DRUG CARD: Levothyroxine 2023 with 100% correct questions and answers

What is the trade name for levothyroxine? Synthroid What is the duration of action for levothyroxine? 1-3 weeks; takes a while to leave the body! What route can levothyroxine be given by? PO, IV For what condition would a patient need IV levothyroxine? in cases of serious hypothyroidism like myxedema coma which is a life-threatening condition of hypotension and bradycardia What are the indications for levothyroxine? primary/secondary hypothyroidism What is the mechanism of action for levothyroxine? indentical to thyroid hormone What are the adverse effects of levothyroxine? - rare at therapeutic doses - at high doses: - CV - CNS What are the contraindications for levothyroxine? - hypersensitivity - thyrotoxicosis - severe CV conditions, MI - adrenal insufficiency What pregnancy category is levothyroxine and why? A because if a mom has hypothyroidism, we want her to have that hormone present because if she does not, then the baby can suffer serious physical and cognitive disabilities What assessments would we want to perform on our patients who take levothyroxine? cardiac assessment What drug does levothyroxine inhibit? And what would the healthcare provider do about the dosage? warfarin; they would lower the dose of the warfarin because if the body is inhibiting it, that means it's just floating around, unused When increasing the dose of levothyroxine, what do you want to be mindful of? increase it slowly, do not have a large jump in between doses