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Trimboli P, Piticchio T, Dadda Z, Stramazzo I, Gamarra E, Ruinelli L, Virili C. Analysis of dose-TSH response effect of levothyroxine soft-gel formulation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1340204. [PMID: 38449850 PMCID: PMC10915021 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1340204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Hypothyroidism is treated with daily levothyroxine (LT4). In recent years, soft gel caps of LT4 (LT4-C) have been commercialized, and their performance has been optimized. Since guidelines recommend dose LT4 according to the tablet preparation efficacy, the present study was undertaken to obtain data about the daily requirement, normalized per body weight, of LT4-C. Methods Patients undergoing LT4-C after total thyroidectomy and radioiodine treatment for differentiated thyroid carcinoma were selected. There was no specific indication of suppression of TSH (i.e., <0.5 or <0.1 mIU/L). Patients were required to maintain a stable LT4 dose during the study period. Patients with interfering factors were excluded from this study. Results Thirty patients were enrolled (18 females and 12 males; median age, 50 years; median body weight, 71 kg; median LT4-C dose, 1.71 µg/kg/day). The analysis of patient age did not reveal any differences. The LT4-C dose correlated with free-T4 p = 0.03), but not with TSH (p = 0.42) and free-T3 (p = 0.13). TSH was <1.0 mIU/L in 90% of the cases. The LT4-C dose-TSH response effect was analysed by probit regression model: the probability to achieve TSH <1.0 mIU/l was 99% with a dose of 1.84 (95%CI 1.57-2.12) µg/kg/day, 75% with a dose of 1.38 µg/kg/day (95%CI 1.17-1.59), and 50% with a dose of 1.20 (95%CI 0.96-1.43). At ROC curve analysis, the most accurate cut-off of LT4-C dose to achieve TSH <1.0 mIU/l was 1.53 ug/kg/day with 70% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Conclusions Athyreotic patients can be initially treated with an LT4-C dose lower than previously stated. Therefore, further prospective studies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierpaolo Trimboli
- Servizio di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
- Facoltà di Scienze Biomediche, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Tommaso Piticchio
- Servizio di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
- Endocrinology Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Garibaldi Nesima Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Zeno Dadda
- Facoltà di Scienze Biomediche, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Ilaria Stramazzo
- Endocrinology Section, Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy
| | - Elena Gamarra
- Servizio di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Lorenzo Ruinelli
- Servizio di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
- Team Data Science and Research, Area ICT, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Clinical Trial Unit, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Camilla Virili
- Endocrinology Section, Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy
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Liu H, Li W, Zhang W, Sun S, Chen C. Levothyroxine: Conventional and novel drug delivery formulations. Endocr Rev 2022; 44:393-416. [PMID: 36412275 PMCID: PMC10166268 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnac030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Despite the fact that levothyroxine is one of the most prescribed medications in the world, its bioavailability has been reported to be impaired by many factors, including interfering drugs or foods and concomitant diseases, and persistent hypothyroidism with a high dose of levothyroxine is thus elicited. Persistent hypothyroidism can also be induced by noninterchangeability between formulations and poor compliance. To address these issues, some strategies have been developed. Novel formulations (liquid solutions and soft-gel capsules) have been designed to eliminate malabsorption. Some other delivery routes (injections, suppositories, sprays, and sublingual and transdermal administrations) are aimed at circumventing different difficulties in dosing, such as thyroid emergencies and dysphagia. Moreover, nanomaterials have been used to develop delivery systems for the sustained release of levothyroxine to improve patient compliance and reduce costs. Some delivery systems encapsulating nanoparticles show promising release profiles. In this review, we first summarize the medical conditions that interfere with the bioavailability of oral levothyroxine and discuss the underlying mechanisms and treatments. The efficacy of liquid solutions and soft-gel capsules are systematically evaluated. We further summarize the novel delivery routes for levothyroxine and their possible applications. Nanomaterials in the levothyroxine field are then discussed and compared based on their load and release profile. We hope the article provides novel insights into the drug delivery of levothyroxine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanqing Liu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Li
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengrong Sun
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuang Chen
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China
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Mazeto GMFDS, Sgarbi JA, Ramos HE, Villagelin DGP, Nogueira CR, Vaisman M, Graf H, Carvalho GAD. Approach to adult patients with primary hypothyroidism in some special situations: a position statement from the Thyroid Department of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM). ARCHIVES OF ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM 2022; 66:871-882. [PMID: 36394484 PMCID: PMC10118754 DOI: 10.20945/2359-3997000000545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Primary hypothyroidism is a common disorder in clinical practice. The management of most cases of hypothyroidism is usually straightforward, but the best approach in some special situations may raise questions among physicians. This position statement was prepared by experts from the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism to guide the management of three special situations, namely, hypothyroidism in the elderly, subclinical hypothyroidism in patients with heart disease, and difficult-to-control hypothyroidism. The authors prepared the present statement after conducting a search on the databases MEDLINE/PubMed, LILACS, and SciELO and selecting articles with the best evidence quality addressing the selected situations. The statement presents information about the current approach to patients in these special situations.
