Two medicines, side by side
Levothyroxine vs thyroid
Levothyroxine is labeled for hypothyroidism; thyroid has no indication this site maps. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Pharmacies paid $0.0588 per levothyroxine 112 mcg tablet and $1.20 per thyroid 120 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Only the levothyroxine label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the levothyroxine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 20, 2024); the thyroid FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 15, 2023).
Highlights of the levothyroxine record
Levothyroxine (Synthroid) · label of February 20, 2024
NOT FOR TREATMENT OF OBESITY OR FOR WEIGHT LOSS Thyroid hormones, including SYNTHROID, either alone or with other therapeutic agents, should not be used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss. In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction.
Used for
From the label: indicationsHypothyroidism SYNTHROID is indicated in adult and pediatric patients, including neonates, as a replacement therapy in primary (thyroidal), secondary (pituitary), and tertiary (hypothalamic) congenital or acquired hypothyroidism. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 21, 2000
- Generic labelers
- 36 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0588 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 128
Highlights of the thyroid record
Thyroid · label of November 15, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsSymptoms of eczema or psoriasis*
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.20 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Levothyroxine label of February 20, 2024, Thyroid label of November 15, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do levothyroxine and thyroid differ on the record?
Only the levothyroxine label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: levothyroxine since 2002; thyroid none approved (Drugs@FDA).
| Levothyroxine | Thyroid | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Hypothyroidism | n/a |
| Pharmacologic class | l-Thyroxine | n/a |
| How it works (label) | Thyroid hormones exert their physiologic actions through control of DNA transcription and protein synthesis. Triiodothyronine (T3) and L-thyroxine (T4) diffuse into the cell nucleus and bind to thyroid receptor proteins attached to DNA. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 21, 2000 | n/a |
| First generic approved | June 5, 2002 | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 36 labelers | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0588 per tablet (Levothyroxine 112 mcg tablet) | $1.20 per tablet (Thyroid 120 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | +0.2% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 128 | 5 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 300,456 | 2,855 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Thyroid label, drug interactions (prescription label)In a patient with a nonfunctioning thyroid gland who is receiving thyroid replacement therapy, free levothyroxine may be decreased when estrogens are started thus increasing thyroid requirements.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to levothyroxine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions