AbbVie Launches Good Morning Hypothyroidism to Help Hypothyroid Patients Manage their Life-Long Condition through Education and a Sense of Community

Hypothyroidism affects millions of people in the U.S. and as many as ten percent of women may have some degree of thyroid hormone deficiency.

News provided by

AbbVie

Nov 30, 2015, 08:00 ET

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Nov. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie, is introducing Good Morning Hypothyroidism (GMH), an all-inclusive program that focuses on a daily routine for managing the life-long condition of hypothyroidism. When and how patients take their medication can affect the way the body absorbs it so resources encouraging patients to establish and follow to their a daily routine are important. The goal of the new website www.OurMorningRoutine.com is to help patients better manage their hypothyroidism by establishing a daily routine, spirit of connection, and a sense of community through tools and resources such as a patient journal, medication refill reminder and a network of hypothyroidism patients.

This patient network called the Before Breakfast Club Ambassadors shares stories of individual diagnosis, routines and how they manage their hypothyroidism every day. Patients describe the importance of taking their medication at the same time before breakfast every morning as prescribed by their healthcare professional.^[ii]As the new face of Synthroid.com, the website provides educational resources about the condition as well as SYNTHROID^® (levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP) product information, coupons and saving card offers.

"Effectively managing hypothyroidism begins with understanding the disease," said Michael Robinson M.D., vice president of AbbVie U.S. Medical Affairs. "Good Morning Hypothyroidism takes patient education to the next level by providing inspiration to not only learn, but remain motivated in the management of this life-long condition."

Hypothyroidism affects millions of people in the U.S. and as many as ten percent of women may have some degree of thyroid hormone deficiency.^[i]The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located in the lower front of the neck, which produces thyroid hormones that help regulate certain functions of the body. Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid gland, is a common condition in which the thyroid gland cannot produce enough thyroid hormone to keep the body functioning properly.^[iii]Visit Synthroid.com to learn more.^[ii]

About Synthroid
SYNTHROID^® (levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP) is a prescription, man-made thyroid hormone that is used to treat a condition called hypothyroidism, except in cases of temporary hypothyroidism, which is usually associated with an inflammation of the thyroid gland (thyroiditis). It is meant to replace a hormone that is usually made by your thyroid gland. Generally, thyroid replacement treatment is to be taken for life.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Thyroid hormones, including SYNTHROID, should not be used either alone or in combination with other drugs for the treatment of obesity or weight loss. In patients with normal thyroid levels, doses of SYNTHROID used daily for hormone replacement are not helpful for weight loss. Larger doses may result in serious or even life-threatening events, especially when used in combination with certain other drugs used to reduce appetite.
Do not use SYNTHROID if you have hyperthyroidism or over-active thyroid, uncorrected adrenal problems, are having symptoms of a heart attack, or are allergic to any of its ingredients.
In women, long-term treatment with SYNTHROID has been associated with increased bone loss, especially in women who are on high doses or those who are on high doses after menopause.
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any foods or drugs, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, are breast-feeding or are taking any other drugs, as well as prescription and over-the-counter products.
Tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you may have, especially heart disease, diabetes, blood clotting problems, and adrenal or pituitary gland problems. The dose of other drugs you may be taking to control these conditions may have to be changed while you are taking SYNTHROID. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar levels and/or the glucose in your urine, as ordered by your doctor and immediately tell your doctor if there are any changes. If you are taking blood thinners, your blood clotting status should be checked often.
Use SYNTHROID only as ordered by your doctor. Do not stop or change the amount you take, or how often you take it, unless told to do so by your doctor.
Products such as iron and calcium supplements and antacids can lower your body's ability to absorb SYNTHROID, so SYNTHROID should be taken 4 hours before or after taking these products.
Take SYNTHROID as a single dose, preferably on an empty stomach, one-half to one hour before breakfast. Your body's ability to absorb SYNTHROID is improved when you take it on an empty stomach.
Tell your doctor if you develop any of the following symptoms: rapid or abnormal heartbeat, chest pain, difficulty catching breath, leg cramps, headache, feeling nervous, irritability, sleeplessness, shaking, change in appetite, weight gain or loss, throwing up, diarrhea, increased sweating, unable to tolerate heat, fever, changes in menstrual periods, swollen red bumps on the skin or skin rash, or any other unusual medical event.
Tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking SYNTHROID before any surgery.
Once your body's response to SYNTHROID has stabilized, it is important to have lab tests done, as ordered by your doctor, at least once a year.

This is the most important safety information you should know about SYNTHROID. For more information, talk with your doctor.

Please click to see full Prescribing Information including Black Box Warning or visit: www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/synthroid.pdf

Synthroid is a prescription medication. For more information, visit www.synthroid.com

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

If you cannot afford your medication, contact http://www.pparx.org for assistance.

About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. Together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmacyclics, AbbVie employs more than 28,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. For further information on the company and its people, portfolio and commitments, please visit www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter or view careers on our Facebook or LinkedIn page.

Forward-Looking Statements
Some statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, challenges to intellectual property, competition from other products, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, and changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry. Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in AbbVie's 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.

^[i] Norman, James. "About Hypothyroidism." EndocrineWeb.com. http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/hypothyroidism-too-little-thyroid-hormone. Accessed February 23, 2015.
^[ii] SYNTHROID [package insert].
^[iii] American Thyroid Association. Hypothyroidism: A Booklet for Patients and Their Families. 2013; 4.

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SOURCE AbbVie