Patient leaflet - IRAKSIN 20 MICROGRAMSTABLETS, LIOTHYRONINE SODIUM 20 MICROGRAMSTABLETS
Liothyronine Sodium
5, 10, 20 microgram Tablets
MORNINGSIDE
HEALTHCARE
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
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1. What Liothyronine Sodium Tablets are and what they are used for
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2. What you need to know before you take Liothyronine Sodium Tablets
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3. How to take Liothyronine Sodium Tablets
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4. Possible side effects
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5. How to store Liothyronine Sodium Tablets
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6. Contents of the pack and other information
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1. What Liothyronine Sodium Tablets are and what they are used for
Liothyronine Sodium Tablets are a form of thyroxine which is quick acting and long lasting. Thyroxine is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland in the neck which controls many body functions. Liothyronine Sodium Tablets are used to:
- treat some of the more severe conditions in which the thyroid does not produce enough thyroxine,
- balance the effect of medicines used to treat an overactive thyroid.
2. what you need to know before you take liothyronine sodium tablets
Do not take Liothyronine Sodium Tablets:
- if you are allergic to liothyronine sodium or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6 at the end of this leaflet),
- if you have angina (chest pain when exercising) or conditions affecting your heart or circulation,
- if you are suffering from thyrotoxicosis (condition due to over activity of the thyroid gland).
Warnings and precautions:
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Liothyronine Sodium Tablets if:
- you are suffering from diabetes. Liothyronine Sodium Tablets may raise blood sugar levels,
- you are suffering from a condition called myxoedema (which can happen when you have a problem with your thyroid gland) which makes your skin look swollen and dry,
- you are elderly,
- you have suffered from low levels of thyroid hormone in your body for a long time, as this may affect how your adrenal glands work. You may be given additional medication (corticosteroids) if this is the case,
- you are suffering from any heart problems,
- you have increased blood pressure,
- you suffer from increased heart rate, sleeplessness, loose watery stools (suggesting increased metabolism) on initiation of treatment. In this case dose reduction would be required,
- you are initiating treatment, as an ECG test done at that time would be valuable,
- if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Children and adolescents:
For more information, talk to your doctor.
Other medicines and Liothyronine Sodium Tablets: Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Liothyronine Sodium Tablets may affect or be affected by the following medicines:
- anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin) used to thin the blood and prevent blood clots,
- anticonvulsants (e.g. carbamazepine or phenytoin) used to prevent fits,
- insulin and other treatments for diabetes,
- medicines called cardiac glycosides (e.g. digoxin) used to treat heart conditions such as heart failure,
- tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline / imipramine) used to treat depression,
- colestyramine / colestipol which reduces the level of cholesterol (fats) in the blood,
- oral contraceptives (‘The Pill’),
- amiodarone, used to treat irregular heart beats,
- barbiturates, used to induce sleep and decrease anxiety,
- primidone, used for seizures or fits.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
The decision on whether it is best to take Liothyronine Sodium Tablets during pregnancy or breast-feeding will be made by your doctor.
Driving and using machines
This medicine should not interfere with your ability to drive or use machinery.
Liothyronine Sodium Tablets contains lactose
This medicine contains lactose, which is 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.
Important information about Liothyronine Sodium Tablets
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
3. how to take liothyronine sodium tablets
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Liothyronine Sodium Tablets are taken by mouth. You should swallow a whole tablet with a glass of water.
If you have any difficulty in swallowing a whole tablet, then you may crush the tablet and add it to a glass with minimum of 20 ml of water and swirl for 5 minutes until completely dissolved. Please ensure that you take the entire amount of water to ensure you take the full dose. Do not worry if the solution appears cloudy. If you are unsure how to take the medicine correctly, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
The recommended dose is as follows:
Adults:
The dose will depend upon your condition, ranging from 10 micrograms to 60 micrograms daily in divided doses.
Use in Children and adolescents:
Children below 12 years of age:
The dose may be started at 5 micrograms a day.
Adolescents (Children 12 –17 years of age): Initially 10 – 20 micrograms daily; increased to 60 micrograms daily in 2–3 divided doses.
Elderly:
The dose may be started at 5 micrograms a day.
Please note that your doctor will monitor your thyroid function regularly to make sure that you are given the right dose for your condition.
If you take more Liothyronine Sodium Tablets than you should
Contact your doctor or nearest hospital casualty department as soon as possible. Take any remaining tablets and this leaflet with you so the medical staff will know what you have taken. This may cause agitation, confusion, headache, sweating and a rapid pulse.
If you forget to take Liothyronine Sodium Tablets
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet or dose. Take the next dose at the correct time and then go on as before. It is important, in order for your medicine to work, that doses are not forgotten.
If you stop taking Liothyronine Sodium Tablets Do not stop taking Liothyronine Sodium Tablets unless your doctor tells you to.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Side effects you could experience are:
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from available data) :
- Vomiting (being sick)
- Insomnia (sleeplessness)
- Fever
- Intolerance to heat
- Tremor (involuntary, rhythmic muscle movements)
- Allergic reactions such as rash, itching, oedema (abnormal accumulation of body fluid)
- Angina pain (pain in the chest when exercising)
- Irregular, thumping or fast heart beats
- Muscle cramps or weakness
- Diarrhoea
- Restlessness or excitability
- Headache, face and neck redness, sweating
- Loss of weight.
Additional side effects seen in children
- Temporary loss of hair in children
These effects normally mean the dose of the medicine needs changing. You should consult your doctor, if these effects occur. The effects usually go away when the dose has been changed.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via Yellow Card Scheme at: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
- The other excipients are: lactose monohydrate, partially pregelatinized maize starch, spray dried acacia, sodium chloride and magnesium stearate.
What Liothyronine Sodium Tablets look like and contents of the pack:
Liothyronine Sodium 5 microgram Tablets: white to off white, circular biconvex tablets, plain on one side and embossed with “L1” on the other side, 5.5 mm diameter.
Liothyronine Sodium 10 microgram Tablets: white to off white, circular biconvex tablets, plain on one side and embossed with “L2” on the other side, 5.5 mm diameter.
Liothyronine Sodium 20 microgram Tablets: white to off white, circular biconvex tablets, plain on one side and embossed with “T3” on the other side, 5.5 mm diameter.
Liothyronine Sodium 5, 10 and 20 microgram Tablets are available in blister packs of 7, 10, 14, 20, 28, 30, 56, 60, 84, 90 and 112 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Morningside Healthcare Ltd.,
Unit C, Harcourt Way,
Leicester, LE19 1WP, UK
Manufacturer
Morningside Pharmaceuticals Ltd.,
5 Pavilion Way,
Loughborough, LE11 5GW, UK
This leaflet was last revised in June 2021.
5. how to store liothyronine sodium tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package to protect from light.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton or blister after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. contents of the pack and other information
What Liothyronine Sodium Tablets contain:
- The active substance is liothyronine sodium. Each tablet contains either 5 micrograms or 10 micrograms or 20 micrograms liothyronine sodium.