Important Safety Information
Liothyronine sodium has a boxed warning stating that thyroid hormones, including liothyronine, should not be used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss. Doses beyond the range of daily hormonal requirements may produce serious or even life-threatening manifestations of toxicity, particularly when given in association with sympathomimetic amines.
Liothyronine is contraindicated in patients with uncorrected adrenal cortical insufficiency. Acute adrenal crisis may be precipitated in patients with concomitant adrenal insufficiency; replacement glucocorticoids should be administered prior to initiation of liothyronine treatment.
Important
Non-Medical Use
Non-medical use of liothyronine falls outside approved indications. The FDA explicitly warns against using thyroid hormones for weight loss. Product purity does not establish that non-medical use is safe or appropriate for an individual.
Potential Adverse Effects
Cardiac adverse reactions, particularly in the elderly and in patients with underlying cardiovascular disease, include increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Liothyronine should be initiated at less than the full replacement dose in these populations.
Over-replacement with thyroid hormone can increase bone resorption and decrease bone mineral density. The lowest effective dose should be used. Therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus may worsen glycemic control and result in increased antidiabetic agent or insulin requirements.
Other potential effects include symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as nervousness, irritability, insomnia, tremors, palpitations, and weight loss. In non-medical contexts, concerns about muscle loss and cardiac stress are commonly referenced.
Conditions Requiring Medical Evaluation
Liothyronine is not appropriate for everyone. Contraindications include uncorrected adrenal cortical insufficiency. Caution is advised in patients with cardiovascular disease, including angina, old myocardial infarction, arteriosclerosis, and hypertension.
Patients with adrenal cortical insufficiency, pituitary insufficiency, or diabetes should be carefully evaluated before liothyronine therapy is considered.
Monitoring During Therapy
Adequacy of liothyronine therapy is determined with periodic monitoring of TSH and T3 levels as well as clinical status. In adult patients with primary hypothyroidism, serum TSH should be monitored periodically after initiation of therapy or any change in dose. To check the immediate response to therapy, measurement of total T3 may be most appropriate.
In patients on a stable and appropriate replacement dose, clinical and biochemical response should be evaluated every 6 to 12 months and whenever there is a change in clinical status.
Product Care
Storage & Handling
Store tablets in a cool, dry place in the original packaging. Keep out of reach of children. Inspect tablets before use and do not use if they appear damaged or compromised.
Further Safety Information