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Younes N, Pinto S, Valensi P. SEVERE REFRACTORY HYPOTHYROIDISM IN A 48-YEAR-OLD FEMALE: ROLE OF LOW-DOSE THYROXINE ABSORPTION TEST IN ESTABLISHING DIAGNOSIS OF NONCOMPLIANCE. ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUCHAREST, ROMANIA : 2005) 2022; 18:375-378. [PMID: 36699170 PMCID: PMC9867820 DOI: 10.4183/aeb.2022.375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
A 48-year-old female presented with severe chronic hypothyroidism despite progressively increasing doses of levothyroxine. Poor adherence was suspected based on previous laboratory investigations. A low dose thyroxine absorption test using 400 µg of levothyroxine taken orally was performed. FT4 increased by 4.7 pmol/L at 3 hours and 6.6 pmol/L at 5 hours, following ingestion, effectively ruling out malabsorption. Her cardiac hemodynamic profile, measured noninvasively, also improved following levothyroxine intake, further supporting our diagnosis. Poor adherence was successfully managed by implementing twice weekly visits by a registered nurse and an improvement in both thyroid function tests and cardiac parameters was seen at the one-month follow-up visit. We suggest using a lower dose thyroxine absorption test, owing to its efficacy in establishing diagnosis and a safer alternative compared to higher doses in particular in high-risk cardiac patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Younes
- Hôpital Jean-Verdier, Service d’Endocrinologie Diabétologie et Nutrition, Bondy, Île-de-France, France
| | - S. Pinto
- Hôpital Jean-Verdier, Service d’Endocrinologie Diabétologie et Nutrition, Bondy, Île-de-France, France
| | - P. Valensi
- Hôpital Jean-Verdier, Service d’Endocrinologie Diabétologie et Nutrition, Bondy, Île-de-France, France
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Trimboli P, Mouly S. Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Implications of Two Non-Tablet Oral Formulations of L-Thyroxine in Patients with Hypothyroidism. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11123479. [PMID: 35743549 PMCID: PMC9224574 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11123479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased knowledge of the pharmacokinetic characteristics of orally administered levothyroxine (L-T4) has improved individualization of dosing regimens. However, up to 40-45% of patients, depending on the leading cause of hypothyroidism, are still over- or, more often, undertreated. Unintentional non-adherence to L-T4 replacement therapy includes all situations of unintended drug-drug and drug-food interactions as well as fasting conditions that are not necessarily respected by patients. RESULTS In this specific context, the overall information concerning those factors with the potential to affect L-T4 absorption refers only to tablet formulation. Indeed, this is the reason why new non-tablet formulations of L-T4 were introduced some years ago. In this regard, the current literature review was designed to summarize pharmacokinetic, drug and food interactions and clinical data focusing on two new oral L-T4 formulations, i.e., liquid and soft-gel capsule in healthy volunteers and patients with primary hypothyroidism. The non-tablet L-T4 soft-gel capsules and solution have proven bioequivalence with the usual L-T4 tablet Princeps and generic formulations. Clinical studies have suggested higher performance of non-tablet formulations than tablet in those patients with suboptimal adherence. The impact of gastrointestinal conditions and variation of gastric pH was lower with either soft gel/solution than with tablets. In addition, the extent of drug-drug and drug-food interactions remains low and of uncertain clinical relevance. CONCLUSIONS Pending further studies allowing one to extend the use of soft-gel/solution preparations in unselected patients, non-tablet L-T4 formulations should be considered as a first-line choice, especially in those patients with moderate-to-high potential of suboptimal tablet performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierpaolo Trimboli
- Servizio di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland;
- Facoltà di Scienze Biomediche, Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Mouly
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris Nord, Département Médico-Universitaire (DMU) INVICTUS, Département de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Lariboisière, INSERM UMRS-1144, Université de Paris Cité, 75010 Paris, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-1-49-95-81-26; Fax: +33-1-49-95-84-46
