Liothyronine Sodium
Note: If this brand is out of stock, another brand will be send to you. Active ingredient and concentration will be the same.
How does it work?
Liothyronine is one of the thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland produces and releases two hormones: liothyronine and thyroxine. Thyroxine is converted to liothyronine in other areas of the body. Liothyronine is the more active hormone in the body. It is responsible for maintaining a normal rate of metabolism for the whole body. When the thyroid gland is unable to produce normal amounts of liothyronine and thyroxine, the blood levels of thyroid hormones decrease (hypothyroidism). Extremely low levels of thyroid hormones can result in a condition known as myxoedema. Myxoedema can involve many symptoms such as hair loss and blood disorders. In extreme cases this condition may result in psychosis or coma. It is under these circumstances that liothyronine is most effective. This is because liothyronine is in the active form (it does not have to be converted from thyroxine) and can therefore act quickly. Liothyronine tablets are given to replace the liothyronine that would normally have been produced by the thyroid gland. This does not stimulate the thyroid gland to produce greater amounts of thyroid hormones; it simply acts to quickly return the blood levels of liothyronine to normal levels.
What is it used for?
- Hypothyroidism due to the treatment of thyrotoxicosis
- Prevention of excessive decrease in thyroid hormone levels when treating hyperthyroidism with carbimazole
- Severe hypothyroidism resulting in coma (coma of myxoedema)
- Sudden or ongoing severe hypothyroidism
- Use with caution in
- A disease in which an individual produces large amounts of dilute urine and is constantly thirsty (diabetes insipidus)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Elderly people
- Heart disease due to prolonged severe hypothyroidism
- Insufficient production of natural steroid hormones by the adrenal glands (adrenal insufficiency)
Not to be used in
- Angina pectoris
- Disease involving the heart and blood vessels
Side effects:
- Headache
- Faster than normal heart beat (tachycardia)
- Diarrhoea
- Excitement
- Muscle cramps
- Sweating
- Muscle weakness
- Awareness of your heart beat (heart palpitations)
- Weight loss
- Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias)
- Flushing
- Chest pain (angina)
