Niva Thyroid
Niva Thyroid is used to treat hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormones) for adults and children. It's also used for other various thyroid-related issues. Niva Thyroid is a natural thyroid hormone replacement that's taken by mouth once a day. Side effects aren't common unless you take too much of the medication.
What is Niva Thyroid?
What is Niva Thyroid used for?
- Hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone)
- Other thyroid problems like goiters, thyroid nodules, or thyroid cancer
How Niva Thyroid works
Niva Thyroid is a naturally-derived combination of thyroid hormones. It's a mixture of the triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) hormones.
Thyroid hormones are important for your health. They help control your metabolism, body temperature, heart rate, and more
When your thyroid hormone levels are too low, taking thyroid replacement hormones like Niva Thyroid can bring them back to normal.
Drug facts
More on Niva Thyroid essentials
Side effects of Niva Thyroid
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Side effects are rare and are usually related to having too much thyroid hormones in the body
Less Common Side Effects
- Signs of having too much thyroid hormones in the body:
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Tiredness
- Muscle weakness
- Trouble tolerating heat
- Trouble sleeping
- Shaky hands
- Fast heartbeat
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Mood swings
The following Niva Thyroid side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Anxiety, nervousness
- Excessive sweating or sensitivity to heat
- Fever
- Heart palpitations—rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
- Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
- Irregular menstrual cycles or spotting
- Severe diarrhea
- Tremors or shaking
- Trouble sleeping
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Niva Thyroid
Pros
- Natural thyroid hormone made from an animal source
- Taken once daily
- Might help when other thyroid medications haven't worked well
- Can take during pregnancy
Cons
- Amount of thyroid hormones in the medication can be different from batch to batch
- Must separate from food and other medications
- People with serious heart problems might need more careful dosing
- Not traditionally approved by the FDA
Pharmacist tips for Niva Thyroid
- It's a good idea to take Niva Thyroid first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Food can affect how much of the medication your body absorbs.
- Make sure to get all your blood work done while taking Niva Thyroid. Your primary care provider will adjust your dose based on your thyroid hormone levels.
- Tell your prescriber if you start to have signs of hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone in your body). This can include feeling shaky, a fast heartbeat, or trouble sleeping. They might check your thyroid hormone levels and lower your Niva Thyroid dose if needed.
- Share a list of all the medication you take with your healthcare team. Niva Thyroid can change how other medications work, and other medications can affect Niva Thyroid too. Your care team can help adjust doses or make a schedule for when to take each medication. This helps prevent any drug interactions.
- If you take cholesterol medications like cholestyramine (Prevalite) or colestipol (Colestid), be sure to take them 4 to 5 hours apart from Niva Thyroid. These cholesterol medications can lower how much thyroid hormone your body absorbs.
- If you have diabetes and take medications to lower your blood sugar, tell your prescriber that you're taking Niva Thyroid. They might need to adjust the dose of your diabetes medications to help keep your blood sugar under control.
- If you take a blood thinner, let the healthcare professional who prescribed it to you know that you're also taking Niva Thyroid. This medication can affect how well your blood thinner works. Your prescriber might need to monitor you more closely to make sure you're safe.
Common questions about Niva Thyroid
Niva Thyroid contains thyroid hormones (T3 and T4). These thyroid hormones come from dried and powdered thyroid glands of pigs. The medication also has other chemicals that help hold the tablets together. Talk to a healthcare professional if you have questions about what's in Niva Thyroid.
Yes, Niva Thyroid is considered a natural thyroid hormone replacement. This means the hormones come from an animal source, not from lab-made ingredients. Ask a healthcare professional if a natural thyroid medication like Niva Thyroid is right for you.
It usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks for your thyroid hormone levels to start getting better after you begin taking Niva Thyroid. During this time, your symptoms might start to improve. Keep in mind that it can also take some time for your prescriber to find the dose that works best for you. After each dose change, it takes about 2 to 3 weeks to see results. Your prescriber can check your blood work to see if Niva Thyroid is working well at the dose you're taking now.
No. Niva Thyroid and levothyroxine (Synthroid) are both thyroid hormone replacements. But they're not the same and can't be easily switched for each other. Levothyroxine (Synthroid) has only the T4 hormone, but Niva Thyroid has both T3 and T4. Usually, prescribers start with levothyroxine (Synthroid) because it's the first choice for hypothyroidism. But if your symptoms don't get better, your prescriber might try Niva Thyroid instead. You'll need blood work done to check how this change affects your thyroid hormone levels. Talk to your prescriber about which medication is best for you.
