Thyroid

The dose of desiccated thyroid varies according to a person's needs. For adults, the dose can range from 30 mg to 300 mg daily. For children, the dose is usually based on body weight.

Your doctor will order blood tests to be done 4 to 6 weeks after starting desiccated thyroid to determine the amount of thyroid hormone in your blood. Based on the results of these tests, the doctor may increase your dose until the required response occurs.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

Desiccated thyroid should be taken once daily at the same time each day (usually in the morning before breakfast).

Desiccated thyroid must be taken on a daily basis to be effective. Thyroid may take several weeks to have a noticeable effect on your condition. Replacement thyroid hormone therapy usually needs to be taken for life.

It is important to take Thyroid exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store the medication at room temperature and keep it out of reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

This product is generally well tolerated and rarely causes adverse effects. When adverse effects do occur, they usually disappear on their own, without further treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects, talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

30 mg
Each off-white to light amber-coloured tablet, embossed "ECI 30" on one side, contains 30 mg of desiccated thyroid derived from porcine thyroid glands. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, magnesium stearate, sugar, and talc.

60 mg
Each off-white to light amber-coloured tablet, embossed "ECI 60" on one side, contains 60 mg of desiccated thyroid derived from porcine thyroid glands. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, magnesium stearate, sugar, and talc.

125 mg
Each off-white to light amber-coloured tablet, embossed "ECI 125" on one side, contains 125 mg of desiccated thyroid derived from porcine thyroid glands. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, magnesium stearate, sugar, and talc.

Do not take this medication if you:

• have an allergy to thyroid or any of the ingredients in the medication (there are currently no known cases of allergy to desiccated thyroid itself)
• have certain uncorrected problems of the adrenal glands
• have untreated thyrotoxicosis (too much thyroid hormone in the blood)

There may be an interaction between desiccated thyroid and any of the following:

• Amiodarone
• antacids that contain calcium
• birth control pills
• calcium polystyrene
• calcium supplements (e.g., calcium carbonate, calcium citrate)
• Carbamazepine
• ciprofloxacin
• Cholestyramine
• Colestipol
• corticosteroids (e.g., Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone, Prednisone)
• diabetes medications (e.g., chlorpropamide, glipizide, Glyburide, insulin, Metformin, Nateglinide, Rosiglitazone)
• Digoxin
• estrogens (e.g., conjugated estrogen, Estradiol, ethinyl estradiol)
• iron supplements
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• rifampin
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• simethicone
• sodium iodide I 131
• sodium polystyrene
• theophyllines (e.g., Aminophylline, Oxtriphylline, Theophylline)
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Desipramine, Trimipramine)
• Warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Thyroid. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should take Thyroid.

Diabetes: Desiccated thyroid may cause blood sugar to increase. High blood sugar may occur, glucose tolerance may change, and diabetes may worsen. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar closely and talk to your doctor about any abnormalities.

Hair loss in children: Some children may lose some of their hair in the first few months of treatment with thyroid hormone. This is usually a temporary effect and the hair normally grows back over time.

Heart disease: Starting desiccated thyroid may cause the heart to work harder than usual. For this reason, people with Angina or other heart disease should discuss with their doctor how Thyroid may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Thyroid, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Pregnancy: Supplemental thyroid hormone is safe to use during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding: Minimal amounts of thyroid hormone pass into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking desiccated thyroid, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

This medication is typically used only once a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. You should take this medication at approximately the same time each day. Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed. It must be used regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Be sure to keep an adequate supply on hand.