Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved liothyronine oral tablet to:
- treat underactive thyroid
- treat a certain type of thyroid cancer when used with surgery or radioactive iodine
- help diagnose certain thyroid disorders
This article describes possible side effects of liothyronine oral tablet. You can learn more about liothyronine by talking with your doctor.
Liothyronine oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Cytomel. Liothyronine also comes in an injectable form, but this form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about this form, talk with your doctor.
Liothyronine oral tablet has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effects of liothyronine in detail” section below.
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More common side effects of liothyronine
Liothyronine oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of liothyronine oral tablet include:
Mild side effects of liothyronine
Liothyronine may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of liothyronine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- tremor
- headache
- nervousness or irritability
- insomnia
- muscle weakness
- bigger appetite
- weight loss
- diarrhea
- increased sensitivity to heat
- skin rash
Liothyronine oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of liothyronine
Liothyronine may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from liothyronine oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the FDA approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with liothyronine.
Serious side effects of liothyronine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- fertility problems
- harm if taken for weight loss*
- heart problems†
- bone problems†
* Liothyronine oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of liothyronine in detail” section below.
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of liothyronine in detail” section below.
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Get free cardAllergic reaction
For some people, liothyronine oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to liothyronine oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Common questions about side effects of liothyronine
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of liothyronine oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How do the side effects compare between liothyronine vs. levothyroxine?
Liothyronine and levothyroxine are both prescribed to treat an underactive thyroid and a certain type of thyroid cancer. Doctors also prescribe liothyronine to help diagnose certain thyroid problems.
Liothyronine and levothyroxine are both thyroid hormone replacement drugs. And they both cause similar mild side effects, including:
- increased sensitivity to heat
- weight loss
- insomnia
- muscle weakness
- headache
- nervousness or irritability
Both drugs also cause similar serious side effects. These may include heart problems, bone problems, and harm if taken for weight loss. Both drugs have a boxed warning for harm if taken for weight loss. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of liothyronine in detail” section below.
If you have more questions about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor. To learn more about levothyroxine’s side effects, see this article.
Can liothyronine 5 mcg be used for weight loss? If so, what are the side effects for this use?
No, doctors won’t prescribe liothyronine oral tablet for weight loss or obesity treatment. This is because larger doses would be required to cause weight loss. And taking large doses can increase your risk of serious and life threatening side effects. These include seizures and coma.
In fact, liothyronine oral tablet has a boxed warning for harm if taken for weight loss. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of liothyronine in detail” section below.
If you have questions about weight loss or obesity treatments, talk with your doctor.
Warnings for liothyronine
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking liothyronine oral tablet.
Boxed warning
Liothyronine oral tablet has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.
For details, see the “Side effects of liothyronine in detail” section below.
Other warnings
It may not be safe for you to take liothyronine oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether liothyronine oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking liothyronine oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
- heart or blood vessel problems
- adrenal insufficiency
- osteoporosis
- diabetes
- being age 65 years or older
- past allergic reaction to liothyronine
Liothyronine and pregnancy
In general, liothyronine oral tablet is considered safe to take during pregnancy. That said, check with your doctor about whether they feel it’s safe for you specifically.
Liothyronine and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether liothyronine oral tablet should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Liothyronine and alcohol
Liothyronine oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol.
But combining alcohol with liothyronine can make certain side effects worse. These may include headache and nervousness.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with liothyronine oral tablet.
Side effects of liothyronine in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of liothyronine oral tablet.
Harm if taken for weight loss
Liothyronine oral tablet has a boxed warning for the risk of harm if taken for weight loss. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.
Liothyronine should not be taken for weight loss or obesity. In people with usual thyroid function, standard doses of liothyronine wouldn’t be effective for weight loss. And taking larger doses can increase your risk of serious and life threatening side effects, such as seizures or blood clots in the brain.
Ways to manage
Be sure to take liothyronine the way your doctor prescribes it. Liothyronine should not be taken for weight loss or obesity.
If you have questions about treatment options for weight loss or obesity, talk with your doctor. They can discuss the right treatment for you.
Heart problems
In studies, heart problems occurred in people taking liothyronine oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.
The specific heart problems that occurred in studies were:
- fast heart rate
- chest pain
- unusual heart rhythm
- heart palpitations
- increased blood pressure and pulse
- heart failure
- heart attack
- cardiac arrest
Certain factors can increase the risk of heart problems with liothyronine oral tablet. These include being age 65 years or older, having a history of cardiovascular disease, and taking higher liothyronine doses than recommended.
Ways to manage
To lower the risk of heart problems, be sure to take liothyronine exactly as prescribed. It’s also important to complete the blood tests your doctor orders to check your thyroid levels.
For serious symptoms, such as trouble breathing or chest pain, call 911 (or a local emergency number) for emergency medical help. Some heart problems can be life threatening and require immediate medical care.
Bone problems
In studies, bone problems occurred in people taking liothyronine oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.
Liothyronine oral tablet may weaken your bones and cause a loss of bone mineral density. This can increase your risk of broken bones.
Certain factors can increase the risk of bone problems with liothyronine oral tablet. These include taking higher doses of liothyronine than needed and having gone through menopause.
Ways to manage
To lower the risk of bone problems, take liothyronine exactly as prescribed. Your doctor will prescribe a dose based on your thyroid levels.
If you have concerns about bone problems, tell your doctor. They’ll likely discuss your risk of bone loss. They may also order a bone mineral density test to check on the health of your bones.
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.