CONTENT
 | Purpose of Thyroid Replacement Therapy |
| Side effects |
| Giving the medicine |
|
Missed or vomited dose |
|
How long to give the Medicine |
|
Call the doctor if… |
|
Special instructions |
|
The prescription |
PURPOSE OF THYROID REPLACEMENT THERAPY
1. Sometimes babies do not produce enough thyroid hormones. This is called “hypothyroidism.” This condition can cause poor growth, slow speech, sleepiness, weight gain, hair loss, and dry thick skin.
2. We order a medicine to replace the missing amount of thyroid hormones. The most commonly ordered medicine to replace the thyroid hormone is Synthroid (Sin-Throid).
3. When taken, Synthroid can correct all of the symptoms.
SIDE EFFECTS
1. Tachycardia (fast heart rate)
2. Tachypnea (fast breathing)
3. Weight loss
4. Irritability, fussiness, wakefulness
5. Diarrhea
6. Increased appetite
7. Sweating
8. Fever
GIVING THE MEDICINE
1. Crush tablet(s) and add it to a small amount of formula.
2. Always give medicine in about ½ ounce of formula to prevent choking and stomach upset.
MISSED OR VOMITED DOSE
1. The medicine should be given as ordered by the baby’s doctor.
2. If you forget a dose give the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
3. Do not make up for a missed dose by doubling or increasing the next dose.
4. One missed dose is usually not a problem.
5. If the baby vomits the dose or you have any questions, CALL THE BABY’S DOCTOR FOR INSTRUCTIONS AND ASSISTANCE.
HOW LONG TO GIVE THE MEDICINE
1. Do not stop giving Synthroid without talking with your baby’s doctor.
1. Your baby has a fast heart rate.
2. Your baby breathes fast.
3. Your baby losses weight.
4. Your baby is irritable, fussy, or won’t sleep.
5. Your baby has diarrhea.
6. Your baby repeatedly eats more than usual.
7. Your baby has increased sweating.
1. KEEP ALL MEDICINES OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
2. Always give the amount of medicine ordered by the doctor.
3. Ask your drugstore pharmacist to use the same brand of drug each time. Differences in the brands may be a problem for your baby.
4. Synthroid does not need refrigeration. Store at room temperature.
5. Medicines have an expiration date printed on their label
| Discard an opened bottle of medicine at the expiration date printed on the label |
| If the bottle does not have a printed expiration date, contact the drugstore/pharmacy where the medicine was bought to get the expiration date. |
THE PRESCRIPTION
1. You may be given a prescription to fill when the baby is discharged or you may be given some of the medicine to take home.
| Make sure you have some medicine for the baby’s next dose when the baby is discharged from the hospital. |
2. Always check the medicine when you get it from the pharmacy (drug store).
3. It should be labeled with the same name and same dosage that your baby was getting in the hospital.
4. The medicine’s instructions will tell you:
a. The mg’s or cc’s to give (mg=milligrams)
b. How to give the medicine
c. How often to give the medicine.
5. Use a 1 cc or a 3 cc syringe to draw up this medicine. You will be given at least one syringe to take home.
6. Parents should always keep at least a week’s supply of each of the baby’s medicines on hand.
7. Call your baby’s doctor if more medicine is needed and you do not have a refill on the prescription.
8. The local drugstore pharmacist may also be able to help you obtain refills.
Reviewed/Revised:
12/98, 7/01, 2/03, 11/05, 8/07
