Patient Leaflet Updated 19-Dec-2023 | Brillpharma Limited
Levothyroxine Oral Solution
Levothyroxine Brillpharma 25 microgram/5 ml Oral Solution
Levothyroxine Brillpharma 50 microgram/5 ml Oral Solution
Levothyroxine Brillpharma 75 microgram/5 ml Oral Solution
Levothyroxine Brillpharma 100 microgram/5 ml Oral Solution
Levothyroxine sodium
1. What Levothyroxine Brillpharma is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Levothyroxine Brillpharma
3. How to take Levothyroxine Brillpharma
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Levothyroxine Brillpharma
6. Contents of the pack and other information
Levothyroxine Brillpharma contains the active ingredient levothyroxine sodium. It is used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland is underactive and so does not make enough thyroxine for the body’s needs. Levothyroxine Brillpharma is also used to treat thyroid cancer and diffuse non-toxic goitre or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, conditions in which the thyroid gland becomes enlarged causing a swelling in the front of the neck.
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Levothyroxine Brillpharma
Blood pressure will be regularly monitored when Levothyroxine Brillpharma treatment is started in very low birth weight preterm neonates because rapid fall in blood pressure (known as circulatory collapse) may occur.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Levothyroxine can interfere with the action of some other drugs and some drugs can have an effect on Levothyroxine. In particular tell your doctor or pharmacist if you take the following drugs:
Let your doctor or pharmacist know Levothyroxine Brillpharma can be taken with these medicines but not at the same time. If you go into hospital to have an operation, tell the anaesthetist or the medical staff that you are taking Levothyroxine Brillpharma. It may react with an anaesthetic (Ketamine) which you may be given before an operation. Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
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. If you are pregnant while taking this medicine your doctor will monitor you closely.
Your medicine is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or to operate machinery.
Levothyroxine Brillpharma contains sodium methyl parahydroxy benzoate (E219) which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
Information on sodium content
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per maximum dose of 300 microgram, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Levothyroxine Brillpharma should be swallowed. Your doctor will have decided what dose you should take each day depending on your condition.
Your doctor will take blood samples at regular intervals to monitor your response to treatment. If you are switching from the oral solution to the tablet version of levothyroxine or from the tablet version to the oral solution of levothyroxine your doctor will monitor you more closely.
You should take your Levothyroxine Brillpharma on an empty stomach, usually before breakfast.
The recommended dose is
For hypothyroidism:
Adults and children over 12 years:
The recommended starting dose is 50 to 100 microgram a day, increasing by 25 to 50 microgram every 3-4 weeks, until you are taking the right amount for your condition. The usual maintenance dose is 100 to 200 microgram daily. For diffuse non-toxic goitre or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis the recommended dose is 50-200 microgram per day. For the treatment of thyroid cancer the recommended dose is 150-300 microgram per day
Older patients (over 50 years of age):
The recommended starting dose is 12.5 microgram a day, increasing by 12.5 microgram every 2 weeks until the correct dose is obtained. The usual final dose is between 50 and 200 microgram daily. This dose also applies to patients with severe hypothyroidism and to those with heart disease.
Children under 12 years:
The dose for children depends on their age or weight. They will be monitored to make sure they get the right dose. The following is a guide:
Age Microgram per kg bodyweight
Up to 1 month 5-10 microgram
Over 1 month 5 microgram
The duration of treatment is usually for life if you are being treated for hypothyroidism, non toxic diffuse goitre or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Please use the oral syringe provided to deliver your specific dose (see instructions below). The syringe can be used to measure your dose by drawing the liquid to the correct mark on the syringe. For example if your dose is 50 microgram daily then the corresponding volume would be:
For the 25 microgram/5ml strength – 2 x 5ml (10ml in total)
For the 50 microgram/5ml strength – 5ml
For the 100 microgram/5ml strength – 2.5 ml
You should use the enclosed 5 ml oral syringe (graduated at every 0.1 ml) together with the enclosed adaptor to attach the syringe to the bottle.
This helps you to take a dose from the bottle.
Open the bottle: press the cap and turn it anticlockwise (figure 1)
If you accidentally take an overdose of your medicine, either call your doctor straight away, or go to your nearest hospital casualty department.
Symptoms of overdose include fever, irregular heart beat, muscle cramps, headache, restlessness, flushing, sweating or diarrhoea. Always take any remaining medicine, the container and the label with you, so that the medicine can be identified.
If you forget to take your medicine, take your dose when you remember and then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you have forgotten several doses tell your doctor when you have your next checkup or blood test. If you are worried, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice. If you have any further questions of the use of this medicine ask your doctor or pharmacist.
It can be dangerous to stop taking your medicine without your doctor’s advice.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. These usually only happens if the dose you are taking is too high.
These are all very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have a serious allergic reaction to Levothyroxine Brillpharma. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. All of these very serious side effects are very rare.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects:
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
Additional side effects in children and adolescents
If you feel unwell in any other way, tell your doctor as soon as you can.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible events. You may not have any of them
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 by searching for MHRA yellowcard 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 active substance is levothyroxine sodium. Each 5 ml of oral solution contains levothyroxine sodium equivalent to 25 microgram, 50 microgram, 75 microgram or 100 microgram. The other ingredients are glycerol (E422), citric acid monohydrate (E330) (for pH adjustment), Sodium Hydroxide (for pH ajustment), sodium methyl parahydroxy benzoate (E219) and purified water.
Levothyroxine Brillpharma is a clear, colourless liquid.
This medicine is supplied in 100 ml amber coloured glass bottle with a child resistant closure and a 5 ml oral syringe (graduated at every 0.1 ml) with adaptor and packed in a carton.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Name and address:
Manufacturer:
Levothyroxine Brillpharma 25 microgram/5 ml Oral Solution;
PL 40496/0016
Levothyroxine Brillpharma 50 microgram/5 ml Oral Solution;
PL 40496/0017
Levothyroxine Brillpharma 75 microgram/5 ml Oral Solution;
PL 40496/0018
Levothyroxine Brillpharma 100 microgram/5 ml Oral Solution;
PL 40496/0019
This leaflet was last revised in November 2023
To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio format then please contact the marketing authorisation holder at the address (or email) above.
V9 24-11-23 D0
6 Sovereign Park, Luton, LU4 8EL, UK
https://brillpharma.co.uk/