The red cell.

There is no general agreement about the best therapy of myxoedema coma. It is common practice to give thyroxine in doses of 0 05 mg daily by mouth combined with triiodothyronine 20 Fg twice daily by intramuscular injection together with hydrocortisone hemisuccinate 50 mg twice daily (in case of adrenal failure). Assisted respiration may be required if there is carbon-dioxide retention or hypoxaemia. Infections, cardiac failure, or arrhythmias should be treated vigorously and cardiac monitoring is desirable. The body temperature should be slowly raised -to normal, using a "space blanket" and heating pads if necessary, in a warm room.