Thyrotropin Alpha

Thyrotropin alfa is a manmade form of a protein similar to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is normally produced by your thyroid. Thyrotropin alfa keeps your TSH levels steady while you undergo thyroid tests or treatments that can reduce TSH and cause symptoms of low thyroid (hypothyroidism).

Thyrotropin alfa is used together with radioactive iodine ablation (a procedure to remove thyroid tissue that was not removed with surgery) in people with thyroid cancer.

Thyrotropin alfa is also used during medical testing to check for certain types of thyroid cancer that has returned after treatment. Thyrotropin alfa may not help your doctor find all signs of cancer, and there is still a chance that some of your cancer could be missed.

Thyrotropin alfa will not treat cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Thyrotropin alfa may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about the timing of your medications, scans, and other treatments. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

You should not use thyrotropin alfa if you are allergic to it.

To make sure thyrotropin alfa is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
• heart disease or history of stroke;
• if you take birth control pills; or
• if you are a woman and you smoke or have migraine headaches.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether thyrotropin alfa will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

It is not known whether thyrotropin alfa passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Other drugs may interact with thyrotropin alfa, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

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.

Since this medicine is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your thyrotropin alfa injection.