Contents
How Do Medications Affect Thyroid Function During Illness?
Published: Jul 30, 2024
Discover how certain medications can alter thyroid function tests during illness. This article will help you understand the potential impacts of common drugs on your thyroid.
Medications and Thyroid Hormones
Certain drugs used during hospitalization or illness can affect thyroid hormone levels. Medications like glucocorticoids, dopamine, and dobutamine can alter thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. These drugs might lead to low TSH levels, which can be mistaken for thyroid dysfunction.
Impact on Thyroid Function Tests
Drugs such as heparin and NSAIDs can interfere with thyroid function tests. These medications affect the proteins that bind thyroid hormones, leading to misleading test results. It's important for healthcare providers to consider these interactions when interpreting thyroid tests during illness.
Cytokines and Inflammation
Inflammation caused by cytokines can also impact thyroid function. Cytokines can reduce the production of thyroid-releasing hormone in the brain, leading to lower TSH levels. This effect complicates the interpretation of thyroid tests in sick patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Glucocorticoids, dopamine, and dobutamine can lower TSH levels.
Drugs like heparin and NSAIDs affect hormone-binding proteins, altering test results.
Yes, cytokines from inflammation can lower thyroid-releasing hormone production.
Wrapping Up
Are your medications affecting your thyroid tests during illness?
References
- Stockigt JR, Guidelines for diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid disease: nonthyroidal illness, Clin Chem 1996; 42:188.
- Moura Neto A, Zantut-Wittmann DE, Abnormalities of Thyroid Hormone Metabolism during Systemic Illness: The Low T3 Syndrome in Different Clinical Settings, Int J Endocrinol 2016; 2016:2157583.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic. Always discuss health information with your healthcare provider.
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