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Paschou SA, Alevizaki M, Attanasio R, Hegedüs L, Nagy EV, Papini E, Perros P, Vryonidou A. Use of thyroid hormones in hypothyroid and euthyroid patients: a 2020 THESIS questionnaire survey of members of the Hellenic Endocrine Society. Hormones (Athens) 2022; 21:103-111. [PMID: 34755283 DOI: 10.1007/s42000-021-00335-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate current practices of specialists in the use of thyroid hormone preparations in Greece as part of an ongoing international survey, namely THESIS-Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Europe by Specialists: an International Survey. METHODS An electronic link leading to an anonymized questionnaire was sent to all (n = 837) members of the Hellenic Endocrine Society. RESULTS In total, 501 respondents participated in the survey, though only part of the questionnaire was filled in by some participants. A total of 88.2% were endocrinologists and 57.9% worked in private practice. Levothyroxine (LT4) was the first-line choice (98.6%) for the treatment of hypothyroid patients. In total, 70.2% preferred LT4 soft-gel capsules for patients reporting intolerance to various foods. Soft-gel capsules were the preferred LT4 formulation for patients on generic LT4 and with unexplained poor biochemical control of hypothyroidism (66.3%) or inability to take LT4 fasted and separate from food/drink (68.3%). It was found that 48.4% would never use combined LT4 + LT3. However, 25% would use combination therapy for a short period in patients recovering from protracted hypothyroidism or in patients with normal serum TSH but persistent symptoms. Concerning euthyroid individuals, 31.9% considered treatment with thyroid hormones in infertile females with positive thyroid antibodies and 24.4% in patients with growing goiter. Selenium or iodine supplementation was used occasionally, mostly in patients with coexisting autoimmune thyroiditis. CONCLUSIONS LT4 tablets are the treatment of choice for hypothyroidism in Greece. Several conditions may lead to various other practices, some of which deviate from current evidence-based guidelines and need more scrutiny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavroula A Paschou
- Endocrine Unit and Diabetes Center, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Alevizaki
- Endocrine Unit and Diabetes Center, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Laszlo Hegedüs
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Endre V Nagy
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Enrico Papini
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Albano, Rome, Italy
| | - Petros Perros
- Department of Endocrinology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Andromachi Vryonidou
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Center, Hellenic Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece.
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Kaur N, Suryanarayanan R. Levothyroxine sodium pentahydrate tablets - formulation considerations. J Pharm Sci 2021; 110:3743-3756. [PMID: 34384799 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2021.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Even though levothyroxine sodium pentahydrate tablets have been in the market since 1955, there continue to be recalls due to sub potency. We have comprehensively reviewed the factors affecting its stability in solid oral dosage forms. A compilation of marketed formulation compositions enabled the identification of the potential 'problem excipients'. Two excipient properties, hygroscopicity and microenvironmental acidity, appeared to be responsible for inducing drug instability. In drug products, depending on the formulation composition and storage conditions, the pentahydrate can dehydrate to highly reactive levothyroxine sodium monohydrate, or undergo salt disproportionation to the free acid form of the drug. The USP assay method (HPLC based) is insensitive to these different physical forms of the drug. The influence of physical form of levothyroxine on its chemical stability is incompletely understood. The USP has five product-specific dissolution tests reflecting the complexity in its evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navpreet Kaur
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 9-177 WDH, 308 Harvard Street Southeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Raj Suryanarayanan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 9-177 WDH, 308 Harvard Street Southeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States.
