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Synthroid

Synthroid is the most commonly prescribed medication for hypothyroidism. It is a reliable product that consistently delivers the same dosage of T4 over a prolonged period.

Levoxyl

Levoxyl is similar to Synthroid but may be slightly belter absorbed from the intestines into the bloodstream. However, since T4 is metabolized slowly improved absorption doesn’t make much difference except for patients who have difficulty assimilating Synthroid for various reasons, such as intestinal disease. Otherwise there is virtually no difference in terms of efficacy.

Generic T4 (Levothyroxine)

The generic T4 is much cheaper than Synthroid or Levoxyl, roughly $5 for 50 pills versus $15 to S20 for the same quantity of Synthroid.

SYNTHROID FAQ

QUESTION: I take a daily Synrhroid tablet for my thyroid, a calcium supplement 3 times a day for osteoporosis, and Neurontin (a drug for seizures). I was told not to take my Svnthroid within A hours of my calcium supplement. How should I schedule to take them?
ANSWER: Synthroid is the tradename for the thyroid hormone levothyroxine also known as T4. Levothyroxine is used to treat people with an underactive thyroid gland that does not produce enough thyroid hormone. This condition is known as hypothyroidism or myxedema. Thyroid hormones control the speed at which the body’s chemical reactions proceed (metabolism) and a lack of these hormones can produce a number of symptoms such as a slow pulse, hoarse voice, slowed speech, puffy face, loss of eyebrows, dropping eyelids, intolerance to cold, constipation, weight gain, sparse hair, dry skin, carpal tunnel syndrome, confusion, depression, dementia, and many others. Hypothyroidism can result from an inability of the thyroid gland to make hormones due to a variety of reasons or from the effects of surgery, radiation, or drugs. The treatment of choice is usually daily replacement dierapy with levorhyroxine tablets. The appropriate dosage of levothyroxine is determined by monitoring the results of laboratory tests for thvroid hormone levels in the blood. It is usually taken as a single daily dose, preferably one-half to one-hour before breakfast.

Synthroid is better absorbed on an empty stomach. It is also recommended that Synthroid be taken at least 4 hours apart from other medications that are known to interfere with its absorption. As you noted, the calcium that you take for osteoporosis can interfere with the absorption of the Synthroid leading to less drug getting into the bloodstream and poor thyroid control. It appears that the calcium binds to the Synthroid and forms a complex compound that cannot be easily absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. I am not aware of a drug interaction between Neurontin and Synthroid, but some other anti-seizure medications can be a problem. In order to prevent any interference with your sleep schedule, I would suggest that you take your Synthroid dose upon arising in the morning, 30-60 minutes prior to breakfast. The calcium supplement could then be taken 4 hours later, mid-after-noon, and at bedtime. However, you should check with your doctor before making any dosing schedule change. Your pharmacist and physician can help you schedule your specific medications appropriately and should be consulted whenever you arc unsure about the proper dosage timing and potential for drug interactions.