Triostat

Triostat is a prescription medication used to treat a complication of severe hypothyroidism called myxedema coma.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of Triostat include irregular heart rhythm and an increased heart rate.

Triostat is used as treatment for a complication of severe hypothyroidism called myxedema coma.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

The Triostat dose your doctor recommends will be based on the following: 

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication

Depending on the medical condition being treated, the recommended starting dose is 10 to 50 mcg.

Drugs with thyroid hormone activity, alone or together with other therapeutic agents, have been used for the treatment of obesity. In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction. Larger doses may produce serious or even life-threatening manifestations of toxicity, particularly when given in association with sympathomimetic amines such as those used for their anorectic effects.

Serious side effects have been reported with Triostat including the following:

• Triostat can affect your blood sugar. Check your blood sugar more frequently, especially when starting or stopping Triostat, or when your dose is changed, as this medication may affect the levels of sugar in your blood.
• Triostat and other thyroid hormones should not be used for weight loss in patients with normal thyroid function. Triostat is ineffective for weight reduction in normal thyroid patients and may cause serious or life-threatening toxicity, especially when taken with amphetamines. Talk to your doctor about the potential risks associated with this medication.
• Triostat can worsen heart problems. If you experience either of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
  • chest pain (angina)
  • rapid or irregular heartbeat or pulse

Do not take Triostat if you:

• are allergic to any ingredient in the medication
• have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• have a low TSH
• have untreated adrenal insufficiency
• have had a heart attack

Serious side effects have been reported with Triostat. See the "Triostat Precautions" section.

Common side effects of Triostat include irregular heart rhythm and an increased heart rate.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• antidepressants
• vasopressors
• cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran)
• colesevelam (Welchol)
• colestipol (Colestid)
• diabetes medications
• digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin)
• estrogens (birth control, hormone replacement therapy)
• theophylline (Theo-24, Theobid, Theo-Dur, Theolair, Elixophyllin, Elixophylline, Quibron-T, Uniphyl)
• warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)

This is not a complete list of Triostat drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Triostat falls into category A. When pregnant women used Triostat, their babies did not show any problems related to this medication. This medication is considered safe for use during pregnancy. In fact, hypothyroidism must be treated during pregnancy as hypothyroidism can cause miscarriage. Your doctor may need to increase your Triostat dose during your pregnancy.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Small amounts of Triostat are excreted in human breast milk, just as natural thyroid hormone passes through breast milk. However, women who don't have enough thyroid hormone may not be capable of lactation (secretion or formation of milk).

If liothyronine upsets your stomach, try taking liothyronine with food.

Liothyronine can affect your blood sugar. Check your blood sugar more frequently, especially when starting or stopping Liothyronine, or when your dose is changed, as this medication may affect the levels of sugar in your blood.

Liothyronine and other thyroid hormones should not be used for weight loss in patients with normal thyroid function. Liothyronine is ineffective for weight reduction in normal thyroid patients.