Cytomel (Liothyronine)

You should take CYTOMEL as prescribed by your doctor. Treatment is usually started with a low dose of CYTOMEL, then increased gradually according to your response.

Side effects with CYTOMEL may include symptoms of hyperthyroidism as follows: Headache, excessive sweating, fatigue, increased appetite, weight loss, fever, nervousness, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, cardiac arrhythmias (heartbeats which are irregular or too fast), angina pectoris (chest pain), diarrhea and menstrual irregularities.

Tell your doctor about any other side effect that is not included above or if you have any question. Your doctor may ask you stop taking CYTOMEL until the symptoms disappear, and re-start after one or two days at a lower dose.

Serious Warnings and Precautions

CYTOMEL, like other thyroid hormones, should not be used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss, either alone or with other medicines. At normal doses, CYTOMEL does not reduce body weight and at higher doses, it can produce serious or even life-threatening side effects.

Before or While you use CYTOMEL talk to your doctor if you have the following conditions:

any heart problems, such as a heart attack, angina pectoris (chest pain)

• a history problem with thyroid (myxedema), or adrenal or pituitary gland
• kidney disease
• high blood sugar (diabetes)
• decreased development of sexual organs (hypogonadism)
• bone thinning (osteoporosis)
• pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• breast feeding
• blood clotting problem

Before or while you use CYTOMEL tell your doctor or pharmacist about all other medications you take including medications that you bought without a prescription, vitamins, and natural products. Particularly if you are taking the following:

• Blood thinner (anticoagulants)

• Medications for high cholesterol levels such as lovastatin, cholestyramine, clofibarate

• Medications for high blood sugar or insulin

• Medications that contain estrogen such as birth control pills

• Amiodarone

• Medicines that contain iodine such as radiographic contrast agents

• Heroin/methadone

• 5-fluorouracil, mitotane, tamoxifen

• Tricyclic antidepressant such as imipramine

• Digoxin (digitalis)

• Cyokines such as interferon-alpha, interleukin-2

• Growth hormones

• Ketamine

• Theophylline

• Diazepam

• Ethionamide

• Metoclopramide

• Perphanazine

• Resorcinol (topical products)

• Para-aminosalicylate sodium

Some medicines may interfere with blood tests done to determine thyroid hormone levels (thyroid function tests). It is important to inform your doctor of all medicines you are taking before and at the time of blood tests.

The following drugs are known to interfere with laboratory tests performed in patients on thyroid hormone therapy:

• Androgens (male hormones)

• Corticosteroids (eg., prednisone, dexamethasone)

• Estrogens and estrogen-containing oral contraceptives (birth control pills)

• Preparations containing iodine

• Salicylates (eg., aspirin)