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Nagy EV, Perros P, Papini E, Katko M, Hegedüs L. New Formulations of Levothyroxine in the Treatment of Hypothyroidism: Trick or Treat? Thyroid 2021; 31:193-201. [PMID: 33003978 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2020.0515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Background: Levothyroxine (LT4) as a medication is used by up to 5.3% of the adult population. For optimal efficacy, the traditional tablet formulation (LT4tab) requires that patients avoid concomitant ingestion with food, drinks, and certain medications, as well as excellent patient compliance. Some comorbidities influence bioavailability of LT4 and may mandate repeated dose adjustments. Summary: New LT4 formulations (soft gel [LT4soft] and liquid [LT4liq]) containing predissolved LT4 are claimed to improve bioavailability, presumably by facilitating absorption. Thus, these formulations may well be more suitable than LT4tab for patients whose daily requirements are subjected to variations in bioavailability. Here, we review the evidence and indications for use of new LT4 formulations and highlight areas of uncertainty that are worthy of further investigation. While bioequivalence is established for LT4soft and LT4liq administered to healthy volunteers compared with LT4tab in pharmacokinetic (PK) studies, therapeutic equivalence of the new formulations seems to be different in several clinical settings. Some evidence suggests that new formulations of LT4 may mitigate against the strict requirements relating to concomitant ingestion with food, drinks, and certain medications, which apply to traditional LT4 tablets. The principal indication is in selected patients with disease fluctuations and intermittent therapies with interfering medications, where the need for frequent dose adjustments and office visits may be diminished. Whether the use of LT4soft or LT4liq in patients with impaired gastric acid secretion results in better control of hypothyroidism than LT4tab remains unclear. Conclusions: The evidence in favor of using LT4soft and LT4liq in clinical practice over LT4tab is weak, and the underlying putative PK mechanisms unclear. Additional studies to investigate these potential benefits, define the cost-effectiveness, and understand the PK mechanisms involved with new LT4 formulations are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Endre V Nagy
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Petros Perros
- Department of Endocrinology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Enrico Papini
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Albano, Rome, Italy
| | - Monika Katko
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Laszlo Hegedüs
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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Fallahi P, Ferrari SM, Elia G, Ragusa F, Paparo SR, Antonelli A. L-T4 Therapy in Enteric Malabsorptive Disorders. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:626371. [PMID: 33708175 PMCID: PMC7940821 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.626371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Levothyroxine (L-T4) absorption can be impaired by various causes: a) L-T4 ingestion during breakfast, or with food; b) conditions of reduced gastric acidity; c) intestinal procedures and diseases such as bariatric surgery, lactose intolerance (LI), celiac disease (CD), inflammatory bowel disease; d) drugs that alter L-T4 absorption, increasing the gastric pH, or preventing the dissolution of tablets. The development of new oral formulations, i.e. the liquid preparation and the soft gel capsule, represents the most recent advance regarding L-T4 therapy. Treating hypothyroidism with L-T4 tablets can lead to an improper control of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in ~10%-15% of patients. The improperly elevated TSH is usually managed by increasing the L-T4 daily dose, and revaluating TSH upon 2-6 months. The increase of the L-T4 dosage may cause iatrogenic hyperthyroidism, especially when the underlying disorders are cured. Liquid L-T4 can be administered in patients unable to swallow capsules or tablets, and this is one of its major benefits. Liquid L-T4 can: 1- overcome food and beverages interference; 2- bypass the malabsorption associated with an increased gastric pH; 3- circumvent the issue of malabsorption in patients who underwent bariatric surgery; 4-maintain TSH values under control better than L-T4 tablets in hypothyroid patients with typical or atypical CD, or in patients with LI. Few clinical studies evaluated soft gel L-T4 with encouraging findings in patients with gastric- or coffee-related malabsorption, or hypothyroid patients without malabsorption. Additional research is necessary to investigate liquid L-T4, or soft gel capsule, in other conditions of altered L-T4 absorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research of New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- *Correspondence: Poupak Fallahi,
| | | | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Ritter MJ, Gupta S, Hennessey JV. Alternative routes of levothyroxine administration for hypothyroidism. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2020; 27:318-322. [PMID: 32740045 DOI: 10.1097/med.0000000000000558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim of the article is to present the basics of oral levothyroxine (LT4) absorption, reasons why patients may have persistently elevated serum thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH) levels, and alternative strategies for LT4 dosing. RECENT FINDINGS Although oral LT4 tablets are most commonly used for thyroid hormone replacement in patients with hypothyroidism, case studies report that liquid oral LT4, intravenous, intramuscular, and rectal administration of LT4 can successfully treat refractory hypothyroidism. SUMMARY Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders encountered by primary care physicians and endocrinologists. LT4 is one of the most widely prescribed medications in the world and it is the standard of care treatment for hypothyroidism. Generally, hypothyroid patients will be treated with LT4 tablets to be taken orally, and monitoring will occur with routine serum thyroid tests, including TSH concentrations. However, many patients fail to maintain serum TSH levels in the target range while managed on oral LT4 tablets. A subset of these patients would be considered to have poorly controlled hypothyroidism, sometimes termed refractory hypothyroidism. For these patients, optimization of ingestion routines and alternative formulations and routes of administration of LT4 can be considered, including oral liquid, intravenous, intramuscular, and even rectal formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Suruchi Gupta
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Pottel J, Armstrong D, Zou L, Fekete A, Huang XP, Torosyan H, Bednarczyk D, Whitebread S, Bhhatarai B, Liang G, Jin H, Ghaemi SN, Slocum S, Lukacs KV, Irwin JJ, Berg EL, Giacomini KM, Roth BL, Shoichet BK, Urban L. The activities of drug inactive ingredients on biological targets. Science 2020; 369:403-413. [PMID: 32703874 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaz9906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Excipients, considered "inactive ingredients," are a major component of formulated drugs and play key roles in their pharmacokinetics. Despite their pervasiveness, whether they are active on any targets has not been systematically explored. We computed the likelihood that approved excipients would bind to molecular targets. Testing in vitro revealed 25 excipient activities, ranging from low-nanomolar to high-micromolar concentration. Another 109 activities were identified by testing against clinical safety targets. In cellular models, five excipients had fingerprints predictive of system-level toxicity. Exposures of seven excipients were investigated, and in certain populations, two of these may reach levels of in vitro target potency, including brain and gut exposure of thimerosal and its major metabolite, which had dopamine D3 receptor dissociation constant K d values of 320 and 210 nM, respectively. Although most excipients deserve their status as inert, many approved excipients may directly modulate physiologically relevant targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Pottel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Duncan Armstrong
- Preclinical Safety, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ling Zou
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Alexander Fekete
- Preclinical Safety, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xi-Ping Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27759, USA
| | - Hayarpi Torosyan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Dallas Bednarczyk
- PK Sciences, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Steven Whitebread
- Preclinical Safety, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Barun Bhhatarai
- PK Sciences, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Guiqing Liang
- PK Sciences, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Hong Jin
- Preclinical Safety, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - S Nassir Ghaemi
- Translational Medicine, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Samuel Slocum
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27759, USA
| | - Katalin V Lukacs
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - John J Irwin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ellen L Berg
- Eurofins, DiscoverX, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Kathleen M Giacomini
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27759, USA
| | - Brian K Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Laszlo Urban
