Jones Pharma, maker of Levoxyl, has issued a letter to healthcare professionals, warning about potential dangers of their product if taken without water, or without sufficient water. Find out about the issues in my recap now. Also, read the letter online, and find out where you can print out a PDF file for your doctor or pharmacist.

King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
501 Fifth Street
Bristol, TN 37620

September 17, 2004

Dear Healthcare Professional:

Jones Pharma Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of King Pharmaceuticals® , Inc. , would like to inform you about new additions to the labeling of Levoxyl® ( levothyroxine sodium) regarding safety. Some patients have reported choking, gagging, tablet stuck in throat and dysphagia while taking Levoxyl® . This has been reported, predominately when Levoxyl® tablets were not taken with water.

In order to communicate this product information to health care professionals, the following Information for Patients section of PRECAUTIONS, ADVERSE REACTIONS, and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION have been added to the package insert with respect to use of Levoxyl ® .

Information for Patients
Levoxyl may rapidly swell and disintegrate resulting in choking, gagging, the tablet getting stuck in your throat or difficulty swallowing. It is very important that you take the tablet with a full glass of water. Most of these problems disappeared when Levoxyl tablets were taken with water.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
In addition to the above events, the following have been reported, predominately when Levoxyl tablets were not taken with water: choking, gagging, tablet stuck in throat and dysphagia.