title: Stability of levothyroxine sodium 0.4 microg/mL in 0.9% sodium chloride injection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intravenous levothyroxine therapy decreases vasopressor requirements and prevents cardiovascular collapse in hemodynamically unstable patients eligible for organ donation. The stability of levothyroxine when used in this manner is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the stability of levothyroxine solution for intravenous use at a concentration of 0.4 microg/mL diluted in 0.9% sodium chloride.
  
  
  METHODS
  Triplicate sample sets were prepared by reconstituting levothyroxine 200 microg for injection with 5 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride with further dilution in 500 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride. One sample set was protected from light and the other was left unprotected. Both sample sets were stored at room temperature, and samples from each were analyzed for initial concentration and 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levothyroxine sodium 0.4 microg/mL in 500 mL 0.9% sodium chloride is stable for 24 hours at room temperature when protected from light.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego Medical Center, 9300 Campus Point Dr., Mail Code 7765, La Jolla, CA 92037-7765, USA. kstadalman@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Kelli A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Stadalman
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kelner
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Box
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rigby
mesh_terms: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013974:Thyroxine