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Liothyronine sodium



Liothyronine sodium
Systematic (IUPAC) name
L-Tyrosine, O-(4-hydroxy-3-iodophenyl)-3,5-diiodo-,minisodium salt
Identifiers
CAS number 6893-02-3
ATC code H03
PubChem 5920
DrugBank APRD01074
Chemical data
Formula C15H11I3NNaO4 
Mol. mass 672.96 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability  ?
Protein binding 99.7%
Metabolism  ?
Half life 2.5 days
Excretion  ?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

?

Legal status
Routes  ?

Liothyronine sodium is the L-isomer of triiodothyronine (T3), a form of thyroid hormone used to treat hypothyroidism and myxedema coma. It is marketed under the brand name Cytomel (or Tertroxin in Australia).

Contents

Pharmacology

Liothyronine is the most potent form of thyroid hormone. As such, it acts on the body to increase the basal metabolic rate, affect protein synthesis and increase the body's sensitivity to catecholamines (such as adrenaline) by permissiveness. The thyroid hormones are essential to proper development and differentiation of all cells of the human body. These hormones also regulate protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism, affecting how human cells use energetic compounds.

In comparison to levothyroxine (T4), liothyronine has a faster onset of action as well as a shorter biological half-life, which may be due to less plasma protein binding to thyroxine-binding globulin and transthyretin.

Side effects

Liothyronine may cause a number of side effects, which include:[1]

  • weight loss
  • tremor
  • headache
  • upset stomach
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • stomach cramps
  • nervousness
  • irritability
  • insomnia
  • excessive sweating
  • increased appetite
  • fever
  • changes in menstrual cycle
  • sensitivity to heat
  • temporary hair loss, particularly in children during the first month of therapy

Black box warning

The package insert for Cytomel contains the following black box warning:[2]

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.

See also

  • Levothyroxine

References

  1. ^ MedlinePlus. "Liothyronine." Last accessed July 14, 2007.
  2. ^ United States Food & Drug Administration. "Cytomel." Last accessed July 14, 2007.
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Liothyronine_sodium". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
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