Thyrotropin alfa

Thyrotropin alfa is injected into a muscle of the buttock. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Thyrotropin alfa is usually given in 2 separate injections 24 hours apart.

You may also be given radioactive iodine to take 24 hours after your last thyrotropin alfa injection. If you need a thyroid scan, the scan should take place 48 hours after you take the radioactive iodine.

Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about the timing of your medications, scans, and other treatments.

Your doctor may want you to receive this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting to quickly treat any serious side effects that occur.

You may be given steroid medicine to help keep tumors from growing larger while you are receiving thyrotropin alfa.

Drink plenty of liquids before you are treated with thyrotropin alfa.

As part of your treatment, you will need frequent blood tests. You may not notice any change in your symptoms, but your blood work will help your doctor determine whether treatment has been effective.

Use this medicine as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• It is given as a shot into a muscle.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Headache.
• Upset stomach.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about this medicine, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take thyrotropin alfa or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to thyrotropin alfa. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.

Review Date: October 4, 2017

(thye roe TROH pin AL fa)

There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer’s labeling; however, elimination is significantly slower in dialysis-dependent end-stage renal impairment and TSH level elevation may be prolonged.

There are no known significant interactions.

Thyroglobulin assay may be confounded by thyroglobulin antibodies, possibly leading to misinterpreted or difficult to interpret thyroglobulin levels. Routine measurement of TSH levels after thyrotropin alfa use is not recommended.

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted. Effects on the fetus or pregnant woman are unknown.

Elimination is significantly slower in dialysis-dependent end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, resulting in prolonged elevation of TSH levels.