- Preclinical Safety, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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Trimboli P, Scappaticcio L, De Bellis A, Maiorino MI, Knappe L, Esposito K, Bellastella G, Giovanella L. Different Formulations of Levothyroxine for Treating Hypothyroidism: A Real-Life Study. Int J Endocrinol 2020; 2020:4524759. [PMID: 32184819 PMCID: PMC7059087 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4524759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hypothyroid patients are treated by sodium levothyroxine (LT4). Tablet is the mostly used LT4 formulation, and the fasting regimen is required for the absorption of active principle. Also, gastrointestinal diseases and drugs may impair the LT4 bioavailability when tablet is used. Nonsolid LT4 formulations (i.e., liquid solution (LS) and soft gel (SG) capsule) were manufactured to overcome the limitations of LT4 tablet. This study was conceived to evaluate the performance of nonsolid LT4 formulations in a real-life scenario. METHODS Two institutions participated in the study that was conducted in two phases (i.e., enrollment and re-evaluation). Adults with autoimmune or postsurgical hypothyroidism and on LT4 from a few months were selected. A nonparametric statistical analysis for paired or unpaired data was performed. RESULTS 121 consecutive cases were included. At the enrollment phase, a 52% of patients took the therapy at least 30 min before breakfast with no difference between tablet and SG/LS users. TSH was 1.65 mIU/L (0.86-2.70) in patients on LT4 tablet and 1.70 mIU/L (1.10-2.17) in those on SG/LS (p=0.66). At the re-evaluation phase, among the patients using correct LT4 assumption, the TSH value was stable in the tablet group (p=0.66). At the re-evaluation phase, among the patients using correct LT4 assumption, the TSH value was stable in the tablet group (p=0.66). At the re-evaluation phase, among the patients using correct LT4 assumption, the TSH value was stable in the tablet group (p=0.66). At the re-evaluation phase, among the patients using correct LT4 assumption, the TSH value was stable in the tablet group (p=0.66). At the re-evaluation phase, among the patients using correct LT4 assumption, the TSH value was stable in the tablet group (. CONCLUSION The performance of nonsolid LT4 formulations is not influenced by correct or incorrect use of therapy. On the contrary, LT4 tablet does not guarantee euthyroidism when it is ingested without waiting for at least 30 minutes before breakfast. These new data, obtained in a real-life scenario, suggest that LT4 SG/LS should be regarded as first-line therapy for treating adults with newly diagnosed hypothyroidism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierpaolo Trimboli
- Clinic for Nuclear Medicine and Competence Centre for Thyroid Disease, Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Lorenzo Scappaticcio
- Unit of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Annamaria De Bellis
- Unit of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Ida Maiorino
- Unit of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Luisa Knappe
- Clinic for Nuclear Medicine and Competence Centre for Thyroid Disease, Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Katherine Esposito
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Bellastella
- Unit of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Giovanella
- Clinic for Nuclear Medicine and Competence Centre for Thyroid Disease, Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Virili C, Brusca N, Capriello S, Centanni M. Levothyroxine Therapy in Gastric Malabsorptive Disorders. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:621616. [PMID: 33584549 PMCID: PMC7876372 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.621616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral levothyroxine sodium is absorbed in the small intestine, mainly in the jejunum and the ileum being lower the absorption rate at duodenal level. The time interval between the ingestion of oral thyroxine and its appearance in the plasma renders unlike a gastric absorption of the hormone. However, several evidence confirm the key role of the stomach as a prerequisite for an efficient absorption of oral levothyroxine. In the stomach, in fact, occur key steps leading to the dissolution of thyroxine from the solid form, the process bringing the active ingredient from the pharmaceutical preparation to the aqueous solution. In particular, gastric juice pH, volume, viscosity, as well as gastric emptying time seem to be the most important limiting factors. These hypotheses are confirmed by the detection of an increased need for levothyroxine in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection, chronic atrophic gastritis, gastroparesis, or in simultaneous treatment with drugs interfering with gastric acidic output. The aim of the present article is to focus on the knowledge of pathophysiologic events that determine the absorptive fate of traditional (tablet) and alternative thyroxine preparations (softgel capsule and liquid solution) in patients bearing gastric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Virili
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy
| | - Nunzia Brusca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Capriello
- Endocrinology Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, AUSL Latina, Latina, Italy
| | - Marco Centanni
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy
