Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Thyroid. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Thyroid. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• headache
• heat intolerance
• sleep difficulties
• weight loss

Although most of these side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• excessive sweating
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• Fever
• mood swings
• muscle weakness
• nervousness
• psychosis
• restlessness (extreme)
• tremors

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• chest pain
• signs of Heart Attack (e.g., chest pain, or pressure or squeezing sensation in the chest; anxiety; paleness; shortness of breath; pain spreading to shoulders, neck, and jaw)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Thyroid.

30 mg
Each off-white to light amber-coloured tablet, embossed "ECI 30" on one side, contains 30 mg of desiccated thyroid derived from porcine thyroid glands. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, magnesium stearate, sugar, and talc.

60 mg
Each off-white to light amber-coloured tablet, embossed "ECI 60" on one side, contains 60 mg of desiccated thyroid derived from porcine thyroid glands. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, magnesium stearate, sugar, and talc.

125 mg
Each off-white to light amber-coloured tablet, embossed "ECI 125" on one side, contains 125 mg of desiccated thyroid derived from porcine thyroid glands. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, magnesium stearate, sugar, and talc.

Do not take this medication if you:

• have an allergy to thyroid or any of the ingredients in the medication (there are currently no known cases of allergy to desiccated thyroid itself)
• have certain uncorrected problems of the adrenal glands
• have untreated thyrotoxicosis (too much thyroid hormone in the blood)

There may be an interaction between desiccated thyroid and any of the following:

• Amiodarone
• antacids that contain calcium
• birth control pills
• calcium polystyrene
• calcium supplements (e.g., calcium carbonate, calcium citrate)
• Carbamazepine
• ciprofloxacin
• Cholestyramine
• Colestipol
• corticosteroids (e.g., Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone, Prednisone)
• diabetes medications (e.g., chlorpropamide, glipizide, Glyburide, insulin, Metformin, Nateglinide, Rosiglitazone)
• Digoxin
• estrogens (e.g., conjugated estrogen, Estradiol, ethinyl estradiol)
• iron supplements
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• rifampin
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• simethicone
• sodium iodide I 131
• sodium polystyrene
• theophyllines (e.g., Aminophylline, Oxtriphylline, Theophylline)
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Desipramine, Trimipramine)
• Warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Thyroid. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should take Thyroid.

Diabetes: Desiccated thyroid may cause blood sugar to increase. High blood sugar may occur, glucose tolerance may change, and diabetes may worsen. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar closely and talk to your doctor about any abnormalities.

Hair loss in children: Some children may lose some of their hair in the first few months of treatment with thyroid hormone. This is usually a temporary effect and the hair normally grows back over time.

Heart disease: Starting desiccated thyroid may cause the heart to work harder than usual. For this reason, people with Angina or other heart disease should discuss with their doctor how Thyroid may affect their medical condition, how their medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Thyroid, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Pregnancy: Supplemental thyroid hormone is safe to use during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding: Minimal amounts of thyroid hormone pass into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking desiccated thyroid, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.