Liothyronine Sodium 20 Micrograms Powder For Solution For Injection
MercuryPharma
PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
Liothyronine Sodium 20 micrograms Powder for Solution for Injection
READ ALL OF THIS LEAFLET CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU HAVE THIS MEDICINE.
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If any of the side effects become serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
1. What Liothyronine Sodium injection is and what it is used for
2. Before you are given Liothyronine Sodium injection
3. How Liothyronine Sodium injection is given
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Liothyronine Sodium injection
6. Further information
Liothyronine Sodium injection contains liothyronine sodium which is a quick acting, naturally occurring form of the hormone thyroxine.
Thyroxine is normally produced by the thyroid gland in the neck. It controls many bodily functions, mainly to do with growth and energy.
Liothyronine Sodium injection is used to treat severe under activity of the thyroid gland (myxoedema) when it is not possible to give thyroid treatment by mouth. It may be used with other medicines such as steroids.
You should NOT receive Liothyronine Sodium injection if:
• you know that you are allergic to liothyronine sodium or any of the other ingredients of Liothyronine Sodium injection (see section 6 of this leaflet)
• you have a disease involving the heart or blood vessels
• you have pain in the chest (angina pectoris)
• you have an overactive thyroid gland with raised levels of thyroid hormones (thyrotoxicosis).
Please tell your doctor before you are given this injection if any of the above applies to you.
Take special care with Liothyronine Sodium injection if you:
• suffer from diabetes. The dosage of your diabetic treatment may need to be altered
• have heart failure (e.g. suggested by symptoms like swelling of the ankles, breathlessness etc.) or have high blood pressure
• are an elderly patient with history of hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormones)
• suffer from disorders of the adrenal gland.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. The effects of these medicines may change, especially if you are taking:
• medicines called cardiac glycosides (e.g. digoxin) used to treat heart conditions such as heart failure
• insulin and other treatments for diabetes
• anticonvulsants (e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine, primidone) used to prevent fits
• anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin, phenindione) used to thin the blood and treat blood clots
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. sertraline) used to treat depression
• barbiturates (e.g. amobarbital) taken to induce sleep
• Antihypertensives (propranolol)
• Adrenaline (used to increase heart rate)
• Amiodarone (medication used for irregular heat beat)
• Rifampicin (treatment of tuberculosis).
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Pregnancy and breast feeding
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding discuss your medication with your doctor. The decision on whether it is in your best interests to have Liothyronine Sodium injection during pregnancy or breast feeding will be made by your doctor.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicines.
Driving and using machines
Liothyronine Sodium injection should not interfere with your ability to drive or use machinery.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Liothyronine Sodium Injection
This medicine also contains dextran 110, a sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
This medicinal product contains less than 1mmol sodium (23mg) per dose, i.e. is essentially ‘sodium-free'.
This medicine will be diluted with sterile water before it is given to you. It will be injected slowly into a vein by a nurse or doctor. The usual dose for adults is 5 to 20 micrograms. This may be repeated after 12 hours or less if required. The minimum interval between doses is four hours.
If you take more Liothyronine Sodium injection than you should:
As the injection will be administered under the supervision of a doctor or nurse, it is unlikely that you will be given more than is necessary. However, if you have any concerns about the dose of your medicine discuss them with your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, Liothyronine Sodium injection can sometimes cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Side effects you could experience are:
Difficulty in breathing, rash, itching or swelling of the eyelids, face or lips. If you notice any of the above effects, speak to your doctor or nurse immediately as these can be signs of an allergic reaction.
• Irregular or rapid heart beats, angina (pain in the chest on exercise) and palpitations (thumping heart beats)
• Muscle cramps or weakness
• Vomiting, diarrhoea
• Intolerance to heat and Transient hair loss in children (when thyroid hormones used for maintenance)
• Craniostenosis (Developmental abnormality of the skull bone in children)
• Premature closure of epiphysis in children (Bone deformities)
• Menstrual irregularities (experienced when thyroid hormones used for maintenance)
• Restlessness, excitability, trembling
• Headaches, flushing, sweating, fever
• Loss of weight
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Rarely, benign intracranial hypertension in children (neurological disorder characterized by headache, nausea, vomiting).
If any of the side effects become serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and label. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This information is primarily for healthcare professionals.
Do not store above 25°C. Store in the outer carton and protect from light. Reconstituted solution should be discarded after use.
Liothyronine Sodium injection contains the active ingredient liothyronine sodium 20 micrograms, and Dextran 110 freeze dried, sodium hydroxide BP and water for injection.
What Liothyronine Sodium injection looks like and contents of the pack
This medicine is packed as a freeze-dried white plug in a neutral glass vial for reconstitution with 1 or 2 ml of water for injection. It is available as 5 vials in a carton pack.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Company Responsible for Manufacture:
Mercury Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Capital House, 85 King William Street, London EC4N 7BL, UK
This leaflet was last revised in December 2013.
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