Treatment pattern and frequency of serum TSH measurement in users of different levothyroxine formulations: a population-based study during the years 2009-2015

Abstract

Background: Several conditions can modify the intestinal absorption of levothyroxine tablets, with potential consequences on their therapeutic effect. Pre-dosed ampoules and oral drops have been recently made available to overcome this limitation.

Aims: To describe the pattern of use of different formulations of levothyroxine in a general population of Southern Italy and to perform an exploratory analysis investigating the effect of switching from levothyroxine tablets to oral liquid formulations.

Methods: Data were extracted from the Caserta Local Health Unit database. All patients receiving at least one levothyroxine prescription during the years 2009-2015 were identified. 1-year incidence of use of formulation-specific levothyroxine was calculated. Switchers between levothyroxine tablets and oral liquid formulations were identified and the frequency of thyroid-stimulating hormone measurement within 2 years prior and after the switch date was explored.

Results: Overall, 56,354 levothyroxine users were included in the study. Of these, 55,147 patients received at least one prescription for tablets (97.9%), 1867 pre-dosed ampoules (3.3%) and 1550 oral drops (2.8%). The proportion of levothyroxine users receiving oral liquid formulations slightly increased over time. Patients switching from tablets to oral liquid formulations showed a statistically significant reduction in the number of thyroid-stimulating hormone measurements after switching from tablets, especially in presence of drugs interacting with levothyroxine potentially altering its absorption.

Conclusions: Use of levothyroxine oral liquid formulations is increasing over time even though their use is still limited in a general population of Southern Italy. Our exploratory analysis showed that the frequency of thyroid-stimulating hormone measurement was reduced in patients switching from levothyroxine tablet to new formulations.

Keywords: Absorption; Formulations; Levothyroxine; Switching; TSH.