- Endocrinology Unit, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, AUSL Latina, Latina, Italy
- *Correspondence: Marco Centanni,
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Negro R, Attanasio R, Nagy EV, Papini E, Perros P, Hegedüs L. Use of Thyroid Hormones in Hypothyroid and Euthyroid Patients; the 2019 Italian Survey. Eur Thyroid J 2020; 9:25-31. [PMID: 32071899 PMCID: PMC7024857 DOI: 10.1159/000502057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence and prevalence of hypothyroidism are increasing and the threshold for the treatment of hypothyroid as well as individuals without evident thyroid disease with thyroid hormone is declining. OBJECTIVE To investigate endocrinologists' use of thyroid hormones in hypothyroid and euthyroid patients in Italy, a country where different formulations of levothyroxine (LT4; tablet, liquid solution and soft-gel capsule) are available on the market. METHODS Members of the Associazione Medici Endocrinologi (Italian Association of Clinical Endocrinologists) were invited to participate in a web-based survey investigating the topic. RESULTS A total of 797 of 2,028 (39.3%) members completed all the sections of the survey; 98.7% declared that the treatment of choice for hypothyroidism is LT4. A significant minority (37.3%) indicated that LT4 may be considered in infertile euthyroid women seeking pregnancy and harbouring positive thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and in goitre increasing in size (18.1%). LT4 + LT3 was considered by 43.2% for LT4-replaced patients and normal TSH, if they reported persistent symptoms. High percentages of respondents chose LT4 in a liquid solution or soft-gel capsules when taken together with other drugs interfering with LT4 absorption (81.8%), in patients with a history of celiac disease, malabsorption, lactose intolerance, intolerance to common excipients (96.6%), or unexplained poor biochemical control of hypothyroidism (74.4%), or in patients not able to adhere to ingesting LT4 fasted and/or separated from food/drink (98.9%). In total, 43.6% of responders would use LT4 in a liquid solution or soft-gel capsules for hypothyroid patients with biochemical euthyroidism on LT4, who had persistent symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The preferred treatment for hypothyroidism is LT4; LT3 + LT4 combination treatment is mainly considered in patients with persistent symptoms. A significant minority would offer LT4 to euthyroid women with positive TPOAb and infertility and to euthyroid patients with progressive simple goitre. Alternative LT4 formulations like liquid solution or soft-gel capsules are largely reserved for specific conditions (interfering drugs, actual or suspected malabsorption, inability to take LT4 in the fasting state, unexplained poor biochemical control of hypothyroidism).
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Negro
- Division of Endocrinology, V. Fazzi Hospital, Lecce, Italy
- *Roberto Negro, Division of Endocrinology, V. Fazzi Hospital, Piazza Muratore, IT–73100 Lecce (Italy), E-Mail
| | | | - Endre V. Nagy
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Enrico Papini
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ospedale Regina Apostolorum, Rome, Italy
| | - Petros Perros
- Department of Endocrinology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Laszlo Hegedüs
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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Virili C, Trimboli P, Centanni M. Novel thyroxine formulations: a further step toward precision medicine. Endocrine 2019; 66:87-94. [PMID: 31617168 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-019-02049-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Levothyroxine (T4) is a critical-dose drug, because little variations in the blood concentration may cause treatment failure as well as iatrogenic thyrotoxicosis. Despite the dose response of this drug being more carefully titrated nowadays, several papers still report that a significant fraction of patients treated with levothyroxine demonstrate a TSH which is not on target. Moreover, some widespread gastrointestinal disorders as well as interfering drugs and foods may cause the "refractoriness" of a significant number of patients to an expected dose of thyroxine. The increasing awareness of the mechanisms interfering with the oral thyroid hormone bioavailability and the body of evidence regarding the complexity of treatment in certain classes of patients prompted pharmaceutical research to identify new hormonal formulations to optimize the performance of this drug. In this brief review, the progression of the scientific knowledge of novel T4 formulations use has been analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Virili
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Latina, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Trimboli
- Thyroid Center and Nuclear Medicine, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Marco Centanni
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Latina, Italy.
- Endocrinology Unit, AUSL Latina, Latina, Italy.
