Liothyronine Sodium

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Nov 03, 2023

Pros & Cons


Liothyronine Pros and Cons

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  • You only need to take liothyronine once a day.
  • Unlike levothyroxine, you don’t need to take liothyronine 30 minutes before breakfast.
  • It is available in a lower-cost generic version.
  • This medicine is safe for children, including infants.

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  • Liothyronine is not the first choice of therapy for hypothyroidism.
  • This medicine has a narrow therapeutic index. You need frequent blood tests and dose adjustments to prevent overtreatment or undertreatment of your thyroid condition.
  • This medicine has certain limitations of use. It is not for all thyroid disorders. For example, it is not used to suppress benign thyroid nodules or non-toxic diffuse goiter in iodine-sufficient people. It is also not used to treat hypothyroidism during recovery from subacute thyroid inflammation.
  • Liothyronine may be more expensive than other thyroid supplements.