ERFA Thyroid 60mg 100s

ERFA Thyroid general information

What is ERFA Thyroid used for?

ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg are used to treat hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone needed to regulate the body’s growth and metabolism.  ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg are a natural replacement hormone, derived from desiccated pig thyroid gland, containing both forms of thyroid hormone or thyroxine (T₃ and T₄), which help to relieve the symptoms of hypothyroidism, including, tiredness, muscle weakness, cramps, feeling the cold, a slow heart rate, dry and flaky skin, hair loss, a deep husky voice and weight gain.  ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg can also be used to help treat hypothyroidism caused by surgical removal of, or damage to the thyroid gland, as well as treating thyroid goitre (enlarged thyroid gland) and thyroid cancer. 

How does ERFA Thyroid work?

ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg consist of an extract produced from pig thyroid glands which contains both forms of thyroid hormone; thyroxine (levothyroxine or T₄), which is the stable but inactive form, and liothyronine (L-triiodothyronine or T₃), the unstable active form.  Both forms of thyroid hormone are carried in the circulation bound to protein.  Thyroxine (T₄) is converted to the more active form of thyroid hormone (T₃) in the liver, kidney and other tissues of the body and T₃ interacts with a specific receptor inside cells to stimulate proteins needed to manage and control a variety of processes, including how the body regulates temperature, metabolises nutrients and controls growth and development.  Thyroid hormones regulate the production by the pituitary gland of another hormone called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which in turn controls how much thyroid hormone is produced.  ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg regulate TSH production in the same way and this is how it works when used for treating thyroid goitre or thyroid cancer by suppressing TSH production. 

What does ERFA Thyroid contain?

ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg contain desiccated (dried) extract of pig thyroid gland, in which the active ingredient is thyroid hormone and contains both forms of thyroid hormone in the proportions found naturally in the thyroid gland, which is in the ratio 4:1 of T₄ to T₃. Also contains lactose, cornstarch, magnesium stearate, sugar and talc. Erfa Thyroid is gluten, paraben, sulfite and tartrazine free.

What doses of ERFA Thyroid are available?

ERFA Thyroid tablets are available in the following strengths:

• 30mg tablets of thyroid extract contain levothyroxine (T4) 18mcg and liothyronine (T3) 4mcg
• 60mg tablets of thyroid extract contain levothyroxine (T4) 35mcg and liothyronine (T3) 8mcg
• 125mg tablets of thyroid extract contain levothyroxine (T4) 73mcg and and (T3) 17mcg

Treating underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) with ERFA Thyroid

ERFA Thyroid 60mg tablets consist of an extract produced from pig thyroid glands which contains both forms of thyroid hormone; thyroxine (levothyroxine or T₄) and liothyronine (L-triiodothyronine or T₃) and substitutes for the lack of thyroid hormone in hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) needed to regulate normal growth and metabolism.  ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg are used to treat the symptoms of hypothyroidism, including, tiredness, muscle weakness, cramps, feeling the cold, a slow heart rate, dry and flaky skin, hair loss, a deep husky voice and weight gain.   

What is the difference between natural and synthetic thyroid hormones?

ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg contain an extract produced from pig thyroid glands which contains both forms of thyroid hormone; thyroxine (levothyroxine or T₄) and liothyronine (L-triiodothyronine or T₃).  These hormones are natural hormones compared to synthesised hormones found in some other preparations of thyroid medication.  Both natural and synthetic hormones work in the same way to treat thyroid disease. 

What are the side effects of ERFA Thyroid?

Most of the side effects experienced with ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg indicate that your dose is too high and may need adjusting.  These include: headache, sleep problems (insomnia), feeling nervous or irritable sweating, flushing, appetite changes, weight loss, muscle weakness/cramps, palpitation, tremors.  

When should ERFA Thyroid not be used?

You should not use ERFA Thyroid if you:

• are allergic to thyroid hormones or pig products or any ingredients in ERFA Thyroid
• are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breast-feeding, without discussion with your doctor
• are looking for a treatment for obesity or to help you lose weight; this is not a weight loss product
• have thyrotoxicosis (untreated high thyroid hormone levels) or adrenal gland problems
• have a history of chest pain, heart attack, heart blood vessel problems, or other heart problems
• are a diabetic taking antidiabetics or insulin, without discussion with your doctor, as ERFA Thyroid may affect your glucose tolerance
• are taking other medications that may interact with ERFA Thyroid, such as anticonvulsants like phenytoin and carbamazepin, cardiac glycosides like digoxin, cholesterol-lowing drugs containing cholestyramine, antidepressants, anticoagulants like warfarin

What medications interact with ERFA Thyroid?

Several medications interact with ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg and should either not be taken while you are taking ERFA Thyroid or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

Drugs that decrease effectiveness of ERFA Thyroid:

• antacids that contains aluminum or calcium or sucralfate (should be taken at least 4 hours apart from thyroid hormones);
• cholesterol-lowing drugs containing cholestyramine like colestipol (they should be taken at least 4 hours apart from thyroid hormones);
• iron supplement and vitamins with iron (should be taken at least 4 hours apart from thyroid hormones)
• oestrogen replacement product or birth control pills

Drugs that are affected by ERFA Thyroid:

• anticoagulants like warfarin because the risk of bleeding may be increased
• insulin or an oral diabetes medication such as acarbose, glipizide, glyburide or metformin

How should ERFA Thyroid be taken?

You should take your ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg swallowed whole with a glass of water on an empty stomach, preferably 30 minutes before a meal.  The dose of ERFA Thyroid that you take should be as recommended by your doctor and may be increased depending on how well you respond and depending on the levels of T3 and T4 measured in the blood during treatment, so blood monitoring is important while you are taking ERFA Thyroid.  It usually takes several weeks to see normal levels of blood thyroid hormone after starting treatment and you may need to take ERFA Thyroid for the rest of your life.  

How long should you take ERFA Thyroid?

It usually takes several weeks to see normal levels of blood thyroid hormone after starting treatment and you may need to take ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg for the rest of your life.  

Missed dose of ERFA Thyroid

If you miss a dose of ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should ERFA Thyroid be stored?

You should store your ERFA Thyroid tablets 60mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.