The generic name for Synthroid is Levothyroxine. It is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone called thyroxine. It is given to patients with problems in thyroxine production. Those with hypothyroidism (decreased thyroid hormone production) and goiters (enlarged thyroid glands) are often prescribed generic Synthroid.
Caution should be practiced when taking other drugs with Generic Synthroid (Levothyroxine). Drugs such as Ketamine could induce hypertension (high blood pressure) and tachycardia (increased heart rate). Taking synthroid with the medication Lithium can cause hyperthryroidism (increase in thyroid hormones) but most of the time, Lithium works against generic Synthroid (Levothyroxine ) by depressing thyroid production.
It is recommended that you take synthroid on an empty stomach - taking it an hour before meals would suffice. This is done to ensure proper drug absorption. Patients are also recommended to take it with a full glass of water to facilitate swallowing and help the drug dissolve. It is recommend that you not take the drug together with iron and calcium supplements or medications with calcium and iron in the formulation. Those two minerals are known to decrease the effectiveness of generic Synthroid (Levothyroxine). If you started taking Synthroid while on Calcium and Iron supplements, your physician may have to readjust your dosage.
When taking generic Synthroid (Levothyroxine), you should look out for side effects such as nervousness, palpitations, insomnia and difficulty sleeping, headaches, undesired weight loss, increase in appetite or a swelling of legs and ankles. Severe reactions to Generic synthroid (Levothyroxine) are rare, but they do occur. These include: swelling of tongue and face as well as difficulty breathing. You should learn to watch out for these symptoms. If they do appear, contact you physician immediately. You may buy generic synthroid (Levothyroxine) online or in your local drug store.
Patients taking Synthroid have had a lot of positive things to say about the drug. It has evidently helped them a lot in controlling and maintaining their thyroxine levels. However, some patients find that the effects of one form or Levothyroxine may differ from another. Some patients also find that they experience side effects such as palpitations and insomnia during the first 6 to 12 months of taking the drug. However, the symptoms did settle as the body gets used to generic Synthroid (Levothyroxine).