Patient leaflet - Liothyronine Sodium 20 micrograms powder for solution for injection
WHAT IT IS USED FOR
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.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU ARE GIVEN
LIOTHYRONINE SODIUM INJECTION You should not be given Liothyronine Sodium injection:
if you are allergic to liothyronine sodium or any of the other ingredients
of this medicine (listed in section 6)
- if you have a disease involving the heart or blood vessels
- if you have pain in the chest (angina pectoris)
if 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.
Warnings and Precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you are given Liothyronine Sodium injection if you:
suffer from diabetes. The dosage of your diabetic treatment may need
to be altered
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
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.
If you are about to undergo laboratory testing for monitoring your thyroid hormone levels, you must inform your doctor and/or the laboratory personnel that you are taking or have recently taken biotin (also known as vitamin H, vitamin B7 or vitamin B8). Biotin may affect results of your laboratory tests. Depending on the test, the results may be falsely high or falsely low due to biotin. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking biotin before performing laboratory tests. You should also be aware that other products that you may take, such as multivitamins or supplements for hair, skin, and nails could also contain biotin. This could affect the results of laboratory tests. Please inform your doctor and/or the laboratory personnel, if you are taking such products (see section Other medicines and Liothyronine Sodium injection).
Other medicines and Liothyronine Sodium injection:
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.
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 heart beat)
- Rifampicin (treatment of tuberculosis).
If you are taking or have recently taken biotin, you must inform your doctor and/or the laboratory personnel when you are about to undergo laboratory testing for monitoring your thyroid hormone levels. Biotin may affect results of your laboratory tests (see section Warnings and precautions).
Pregnancy and breast feeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. The decision on whether it is in your best interests to have Liothyronine Sodium injection
Package leaflet: Information for the user Liothyronine Sodium 20 micrograms Powder for Solution for Injection
liothyronine sodium
Dimension: 100 x 320 mm Commodity No.: N/A
AMS Component No.: AW-LF-0000453
(v0.5)
Product Description: Liothyronine sodium 20mcg PFI UK 5 Vial
Component: Leaflet Product Code: 101739 Country: UK
Revision Date: 16-Dec-2024 Revised by: PAT 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.
Liothyronine Sodium injection contains Dextran 110
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 medicinal product.
Information on sodium content
This medicinal product contains less than 1mmol sodium (23mg) per dose, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
3. HOW LIOTHYRONINE SODIUM INJECTION IS GIVEN TO YOU
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 are given 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.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Serious 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 heartbeats, angina (pain in the chest on exercise)
and palpitations (thumping heart beats). You should speak to your doctor or nurse immediately if any of these effects occur. Other side effects:
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
- Muscle cramps or weakness
- Vomiting, diarrhoea
Menstrual irregularities (experienced when thyroid hormones used for
maintenance)
- Restlessness, excitability, trembling
- Headaches, flushing, sweating, fever
- Loss of weight
- Difficulty in sleeping.
Additional side effects in children:
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1, 000 people)
Benign intracranial hypertension in children (neurological disorder
characterized by headache, nausea, vomiting).
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
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). Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard 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.
5. HOW TO STORE LIOTHYRONINE SODIUM INJECTION
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 after EXP. 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.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
The active substance is Liothyronine Sodium 20 micrograms. The other excipients are Dextran 110 freeze dried, sodium hydroxide 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.,
Dashwood House, 69 Old Broad Street,
London, EC2M 1QS, United Kingdom
This leaflet was last revised in January 2025.
AW-LF-0000453 (v0.5)
Dimension: 100 x 320 mm Commodity No.: N/A
AMS Component No.: AW-LF-0000453
(v0.5)
Product Description: Liothyronine sodium 20mcg PFI UK 5 Vial
Component: Leaflet Product Code: 101739 Country: UK
Revision Date: 16-Dec-2024 Revised by: PAT