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Oral l-thyroxine liquid versus tablet in patients with hypothyroidism without malabsorption: a prospective study

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Abstract

No consistent data are present in literature about the effectiveness of levothyroxine (l-T4) liquid formulation in patients without malabsorption. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of l-T4 liquid formulation, with l-T4 tablets, in hypothyroid patients without malabsorption or drug interference. One hundred and fifty two patients were recruited. Patients were switched from the l-T4 therapy in tablets, to liquid l-T4 at the same dosage, 30 min before breakfast. Serum thyrotropic hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were re-evaluated after 1–3 months (first control) and 5–7 months (second control) from the switch. TSH values significantly declined with respect to the basal value after the switch to liquid l-T4 both at the first control (P < 0.05) and at the second control (P < 0.01); FT4 and FT3 levels were not significantly changed. We show that liquid l-T4 is more effective than l-T4 tablet in controlling TSH levels in hypothyroid patients without malabsorption, gastric disorders, or drug interference.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Poupak Fallahi, Silvia Martina Ferrari & Alessandro Antonelli

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  1. Poupak Fallahi
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  2. Silvia Martina Ferrari
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  3. Alessandro Antonelli
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Correspondence to Alessandro Antonelli.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study.

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Fallahi, P., Ferrari, S.M. & Antonelli, A. Oral l-thyroxine liquid versus tablet in patients with hypothyroidism without malabsorption: a prospective study. Endocrine 52, 597–601 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-015-0836-y

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