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This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
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Australian Prescriber Vol. 27 No. 3 2004
Taking care of thyroxine
Thyroid hormones help to control the body's metabolism. If the thyroid gland is not working, or is removed surgically, the patient needs to take a substitute thyroid hormone (thyroxine).
Thyroxine tablets usually come in bottles of 200. Sometimes, patients do not use all their tablets before the expiry date. As thyroxine may not work, if it is past its use by date marked on the bottle, the patient should not take old tablets.
As thyroxine can be affected by heat, light and humidity, tablets should be kept in their own bottle and away from heat and sunlight.
Food and other medicines may reduce the absorption of thyroxine. To help the tablets get into the patient's system, it is best if they are taken on an empty stomach.
