Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Levothyroxine as follows: Side-effects with Levothyroxine administration are usually dose-related. While individuals commonly present with some general constitutional side-effects and mild gastrointestinal upset with Levothyroxine intake, patients can present with extreme side-effects when the dose is high or if the medication is taken for prolonged periods of time. So, periodical labs, to study the response, in order to allow necessary accommodations with the dose of medication is [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for using Levothyroxine as follows: Levothyroxine is mainly metabolized in the liver and kidney.  If liver or kidney function is deficient, metabolism of Levothyroxine could be slowed down. Slowing down of the drug metabolism can result in increased risk for side-effects and toxicity with the medication. Also, Levothyroxine is significantly eliminated in urine, by the kidneys. Individuals with renal disease and diminished renal function cannot eliminate Levothyroxine from their body [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on how to take Levothyroxine as follows: Take Levothyroxine early in the morning, 30 minutes before breakfast, as Levothyroxine is best absorbed on empty stomach. Take the medication dose at the same time, every day, to avoid forgetting the intake of medication. Do not crush or chew the capsule. Take them as a whole. If you encounter difficulty swallowing the capsule, you may take it in the form of a tablet, which [...]

Patient/caregiver was instructed upon physiological effects of Levothyroxine use as follows: Individuals with low thyroxine levels can present with slow reflexes, slow thought process, and sluggishness. Supplementation with Levothyroxine stimulates the cells of the nervous system and helps improve the reflex time, thought process, and activity. Individuals with low thyroxine levels can present with low heart rate and reduced force of contraction of heart, thus compromising the cardiac function and pumping of blood to all [...]

Patient/caregiver was instructed upon indications for Levothyroxine use as follows: Levothyroxine is usually prescribed as a supplement in individuals with underactive thyroid gland, producing low levels of natural thyroid hormone, thyroxine. Underactive thyroid gland could be due to various reasons, as follows: Thyroid gland normally produces thyroxine in response to a hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), produced in the brain. Low levels of TSH secreted from the brain can result in poor stimulation of thyroid [...]