FDA prescribing information, side effects and uses. Hypothyroidism. Synthroid is indicated as a replacement therapy in primary thyroidal, secondary pituitary, and tertiary hypothalamic congenital or acquired hypothyroidism. Pituitary Thyrotropin ThyroidStimulating Hormone, TSH Suppression. Synthroid is indicated as an adjunct to surgery and radioiodine therapy in the management of thyrotropin dependent well differentiated thyroid cancer. If youre looking for something fun to do with the kiddos, try making this easy homemade playdough using just two common household ingredients. Synthroid is not indicated for suppression of benign thyroid nodules and nontoxic diffuse goiter in iodine sufficient patients as there are no clinical benefits and overtreatment with Synthroid may induce hyperthyroidism see Warnings and Precautions5. Synthroid is not indicated for treatment of hypothyroidism during the recovery phase of subacute thyroiditis. Synthroid Dosage and Administration. General Administration Information. Administer Synthroid as a single daily dose, on an empty stomach, one half to one hour before breakfast. Administer Synthroid at least 4 hours before or after drugs known to interfere with Synthroid absorption see Drug Interactions 7. Evaluate the need for dose adjustments when regularly administering within one hour of certain foods that may affect Synthroid absorption see Drug Interactions 7. Clinical Pharmacology 1. Administer Synthroid to infants and children who cannot swallow intact tablets by crushing the tablet, suspending the freshly crushed tablet in a small amount 5 to 1. L or 1 to 2 teaspoons of water and immediately administering the suspension by spoon or dropper. Do not store the suspension. Do not administer in foods that decrease absorption of Synthroid, such as soybean based infant formula see Drug Interactions 7. General Principles of Dosing. The dose of Synthroid for hypothyroidism or pituitary TSH suppression depends on a variety of factors including the patients age, body weight, cardiovascular status, concomitant medical conditions including pregnancy, concomitant medications, co administered food and the specific nature of the condition being treated see Dosage and Administration 2. Warnings and Precautions 5, and Drug Interactions 7. Dosing must be individualized to account for these factors and dose adjustments made based on periodic assessment of the patients clinical response and laboratory parameters see Dosage and Administration 2. The peak therapeutic effect of a given dose of Synthroid may not be attained for 4 to 6 weeks. Dosing in Specific Patient Populations. Primary Hypothyroidism in Adults and in Adolescents in Whom Growth and Puberty are Complete. Start Synthroid at the full replacement dose in otherwise healthy, non elderly individuals who have been hypothyroid for only a short time such as a few months. Ordering and Account Information. Do I need to set up an account before I can order online How do I place an order under 2,500 Where can I check on my orders. Updated to add several readers have asked about homemade deodorant for men. I am happy to report that my husband has been using this same recipe for years to his. The average full replacement dose of Synthroid is approximately 1. Adjust the dose by 1. TSH returns to normal. Doses greater than 2. An inadequate response to daily doses of greater than 3. For elderly patients or patients with underlying cardiac disease, start with a dose of 1. Increase the dose every 6 to 8 weeks, as needed until the patient is clinically euthyroid and the serum TSH returns to normal. The full replacement dose of Synthroid may be less than 1 mcg per kg per day in elderly patients. In patients with severe longstanding hypothyroidism, start with a dose of 1. Adjust the dose in 1. TSH level is normalized. Secondary or Tertiary Hypothyroidism. Start Synthroid at the full replacement dose in otherwise healthy, non elderly individuals. Start with a lower dose in elderly patients, patients with underlying cardiovascular disease or patients with severe longstanding hypothyroidism as described above. Serum TSH is not a reliable measure of Synthroid dose adequacy in patients with secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism and should not be used to monitor therapy. Use the serum free T4 level to monitor adequacy of therapy in this patient population. Titrate Synthroid dosing per above instructions until the patient is clinically euthyroid and the serum free T4 level is restored to the upper half of the normal range. Pediatric Dosage Congenital or Acquired Hypothyroidism. The recommended daily dose of Synthroid in pediatric patients with hypothyroidism is based on body weight and changes with age as described in Table 1. Start Synthroid at the full daily dose in most pediatric patients. Start at a lower starting dose in newborns 0 3 months at risk for cardiac failure and in children at risk for hyperactivity see below. Monitor for clinical and laboratory response see Dosage and Administration 2. Table 1. Synthroid Dosing Guidelines for Pediatric Hypothyroidism. AGEDaily Dose Per Kg Body Weighta. Steak Diane Sauce. Greater than 1. 2 years but growth and puberty incomplete. Growth and puberty complete. The dose should be adjusted based on clinical response and laboratory parameters see Dosage and Administration 2. Use in Specific Populations 8. Newborns 0 3 months at risk for cardiac failure Consider a lower starting dose in newborns at risk for cardiac failure. Increase the dose every 4 to 6 weeks as needed based on clinical and laboratory response. Children at risk for hyperactivity To minimize the risk of hyperactivity in children, start at one fourth the recommended full replacement dose, and increase on a weekly basis by one fourth the full recommended replacement dose until the full recommended replacement dose is reached. Pregnancy. Pre existing Hypothyroidism Synthroid dose requirements may increase during pregnancy. Measure serum TSH and free T4 as soon as pregnancy is confirmed and, at minimum, during each trimester of pregnancy. In patients with primary hypothyroidism, maintain serum TSH in the trimester specific reference range. For patients with serum TSH above the normal trimester specific range, increase the dose of Synthroid by 1. TSH every 4 weeks until a stable Synthroid dose is reached and serum TSH is within the normal trimester specific range. Reduce Synthroid dosage to pre pregnancy levels immediately after delivery and measure serum TSH levels 4 to 8 weeks postpartum to ensure Synthroid dose is appropriate. New Onset Hypothyroidism Normalize thyroid function as rapidly as possible. In patients with moderate to severe signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, start Synthroid at the full replacement dose 1. In patients with mild hypothyroidism TSH lt 1. IU per liter start Synthroid at 1. Evaluate serum TSH every 4 weeks and adjust Synthroid dosage until a serum TSH is within the normal trimester specific range see Use in Specific Populations 8. TSH Suppression in Well differentiated Thyroid Cancer. Generally, TSH is suppressed to below 0. IU per liter, and this usually requires a Synthroid dose of greater than 2 mcg per kg per day. However, in patients with high risk tumors, the target level for TSH suppression may be lower. Monitoring TSH andor Thyroxine T4 Levels. Assess the adequacy of therapy by periodic assessment of laboratory tests and clinical evaluation. Persistent clinical and laboratory evidence of hypothyroidism despite an apparent adequate replacement dose of Synthroid may be evidence of inadequate absorption, poor compliance, drug interactions, or a combination of these factors. Adults. In adult patients with primary hypothyroidism, monitor serum TSH levels after an interval of 6 to 8 weeks after any change in dose. In patients on a stable and appropriate replacement dose, evaluate clinical and biochemical response every 6 to 1. Pediatrics. In patients with congenital hypothyroidism, assess the adequacy of replacement therapy by measuring both serum TSH and total or free T4. Monitor TSH and total or free T4 in children as follows 2 and 4 weeks after the initiation of treatment, 2 weeks after any change in dosage, and then every 3 to 1. Poor compliance or abnormal values may necessitate more frequent monitoring.