Welcome to Synthroid Precision in Every Dose

Welcome to Synthroid
Precision in Every Dose
?
THINK
YOU’RE ON SYNTHROID?
MAKE SURE.
See Why It Matters >>
Look inside for important information
to help you stay on track with Synthroid.
Model is for illustrative purposes only.
25
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88
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orange
white
violet
olive
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rose
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turquoise
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lilac
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Tablets shown not actual size and may not represent exact color.
Use1
SYNTHROID® (levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP) is a prescription, man-made thyroid hormone that is used
to treat a condition called hypothyroidism. It is meant to replace a hormone that is usually made by your thyroid
gland. Generally, thyroid replacement treatment is to be taken for life.
Safety Considerations1
• Thyroid hormones, including SYNTHROID, should not be used for the treatment of obesity or
weight loss. Large doses of thyroid hormone, especially when used with certain medicines that
reduce appetite, can result in serious and even life-threatening effects.
• Talk to your doctor about any medication and food allergies, all medications you are taking, pregnancy plans,
and all medical conditions you may have, especially heart disease, diabetes, clotting disorders, and adrenal
or pituitary gland problems.
• Tell your doctor if you experience rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, leg cramps,
headache, nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, tremors, change in appetite, weight gain or loss, vomiting,
diarrhea, excessive sweating, heat intolerance, fever, changes in menstrual periods, hives or skin rash, or any
other unusual medical event.
Please see Use and Important Safety Information, including warning against misuse
in weight loss, on page 5. Please click here to see full Prescribing Information,
or visit http://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/Synthroid.pdf.
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Get the most from Synthroid
Congratulations on starting Synthroid—the #1 prescribed
levothyroxine brand.* For more than 50 years, Synthroid has
been helping people like you treat their hypothyroidism.
* IMS weekly prescription volume, December 7, 2012.
Precise dosing—Why it’s important
Managing hypothyroidism requires getting a precise dose of medicine day after day. This precision
is important because thyroid replacement therapy is a type of medication called a narrow therapeutic
index (NTI) drug. With NTI drugs, if your dose is off even a little bit, you could experience symptoms
of under-replacement (not enough medicine) or symptoms of over-replacement (too much medicine).
In the early months of treatment, your doctor may adjust your dose a few times to make sure you’re
at the precise dose that’s right for you. In order to determine if your dosage needs to change, you’ll
need to monitor your symptoms, and your doctor will run blood tests.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:
Some symptoms of under-replacement (not enough medicine)†2
• Fatigue
• Yellow skin
• Decreased appetite
• Weight gain or trouble
losing weight
•F
eeling cold all over
• Hair loss
• Dry skin
•F
eeling down or depressed • Swollen hands or face
•T
rouble remembering things
Some symptoms of over-replacement (too much medicine)†
• Feeling nervous or jittery
• Weight loss
• Trouble sleeping
†
• Rapid or irregular • Shortness of breath
heartbeat
• Increased appetite
• Sweating heavily
• Feeling hot all over
• Muscle weakness
This is not a complete list of symptoms that can occur from under-replacement and over-replacement.
Identify your symptoms
with the Symptom Profiler tool. Access it at: Synthroid.com/Hypothyroidism/SymptomProfiler.aspx
Please see Use and Important Safety Information, including warning against misuse
in weight loss, on page 5. Please click here to see full Prescribing Information,
or visit http://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/Synthroid.pdf.
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Consistency counts: Get what your doctor prescribed
If your doctor says it’s OK, the choice is yours whether to stay on Synthroid or receive a substitute.
Here is what you should be aware of if you’re considering switching:
The Food and Drug Administration has determined that some, but not all, levothyroxine
products are interchangeable. A levothyroxine product that is not interchangeable with
Synthroid might not have the exact same effect on your TSH as Synthroid.
If your doctor permits substitution, you may receive
a substituted levothyroxine product with a refill.
Refill 1
Refill 2
Refill 3
Refill 4
You may need a follow-up TSH test 8 to 12 weeks after each switch to make sure
your TSH level is in balance. If it is not, your doctor may have to adjust your dose.
If your doctor chooses Synthroid, he or she may write “DAW”‡ on your
prescription to help ensure you get Synthroid when you refill your prescription.
Refill 1
Refill 2
Refill 3
Refill 4
*
Tablets shown not actual size and may not represent exact color.
‡
Your doctor may write “Dispense as Written” (DAW), or your state’s required language, on your prescription.
This helps ensure that you get Synthroid when you refill your prescription.
Please see Use and Important Safety Information, including warning against misuse
in weight loss, on page 5. Please click here to see full Prescribing Information,
or visit http://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/Synthroid.pdf.
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Make sure it’s Synthroid if that’s what your doctor prefers
Switches can happen at the pharmacy without your knowledge.
40% of patients who think they are on Synthroid are actually not.
§
§
Patient survey responses collected in 2013. Mistaken Synthroid users (n=300) defined as those who think they are using Synthroid
but did not have Synthroid embossed on their actual pill.
