Thyroid Disease Treatment Tirosint Brand Name Levothyroxine Formulation By Mary Shomon Mary Shomon Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution." Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 23, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Danielle Weiss, MD Medically reviewed by Danielle Weiss, MD LinkedIn Dr. Danielle Weiss is double board-certified in internal medicine and endocrinology. She is the founder of the Center for Hormonal Health and Well-Being in San Diego, California. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Uses Side Effects Dosing Cost A Word From Verywell Tirosint is the brand name for a form of levothyroxine designed for people with allergies to fillers and dyes found in standard formulations. It is available in soft gel capsules, as well as a liquid formulation, that do not contain dyes, gluten, alcohol, lactose, or sugar. Besides T4, Tirosint contains only three inactive ingredients: gelatin, glycerin, and water. Westend61 / Getty Images Who It May Benefit In addition to those with allergies, Tirosint has been found effective in treating people with hypothyroidism who have certain digestive conditions, such as celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or atrophic gastritis. These conditions interfere with the absorption of traditional levothyroxine tablets, making them less effective; Tirosint seems to bypass the malabsorption problems. Along the same line, Tirosint offers benefits to people for whom food or drink interfere with the absorption of their levothyroxine tablets. In fact, Tirosint appears to be "coffee-resistant" and, according to researchers, may be used to achieve a target thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level in people who are unwilling or unable to change the way they take their levothyroxine. Even for people who do not drink coffee within an hour of taking their medication, TSH testing suggests that people may achieve better absorption using Tirosint, as compared to levothyroxine in tablet form. Should You Take Generic Levothyroxine? Possible Side Effects If your practitioner prescribes Tirosint, be sure to review all possible side effects. According to the Food and Drug Administration prescribing information for the drug, Tirosint may cause heart problems, including an increased heart rate, chest pain, an irregular heartbeat, and weak or brittle bones. Your risk of developing these issues may be higher if you are elderly or take too much of the medication. If you have diabetes, Tirosint may make it harder to control your blood sugar levels. In this case, your healthcare provider may have to adjust your diabetes treatment regimen and monitor you more closely. Make sure to give your healthcare provider a list of all your current medications, vitamins, and supplements before you start taking Tirosint. Thyroid Disease Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Email the Guide Send to yourself or a loved one. Sign Up This Doctor Discussion Guide has been sent to {{form.email}}. There was an error. Please try again. Dosing Tirosint capsules cannot be crushed, chewed, or cut. The available doses include: 13 mcg25 mcg50 mcg75 mcg88 mcg100 mcg112 mcg125 mcg137 mcg150 mcg175mcg 200mcg The liquid formulation is taken once daily on an empty stomach, one-half to one hour before breakfast, and dosing is based on specific patient needs. How to Take Your Thyroid Medication the Right Way Patient Programs Tirosint is manufactured by IBSA Institute Biochimique, a privately-owned, global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland. Tirosint is distributed by IBSA USA, headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey. The company provides two options to help defray the cost of Tirosint. Tirosint Direct Program Through Tirosint Direct, you can get the lowest cash price available, even without health insurance. Prescriptions are delivered by mail at a significantly reduced price through a network of mail-order pharmacies. Tirosint Copay Card If your Tirosint copay is high, you may be able to cut the cost to no more than $25 with Tirosint's copay card. You also can receive your medication by standard USPS delivery for free (it usually takes five days) or by Federal Express overnight or second-day delivery at additional cost. A Word From Verywell If you are having problems with your thyroid replacement medication due to allergies or absorption problems, Tirosint may be a sensible alternative for you. If you are switching to Tirosint, be sure to follow up with your healthcare provider—you will need to have blood tests after six weeks to ensure you are on the proper dose. and to monitor potential adverse effects of the drug. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Losing weight with thyroid disease can be a struggle. Our thyroid-friendly meal plan can help. Sign up and get yours free! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Fallahi P et al. Advancements in the treatment of hypothyroidism With L-T4 liquid formulation or soft gel capsule: An update. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2017;14(5):647-55. doi:10.1080/17425247.2016.1227782 Vita R, Saraceno G, Trimarchi F, Benvenga S. A novel formulation of L-thyroxine (L-T4) reduces the problem of L-T4 malabsorption by coffee observed with traditional tablet formulations. Endocrine. 2013;43(1):154-60. doi:10.1007/s12020-012-9772-2 Food and Drug Administration. Tirosint (levothyroxine sodium). Tirosint-SOL. FDA label.