levothyroxine drug class
Sarah Scott
Updated on June 08, 2026
Beta Blockers: levothyroxine (thyroxine) accelerates metabolism of propranolol, atenolol and sotalol. General anaesthetics: Isolated reports of marked hypertension and tachycardia have been reported with concurrent ketamine administration.
What is the action of levothyroxine?
Levothyroxine is used to treat an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). It replaces or provides more thyroid hormone, which is normally produced by the thyroid gland. Low thyroid hormone levels can occur naturally or when the thyroid gland is injured by radiation/medications or removed by surgery.
What kind of hormone is levothyroxine?
Levothyroxine is a synthetic version of a hormone called thyroxine. It replaces thyroxine if your thyroid gland cannot produce it and prevents the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine starts working straight away, but it may be several weeks before your symptoms start to improve.
What type of drug is Synthroid?
Synthroid is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of hypothyroidism and an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter). Synthroid may be used alone or with other medications. Synthroid is thyroid medication. It is not known if Synthroid is safe and effective in children younger than 1 month of age.
Is levothyroxine a T3 or T4?
Levothyroxine is the name of all synthetic forms of the thyroid hormone T4. This manufactured hormone mimics the natural hormone produced by your thyroid and is prescribed as the primary treatment for hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid.
What are the beta blockers?
Beta blockers, also known as beta-adrenergic blocking agents, are medications that reduce blood pressure. Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. Beta blockers cause the heart to beat more slowly and with less force, which lowers blood pressure.
What is the side effect of levothyroxine?
Levothyroxine side effects. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to levothyroxine: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
What is the difference between thyroxine and levothyroxine?
Levothyroxine is a synthetic (man-made) version of thyroxine, or T4, the main hormone that is made and released by your thyroid gland. 1 Levothyroxine is prescribed for people with an underactive thyroid, a condition known as hypothyroidism. Most medications are available in brand-name and generic preparations.
What hormone does levothyroxine replace?
An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is usually treated by taking daily hormone replacement tablets called levothyroxine. Levothyroxine replaces the thyroxine hormone, which your thyroid does not make enough of.
Is levothyroxine for hypo or hyperthyroidism?
Levothyroxine sodium is a drug approved by the FDA as an oral and injectable prescription thyroid hormone medication that is used to treat underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and other conditions. Hypothyroidism is a medical term that refers to any state in which a person’s thyroid hormone production is below normal.
Is levothyroxine a synthetic hormone?
What are examples of synthetic thyroid hormone? Synthetic L-thyroxine, or levothyroxine, is a form of the T4 thyroid hormone. After you take it, your body turns some of it into T3. The FDA has approved levothyroxine for the treatment of hypothyroidism.
Is levothyroxine an immunosuppressant?
Does being on medication for my thyroid disorder suppress my immune system? Neither levothyroxine, nor carbimazole nor propylthiouracil, are immunomodulatory therapies. i.e. they do not change nor weaken your immune system.
What drug class is metformin?
Metformin is in a class of drugs called biguanides.
What is another name for levothyroxine?
What is Synthroid (levothyroxine)? Synthetic thyroxine (T4) comes as brand-name Synthroid or generic levothyroxine. T4 is what is known as a “prohormone”; it’s made by the thyroid gland and gets converted to the active hormone, T3, in other body tissues.
What is the difference between Synthroid and levothyroxine?
Synthroid is brand name levothyroxine sodium; other brand name versions of levothyroxine include Levothroid, Unithroid, Tirosint, and Levoxyl. It contains the same active ingredients and is used for the same purposes, namely to treat hypothyroidism or low thyroid hormone levels.
What is the difference between free T3 and T4 and total T3 and T4?
Free T4 travels into body tissues that use T4. Bound T4 attaches to proteins that prevent it from entering these tissues. More than 99% of T4 is bound. Because T4 is converted into another thyroid hormone called T3 (triiodothyronine), free T4 is the more important hormone to measure.
What is difference between T3 and T4?
Thyroxine (T4) is responsible for your metabolism, mood, and body temperature, among other things. T3, too, is made in the thyroid gland, and it can also be made in other tissues within the body by converting T4 (in a process called deiodination) into T3.
Which is better T3 or T4?
In essence, T3 and T4 are in charge of how your body uses energy. T3 and T4 are not equal in strength; T3 is the more active hormone of the two. While T3 is stronger, taking synthetic T4 hormone has been considered the standard treatment for hypothyroidism.