Increased thyroid-stimulating hormone levels associated with concomitant administration of levothyroxine and raloxifene. 2006

Candice L Garwood, and Kimberly A Van Schepen, and Randal P McDonough, and Anne L Sullivan
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, and the Department of Family Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, USA. cgarwood@wayne.edu

A 47-year-old Caucasian woman had a 3.5-year history of primary hypothyroidism treated with levothyroxine. Her levothyroxine dosage of 0.05 mg/day had been stable for the past 15 months. She was then prescribed raloxifene for prevention of osteoporosis secondary to early menopause. During the next 30 months, her levothyroxine dosage had to be gradually increased. The patient had been taking levothyroxine and raloxifene at the same time each day on an empty stomach. During the months of her levothyroxine dosage changes, however, she separated administration of levothyroxine and raloxifene by 12 hours; the patient then became hyperthyroid. Eventually, her levothyroxine needs decreased, and she returned to the same levothyroxine dosage she had taken before separating administration of the two drugs. These findings suggest that raloxifene decreased the absorption of levothyroxine when the two agents were coadministered. Assessment of causality using the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale resulted in a possible association for this adverse event. Another published case report provides findings similar to our patient's experience. The possibility of a malabsorption interaction between levothyroxine and raloxifene is significant, as hypothyroidism is common among postmenopausal women-the same population that is the target of osteoporosis therapy with agents such as raloxifene. The mechanism by which raloxifene decreases levothyroxine absorption is unknown. Further investigation of this potential interaction is warranted. Until then, clinicians should be alert to the potential for an interaction between raloxifene and levothyroxine.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007037 Hypothyroidism A syndrome that results from abnormally low secretion of THYROID HORMONES from the THYROID GLAND, leading to a decrease in BASAL METABOLIC RATE. In its most severe form, there is accumulation of MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES in the SKIN and EDEMA, known as MYXEDEMA. It may be primary or secondary due to other pituitary disease, or hypothalamic dysfunction. Central Hypothyroidism,Primary Hypothyroidism,Secondary Hypothyroidism,TSH Deficiency,Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Deficiency,Central Hypothyroidisms,Deficiency, TSH,Deficiency, Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone,Hormone Deficiency, Thyroid-Stimulating,Hypothyroidism, Central,Hypothyroidism, Primary,Hypothyroidism, Secondary,Hypothyroidisms,Primary Hypothyroidisms,Secondary Hypothyroidisms,TSH Deficiencies,Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Deficiency,Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Deficiencies
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D004347 Drug Interactions The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug. Drug Interaction,Interaction, Drug,Interactions, Drug
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013972 Thyrotropin A glycoprotein hormone secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). Thyrotropin stimulates THYROID GLAND by increasing the iodide transport, synthesis and release of thyroid hormones (THYROXINE and TRIIODOTHYRONINE). Thyrotropin consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is common in the pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH; LUTEINIZING HORMONE and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity. Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone,TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone),Thyreotropin,Thyrotrophin,Hormone, Thyroid-Stimulating,Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
D013974 Thyroxine The major hormone derived from the thyroid gland. Thyroxine is synthesized via the iodination of tyrosines (MONOIODOTYROSINE) and the coupling of iodotyrosines (DIIODOTYROSINE) in the THYROGLOBULIN. Thyroxine is released from thyroglobulin by proteolysis and secreted into the blood. Thyroxine is peripherally deiodinated to form TRIIODOTHYRONINE which exerts a broad spectrum of stimulatory effects on cell metabolism. L-Thyroxine,Levothyroxine,T4 Thyroid Hormone,3,5,3',5'-Tetraiodothyronine,Berlthyrox,Dexnon,Eferox,Eltroxin,Eltroxine,Euthyrox,Eutirox,L-3,5,3',5'-Tetraiodothyronine,L-Thyrox,L-Thyroxin Henning,L-Thyroxin beta,L-Thyroxine Roche,Levo-T,Levothroid,Levothyroid,Levothyroxin Deladande,Levothyroxin Delalande,Levothyroxine Sodium,Levoxine,Levoxyl,Lévothyrox,Novothyral,Novothyrox,O-(4-Hydroxy-3,5-diiodophenyl) 3,5-diiodo-L-tyrosine,O-(4-Hydroxy-3,5-diiodophenyl)-3,5-diiodotyrosine,Oroxine,Sodium Levothyroxine,Synthroid,Synthrox,Thevier,Thyrax,Thyroxin,Tiroidine,Tiroxina Leo,Unithroid,L Thyrox,L Thyroxin Henning,L Thyroxin beta,L Thyroxine,L Thyroxine Roche,Levo T,Thyroid Hormone, T4
D020845 Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators A structurally diverse group of compounds distinguished from ESTROGENS by their ability to bind and activate ESTROGEN RECEPTORS but act as either an agonist or antagonist depending on the tissue type and hormonal milieu. They are classified as either first generation because they demonstrate estrogen agonist properties in the ENDOMETRIUM or second generation based on their patterns of tissue specificity. (Horm Res 1997;48:155-63) Estrogen Receptor Modulators, Selective,SERMs,Estrogen Receptor Modulator, Selective,SERM,Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator
D020849 Raloxifene Hydrochloride A second generation selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It has estrogen agonist effects on bone and cholesterol metabolism but behaves as a complete estrogen antagonist on mammary gland and uterine tissue. Raloxifene,Evista,Keoxifene,Keoxifene Hydrochloride,LY 139481,LY 156758,LY-139481,LY-156758,Raloxifene HCl,LY139481,LY156758

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