Levothyroxine

What is Levothyroxine?

Levothyroxine is a generic treatment for an underactive thyroid (known as hypothyroidism in medical terms). Having an underactive thyroid means that your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones which can lead to tiredness, weight gain and mood changes. There’s no way to prevent an underactive thyroid – most cases are thought to be caused by an immune disorder or a damaged thyroid from other factors.

Levothyroxine works like replacement therapy. It stops you from experiencing the symptoms of hypothyroidism which can affect your body, energy and mood. It does this by replacing a hormone that’s normally produced by your thyroid.

Hypothyroidism is thought to affect women much more than men. According to NHS Scotland, 1 in 1,000 men are diagnosed with it, compared to 15 in 1,000 women.^[1] Levothyroxine is one of the most widely prescribed medications in the world and is considered to be an essential medicine for basic health care, according to the World Health Organization.^[3]

How does Levothyroxine work?

This medication has a hormone in it called Levothyroxine. It’s used to replace a natural hormone called thyroxine, which your body doesn’t produce enough of if you have hypothyroidism. When these hormone levels are restored with Levothyroxine, it alleviates hypothyroidism symptoms too.

Levothyroxine works straight away, but it can take longer for your symptoms to start to improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Your clinician can tell you if you’re taking the right dose based on your symptoms. If you stop taking Levothyroxine your symptoms are likely to come back.

What doses of Levothyroxine are there?

There are 25mcg, 50mcg, 75mcg and 100mcg doses of Levothyroxine tablet. But you can also get it as an oral solution in concentrations of 25mcg, 50mcg, 100mcg and 125mcg per 5ml. Your doctor will tailor the dosage based on factors like your thyroid levels, age, lifestyle and health. If you’ve had Levothyroxine on prescription before, our clinician can use this to make sure you get the dose you need.

How to take Levothyroxine

You should always take note of what dose of Levothyroxine you have been prescribed by your clinician. You may need to take more than one tablet to make up your dose, or your dose may increase over time. It’s important to familiarise yourself with how much Levothyroxine you should be taking. Here’s how to take Levothyroxine:

• Take Levothyroxine once a day in the morning, ideally at least 30 minutes before having breakfast or a drink containing caffeine, like tea or coffee.
• If you’re taking the tablets, swallow these whole with a drink of water.

If you find it difficult to swallow tablets, it is available as a liquid to make taking Levothyroxine easier. This will come with a measuring spoon or plastic syringe to help you ensure that you measure out the right dose.

• Shake the bottle first.
• Remove the cap from the bottle.
• Insert the adapter provided into the bottle.
• Take the plunger, making sure the handle is fully down.
• Keeping the bottle vertical, place the syringe into the adapter.
• Turn the bottle and syringe so the bottle is on top and the syringe upside down beneath.
• Pull the plunger down to full the syringe with the solution.
• Push back up fully to get rid of any air bubbles.
• Then pull the plunger down again to get the correct amount of medication.
• Turn the bottle right way up with the syringe still in.
• Take the syringe out, and replace the cap on the bottle (leaving the adapter on).
• Sit upright and, using the syringe, deliver the solution into your mouth and swallow.

How long does it take Levothyroxine to work?

It can take a few weeks of using the treatment to start feeling relief from the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as being tired, gaining weight or feeling depressed, as your body adjusts to the medication.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Levothyroxine?

If you forget to take your dose, you should take it as soon as you remember, but not if it’s nearly time for the dose that follows. You shouldn’t take twice the amount to make up for a missed dose. If you’re uncertain of what to do if you make a mistake with Levothyroxine, drop our clinician a message, and they can chat to you about it. Food and caffeinated drinks can stop your body taking in Levothyroxine properly so it may not work as well. That’s why it’s important to remember to take it before you eat or drink in the morning.