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Trimboli P, Virili C, Centanni M, Giovanella L. Thyroxine Treatment With Softgel Capsule Formulation: Usefulness in Hypothyroid Patients Without Malabsorption. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:118. [PMID: 29619010 PMCID: PMC5871661 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Levothyroxine sodium (LT4) is the therapy of choice for hypothyroidism. In the last decade, new LT4 formulations, such as liquid and softgel capsules, became available. Even if some evidence has been reached in the efficacy of liquid LT4 in patients with suboptimal TSH on tablet LT4, the usefulness of softgel LT4 has been rarely studied. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of switching from tablet to softgel LT4 patients without increased need for LT4. TSH was used as proxy of LT4 bioavailability and effectiveness. METHODS During the period from April to August 2017, 19 patients on tablet LT4 treatment for hypothyroidism, mostly due to autoimmune thyroiditis, were enrolled. Subjects with causes of malabsorption or increased requirement of LT4 were previously excluded. Patients finally included were asked to switch from tablet to softgel LT4 formulation at unchanged dose and ingestion fashion (30 min before breakfast). TSH was measured with chemiluminescence immunoassays. RESULTS According to exclusion and inclusion criteria, 19 patients were finally selected. One of these had headache 4 days later and come back to tablet LT4, and 18 of them (16W/2M; mean age = 55 years; BMI 22.7 kg/m2) completed the study. They were treated with a median LT4 dose of 88 μg/day and showed a median TSH value of 3.33 mIU/L. The rate of cases with TSH ≤ 4.0 mIU/L was 61.1% (11/18 cases). When patients were re-evaluated after 3 months of softgel LT4, we observed that TSH reached levels under 4.0 mIU/L in 16/18 (88.9%) patients, TSH was lower in 11 cases, and in 6 out of 7 patients with pre-switch TSH values over the normal range. Overall, TSH values on softgel LT4 (median 1.90 mIU/L) was significantly lower from that observed during tablet LT4 (p = 0.0039). CONCLUSION These data show that hypothyroid patients with no proven malabsorption may have an improved TSH following 3 months from the switch from tablet to softgel LT4 preparation at unchanged dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierpaolo Trimboli
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Thyroid Centre, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Pierpaolo Trimboli,
| | - Camilla Virili
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy
| | - Marco Centanni
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy
| | - Luca Giovanella
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Thyroid Centre, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland
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Centanni M, Benvenga S, Sachmechi I. Diagnosis and management of treatment-refractory hypothyroidism: an expert consensus report. J Endocrinol Invest 2017; 40:1289-1301. [PMID: 28695483 PMCID: PMC5680379 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-017-0706-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
There is a frequently encountered subset of hypothyroid patients who are refractory to standard thyroid hormone replacement treatment and require unexpectedly high doses of levothyroxine. In addition to clinical situations where hypothyroid patients are non-compliant, or where there is the possibility of excipient-induced disease exacerbation (gluten/celiac disease), therapeutic failure may be due to impaired absorption of the administered drug. The common approach to managing patients with unusual thyroxine needs is to escalate the dose of levothyroxine until targeted TSH levels are achieved. This approach can increase the risk for prolonged exposure to supratherapeutic doses of levothyroxine, which increase the chances of adverse outcomes. Repeated adjustments of levothyroxine can also escalate the costs of treatment, as frequent office visits and laboratory tests are required to determine and maintain the desired dose. Clinicians should take a systematic approach to managing patients whom they suspect of having treatment-refractory hypothyroidism. This may include searching for, and adjusting, occult medical conditions and/or other factors that may affect the absorption of levothyroxine, before up-titrating the dose of traditional levothyroxine therapy. Depending on the underlying pathology, another approach that may be considered is to try alternative formulations of levothyroxine that are less susceptible to intolerance issues related to excipients, or, in some cases, to malabsorption. The early discovery of these factors via a thoughtful patient work-up may avoid unnecessary thyroid medication adjustments and their consequences for both patients and clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Centanni
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medico-surgical Services and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy
| | - S. Benvenga
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
- Interdepartmental Program of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Women’s Endocrine Health, A.O.U. Policlinico G Martino, Messina, Italy
| | - I. Sachmechi
- Division of Endocrinology, Queens Hospital Center, Icahn School of Medicine, Jamaica, NY USA
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