Some meds such as lithium and amiodarone may lead to drug-induced hypothyroidism or low levels of thyroid hormones, according to available studies.
If you’re prescribed some of these meds, your healthcare provider may require blood work monitoring to be sure if the thyroid is affected or not.
Regular monitoring and levothyroxine may treat hypothyroidism that has been induced by medications. Hypothyroidism occurs when meds you’re taking for other conditions are reducing the activity of the thyroid gland.
If you’re worried that some of your meds could be reducing your thyroid gland functioning, keep reading to learn more. We’ll explore the most common meds associated with thyroid gland reduction in activity.
Why Do Some Meds Lead to Hypothyroidism?
Our thyroid gland needs iodine in order to produce two chemicals, i.e., T3 and T4 hormones. These hormones are essential for the body because they participate in pivotal bodily processes like the maintenance of optimal temperature, metabolism, and heart rate.
When the pituitary gland which is near the thyroid gland releases the thyroid-stimulating hormone, the thyroid gland is informed to produce more T3 and T4 into the body.
In most cases, the meds that lead to hypothyroidism influence the thyroid-stimulating hormones, T3, and T4. Some of them are also associated with thyroiditis or inflammation of the gland. Excessive inflammation results in changes in the level of the above-mentioned hormones.
Below, check the eight most common meds that have been linked with hypothyroidism. Consult your physician if you’re worried about some of these meds leading to hypothyroidism.
