Exam 1 - Treatment of Hypothyroidism

Question 1

What does the Treatment of Hypothyroidism consist of?

Answer 1

Replacement Therapy

Question 2

Which are the treatments for Hypothyroidism?

Answer 2

Desiccated thyroid
Liothyronine (Cytomel, Triostat)
Fixed Ratio (Liotrix) preparations
Levothyroxine (Levothroid, Synthroid)

Question 3

What are the characteristics of Desiccated thyroid?

Answer 3

● From foreign source = hypersensitivity problems

● Don’t know exact T 3 and T 4 content

Question 4

What are the characteristics of Liothyronine (Cytomel, Triostat)?

Answer 4

• Contains only synthetic T3 → more side effects than T4
• Shorter t 1/2 (1 day) than T4; less affinity for binding proteins
● Sometimes used along with T4 in treatment of myxedema coma

Question 5

What are the characteristics of Fixed Ratio (Liotrix) preparations?

Answer 5

● 4:1 mixture of T 4 :T 3

● T 3 induces tremor, headache, palpitations, diarrhea

Question 6

What are the characteristics of Levothyroxine (Levothroid, Synthroid)?

Answer 6

• DOC for nearly all thyroid hormone replacement needs
● Synthetic T4 with predictable results (no antigenicity)
● Long t 1/2 (approx. 1 week)
● T 4 is drug of choice to treat myxedema coma → given IV to saturate TBG and other binding proteins with remainder free to be converted to T3. Less dangerous in OD than T3