Check your pill. If your pill doesn’t say Synthroid, it is not Synthroid.
Go to Synthroid.com/makesure to let us know what you find out. Your healthcare provider may write “Dispense as Written” (DAW), or your state’s required language,
on your prescription.
If your healthcare provider wants you to be on Synthroid, it’s up to you to ensure you get Synthroid
at your first prescription fill and every refill.
• Ask for Synthroid by name.
• Check your pills before leaving the pharmacy. If they don’t say “Synthroid,” they’re not Synthroid.
• Speak up. If you didn’t get Synthroid, tell the pharmacist you want to stick with the medication
your healthcare provider prescribed.
• Have the pharmacist note your preference for Synthroid for future refills.
25
mcg
50
mcg
75
mcg
88
mcg
100
mcg
112
mcg
125
mcg
137
mcg
150
mcg
175
mcg
200
mcg
300
mcg
orange
white
violet
olive
yellow
rose
brown
turquoise
blue
lilac
pink
green
Tablets shown not actual size and may not represent exact color.
Learn more about filling your prescription at: Synthroid.com/Prescription/Synthroid-Substitute.aspx.
Stay on track
To help keep your thyroid running like clockwork, take Synthroid as prescribed every day.
• Use Synthroid only as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Do not discontinue or change the
amount you take, or how often you take it, unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.
•T
ry not to miss a dose.
• Take
Synthroid on an empty stomach, one-half to one hour before breakfast.
• Certain foods can interfere with the way Synthroid works. Let your doctor know if you consume
soybean flour (including infant formula), cotton seed meal, walnuts or dietary fiber. Your dose
of Synthroid may need to be adjusted.
• Don’t take Synthroid within 4 hours of medications or supplements such as antacids,
iron or calcium, as these can decrease the absorption of levothyroxine sodium tablets.
Learn more at: Synthroid.com/LivingWith/Diet.aspx.
Please see Use and Important Safety Information, including warning against misuse
in weight loss, on page 5. Please click here to see full Prescribing Information,
or visit http://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/Synthroid.pdf.
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Use and Important Safety Information
about Synthroid® (levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP)
Use1
SYNTHROID® (levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP) is a prescription, man-made thyroid hormone that is used to
treat a condition called hypothyroidism. It is meant to replace a hormone that is usually made by your thyroid gland.
Generally, thyroid replacement treatment is to be taken for life.
Important Safety Information1
• Thyroid hormones, including SYNTHROID, should not be used either alone or in combination with
other drugs for the treatment of obesity or weight loss. In patients with normal thyroid levels, doses
of SYNTHROID used daily for hormone replacement are not helpful for weight loss. Larger doses
may result in serious or even life-threatening events, especially when used in combination with
certain other drugs used to reduce appetite.
• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any foods or drugs, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, are
breast-feeding or are taking any other drugs, as well as prescription and over-the-counter products.
• Tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you may have, especially heart disease, diabetes, blood
clotting problems, and adrenal or pituitary gland problems. The dose of other drugs you may be taking to control
these conditions may have to be changed while you are taking SYNTHROID. If you have diabetes, check your
blood sugar levels and/or the glucose in your urine, as ordered by your doctor and immediately tell your doctor
if there are any changes. If you are taking blood thinners, your blood clotting status should be checked often.
• Use SYNTHROID only as ordered by your doctor. Do not stop or change the amount you take, or how often you
take it, unless told to do so by your doctor.
• Products such as iron and calcium supplements and antacids can lower your body’s ability to absorb SYNTHROID,
so SYNTHROID should be taken 4 hours before or after taking these products.
• Take SYNTHROID as a single dose, preferably on an empty stomach, one-half to one hour before breakfast.
Your body’s ability to absorb SYNTHROID is improved when you take it on an empty stomach.
• Tell your doctor if you develop any of the following symptoms: rapid or abnormal heartbeat, chest pain, difficulty
catching breath, leg cramps, headache, feeling nervous, irritability, sleeplessness, shaking, change in appetite,
weight gain or loss, throwing up, diarrhea, increased sweating, unable to tolerate heat, fever, changes in menstrual
periods, swollen red bumps on the skin or skin rash, or any other unusual medical event.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking SYNTHROID before any surgery.
• Once your body’s response to SYNTHROID has stabilized, it is important to have lab tests done, as ordered by
your doctor, at least once a year.
This is the most important safety information you should know about SYNTHROID. For more
information, talk with your doctor.
Please click here to see full Prescribing Information, or visit
http://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/Synthroid.pdf.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm, or call 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).
If you cannot afford your medication, contact www.pparx.org or call the toll-free phone number
(1-888-4PPA-NOW) (1-888-477-2669) for assistance.
Reference: 1. Synthroid [package insert], 2. Baskin HJ, Cobin RH, Duick DS, et al; for American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. American Association
of Clinical Endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for the evaluation and treatment of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Endocr Pract. 2002;8(6):457-469.
©2014 AbbVie Inc. North Chicago, IL 60064 605-1366307 March 2014
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