cardiovascular disease, elderly, individuals with concomitant adrenal insufficiency.



Contraindications

Levothroid cannot be used in patients with untreated subclinical or overt thyrotoxicosis, acute myocardial infarction, and uncorrected adrenal insufficiency.



Possible side effect

The most likely adverse reactions to occur are headache, insomnia, nervous or irritable feeling, hyperactivity, anxiety, emotional lability, fever, tachycardia, arrhythmias, hot flashes, sweating, changes in your menstrual periods, appetite changes, diarrhea, vomiting, weight changes, hair loss, flushing.



Drug interaction

Inform your doctor about all medications, herbal products and food supplements you use and especially about calcium carbonate (Oystercal, Caltrate, Citracal), sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate, Kionex), ferrous sulfate iron supplement, sucralfate (Carafate), antacids that contain aluminum (Rulox, Tums, Maalox, Mylanta, Riopan, Amphojel, Gaviscon), cholesterol-lowering drugs colestipol (Colestid) and cholestyramine (Questran), warfarin, digoxin, estrogen products, diabetes medicines, amiodarone, iodide, lithium, anti-thyroid agents, phenobarbital, rifamycins, beta blockers, antidepressants and growth hormones.



Missed dose

If you missed a dose take it as soon as you remember, but not if it is almost time of the next intake by your schedule. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time of your next dose. Do not try to compensate a missed dose by taking an extra one.



Overdose

Overdose symptoms include pounding heartbeat, chest pain, tremor, leg cramps, confusion and disorientation, shortness of breath, vomiting, diarrhea, or seizures. Contact your doctor on emergency if you experience them.



Storage

Store at room temperature between 59-77 F (15-25 C) away from light and moisture, kids and pets. Do not use after expiration term.



Disclaimer

We provide only general information about medications which does not cover all directions, possible drug integrations, or precautions. Information at the site cannot be used for self-treatment and self-diagnosis. Any specific instructions for a particular patient should be agreed with your health care adviser or doctor in charge of the case. We disclaim reliability of this information and mistakes it could contain. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other indirect damage as a result of any use of the information on this site and also for consequences of self-treatment.

Clinical Verification

Last Clinically Updated: August 15, 2026

Written By

Dr. Elena Vance, PharmD

Clinical Specialist in Neuropharmacology

Fact Checked By

Marcus Thorne, MS

Biomedical Data & FDA Label Verification

Medically Reviewed By

Dr. Arthur Campbell, MD

Board-Certified Psychiatrist (ABPN)