FAQs
Questions and Answers about Leventa® (levothyroxine sodium)
Q: What is Leventa?
A: Leventa is a readily accepted, easily administered, small-volume liquid formulation of levothyroxine sodium. It provides the thyroxine needed by dogs with hypothyroidism, plus the convenience dog owners want. Given once daily, Leventa is an effective, convenient alternative to non-chewable oral tablets for treatment of canine hypothyroidism. Each milliliter of oral solution contains 1.0 milligrams synthetic crystalline levothyroxine sodium USP.
Q: What is the recommended dose rate for Leventa?
A: At treatment initiation, the recommended dose rate is 20 micrograms per kilogram (ug/kg) body weight once daily. Dogs should be reevaluated every four weeks by monitoring T4 serum levels four to six hours post-treatment. Once the dosage sufficient to maintain the dog in a euthyroid state has been determined, serum T4 levels should be checked every six months, and the dosage adjusted as necessary to tailor therapy to each patient. The usual maintenance dosage of Leventa is 20 micrograms per kilogram body weight once daily.
Q: How is dosing accuracy assured?
A: An oral dosing syringe, calibrated in 0.01-mL increments, is enclosed with each 30-mL bottle of Leventa. This facilitates precise titration of each patient’s therapy for optimal results.
Q: Does Leventa offer any advantages over current canine hypothyroidism treatment options?
A: The small-volume liquid formulation of levothyroxine sodium offers important advantages. Because it is a palatable liquid and can be dosed directly into the dog’s mouth or mixed with food, Leventa is easier to administer for many owners than are traditional non-chewable tablets. And Leventa requires administration just once a day — another plus for busy owners. Finally, Leventa’s liquid formulation facilitates precise dosing and flexibility. All this adds up to optimal client compliance and positive treatment outcomes.
Q: How does once-a-day dosing relate to compliance?
A: A recent market research study1 of veterinarians revealed a high level of concern about client compliance with inconvenient medication dosing regimens and formulations. The majority of veterinarians — 58 percent — cited frequency of administration as the most significant barrier to client compliance.
Q: Is there evidence dog owners prefer a liquid formulation over tablets?
A: A recent market research study of more than 1,000 dog owners revealed:
- More than 75 percent of dog owners prefer a small-volume liquid given once a day.
- 84 percent said they prefer a palatable, once-daily liquid to a twice-daily, traditional oral tablet.
- 83 percent said they would be more successful administering medication if they only had to do it once a day.
Q: Aren’t oral tablets easier to stock?
A: Clinics that stock Leventa can replace the multiple sizes of tablets that must be stocked with single 30-mL bottles of Leventa. Dosage modifications can be made without having to dispense new tablet sizes, saving staff time while minimizing client cost and potential confusion. However, even if veterinarians find it necessary to stock tablets along with Leventa, the benefit of offering a formulation choice can be important to clients. In fact, a recent market research study revealed 90 percent of dog owners would prefer their veterinarians to offer options in prescribed formulations.1
Q: How do veterinarians order Leventa?
A: Leventa can be purchased by veterinary clinics from distributors or directly from Intervet. For more information, to place an order or for technical support, call 800-441-8272 weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. More information also is available at www.usa.leventa.com.
1 Proprietary market research data on file; Intervet Inc.