Taking too much Niva Thyroid can cause symptoms like mood swings, shaky hands, anxiety, forgetfulness, and a fast heartbeat. If you notice these symptoms or think you're taking too much, speak with your prescriber.
Changes in thyroid hormone levels can affect your metabolism and body weight. Since Niva Thyroid is a thyroid hormone replacement, it might affect your weight. But it's usually not by much if you take it as prescribed. Using thyroid medications just to lose weight isn't effective and can be dangerous. In fact, taking more than the recommended dose of Niva Thyroid to try to lose weight can raise the risk of serious side effects or long-term complications. If you want help with weight management, talk to your primary care provider about safe and effective options.
Children taking Niva Thyroid might have some hair loss in the first few months of treatment. This usually doesn't continue for a long time, and hair will grow back. Thyroid conditions might be linked to hair loss as well, which can make things confusing. If you notice more hair falling out than usual, talk to a healthcare professional.
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Risks and warnings for Niva Thyroid
Niva Thyroid can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Not for weight loss
- Risk factors: Taking other medications for weight loss
Don't use Niva Thyroid for weight loss. It’s not recommended, safe, or effective for this purpose. Taking high doses of Niva Thyroid can cause serious or life-threatening side effects, especially if you take it with other weight loss medications.
Dangerously low stress hormone levels (adrenal crisis)
- Risk factors: Adrenal insufficiency | Addison's disease
Some people can have low thyroid hormones and low adrenal hormones at the same time. Taking thyroid medications first can make your adrenal hormones drop even more and make you feel unwell. Your prescriber should check your adrenal hormone levels before you start Niva Thyroid. Let them know if you have long-lasting tiredness, muscle weakness, low appetite, stomach pain, or dizziness. These can be signs of adrenal problems.
Worsening diabetes
- Risk factors: Taking diabetes medication
If you have diabetes, taking Niva Thyroid can change how much of your diabetes medications you need. Check your blood sugar levels as directed by your prescriber. Talk to your prescriber if you see that your blood sugar levels are higher than usual. Your prescriber might need to raise the dose of your diabetes medication.
Risk of heart problems with too much medication
- Risk factors: Currently have heart disease or chest pain | Older adults
Taking too much Niva Thyroid can cause heart problems, especially in people who already have heart issues or are at risk. Call your prescriber or get medical care right away if you have a fast or uneven heartbeat, chest pain, or shortness of breath. They can see if you need a lower dose if you have new or worsening heart problems while taking this medication.
Interactions with other medications
Niva Thyroid can change the effects of certain medications. These medications include oral anticoagulants, insulin, and oral diabetes medications.
On the other hand, other medications can have an effect on the levels of Niva Thyroid in your system. This can include certain cholesterol medications and birth control pills.
Before starting Niva Thyroid, talk to your prescriber about all the medications you take. They might need to change your dose or help you plan the best time to take each one during the day. This makes sure your medications work well and lowers the chance of any interaction.
Niva Thyroid dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15mg | 90 tablets | $58.81 | $0.65 |
| 30mg | 90 tablets | $63.58 | $0.71 |
| 60mg | 90 tablets | $70.76 | $0.79 |
| 90mg | 90 tablets | $89.34 | $0.99 |
| 120mg | 90 tablets | $121.08 | $1.35 |
Typical dosage for Niva Thyroid
The dose depends on what you're taking the medication for. Your prescriber will adjust your dose based on how you respond to the medication and what your thyroid lab results show.
-
Hypothyroidism
- Adults: The typical starting dose for adults is 30 mg by mouth daily, but it can be lower if you have certain health problems. Most people need a maintenance dose between 60 mg to 120 mg daily; it depends on your body's needs. The dose can go up to 120 mg a day.
- Children: The prescriber will find the right starting dose based on your child's age and body weight.
-
Other thyroid-related issues: The prescriber will find the right dose for you based on your thyroid condition.
How much does Niva Thyroid cost?
$58.81
Niva Thyroid contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Niva Thyroid will not be safe for you to take.
- Untreated adrenal insufficiency
- Untreated thyrotoxicosis
What are alternatives to Niva Thyroid?
Niva Thyroid images
