Most people who take antithyroid medicines do not experience any side-effects. The side-effects that most commonly occur are: Rash
Full Answer
Do thyroid medications have any side effects?
Most medications have at least one or two side effects, while many have a daunting list. Ahead, some of the side effects of the three different drug treatment options for an underactive thyroid. Note that many different brands manufacture synthetic thyroid replacement hormones.
What are the different types of thyroid agents?
Thyroid agents include thyroid hormones (T 3, T 4, TSH)and antithyroid drugs ( further classified as thioamides and iodine solution). Here is a table of commonly encountered thyroid agents, their generic names, and brand names:
What is the function of thyroid medication?
The thyroid gland uses iodine to produce thyroid hormones that regulate body metabolism. Thyroid agents either replace or remove hormones to prevent deficiency and excess. Thyroid agents include thyroid hormones (T 3, T 4, TSH)and antithyroid drugs ( further classified as thioamides and iodine solution).
Should you take thyroid hormone replacement medication?
If you have a thyroid disorder, your doctor may prescribe thyroid hormone replacement medication as part of your treatment plan. While it can make a world of difference in your symptoms, thyroid medication can also cause side effects.
What are the side effects of thyroid medication?
The main risk of thyroid medicine is if you take too much of it, you can get symptoms of an overactive thyroid, like:Fast heartbeat.Sensitivity to heat.Hunger.Nervousness and anxiety.Shakiness.Sweating.Thin skin and brittle hair.Tiredness.More items...•
What are the side effects of PTU?
Propylthiouracil may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:hair loss.difficulty tasting food.numbness, burning, or tingling of the hands or feet.joint or muscle pain.dizziness.swelling of the neck.
What are serious side effects of levothyroxine?
Serious side effectsHeart attack. Symptoms can include: chest pain. shortness of breath. discomfort in your upper body.Heart failure. Symptoms can include: shortness of breath. extreme tiredness. swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet. unexpected weight gain.Very fast heart rate.Irregular heart rhythm.
What are the side effects of too much Armour thyroid?
What Are Side Effects of Armour Thyroid?allergic reactions.severe dizziness,trouble breathing),increased sweating,sensitivity to heat,mental/mood changes (nervousness, mood swings),tiredness,diarrhea,More items...
What are the adverse effects of PTU and methimazole?
Both methimazole and propylthiouracil can cause itching, rash, hives, joint pain and swelling, fever, changes in taste, nausea, and vomiting. If one antithyroid drug causes side effects, switching to the other drug may be helpful.
What is the most serious potential adverse effect of propylthiouracil?
Nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress, headache, fever, arthralgia, pruritus, edema, and pancytopenia. Agranulocytosis is the most serious effect. Rarely, exfoliative dermatitis, hepatitis, neuropathies or CNS stimulation or depression may occur.
Is dizziness a side effect of levothyroxine?
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects.
What happens when you take too much thyroid medication?
Symptoms of overmedication can include anxiety, diarrhea, depression, elevated heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, being overheated, and unprompted or unintentional weight loss.
What are the side effects of too much thyroid medication in dogs?
Acute overdose:Vomiting.Diarrhoea.Hyperactivity or lethargy.Increased heart rate (tachycardia)Increased breathing rate (tachypnoea)Difficulty breathing (dyspnoea)Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)Tremors.More items...
Can thyroid medication affect blood pressure?
Thyroid hormone therapy decreases aortic stiffness, promoting decreased blood pressure in about 50 percent of these patients.
What happens if your thyroid is not working properly?
Known as hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid may lead to: Thinning hair. Abnormal cold sensitivity. Thin blood.
What is the role of the thyroid gland?
The thyroid produces hormones that play a critical role in regulating our body’s metabolism, fertility, growth, nervous system, and other functions that directly determine our health and quality of life. When a thyroid fails to function properly, especially when it is underactive, serious health effects can occur. One of the common, evidence-based approaches to treating ...
What is the primary hormone that is replaced by thyroid hormone?
The primary hormone replaced through these therapies is thyroxine (T4), which can be delivered in pill form.
What are the three hormones that regulate metabolism?
It creates and secretes several hormones, with the most noteworthy being: Calcitonin. Triiodothyronine, (T3) Tetraiodothyronine, (T4) Hormones play an indispensable role in our health, regulating critical functions such as metabolism, fertility, and growth. The hormones T3 and T4 control the basal metabolic rate.
Can hypothyroidism be treated with thyroid hormone?
Despite its aforementioned side effects, many weigh the health effects of hypothyroidism and choose to undergo thyroid hormone replacement therapy. This therapy includes taking synthetic thyroid hormones that work in conjunction with:
Can thyroid hormone replacement cause depression?
Depression. Those who qualify for thyroid hormone replacement therapy often weigh these short-term effects of hypothyroidism and choose to accept the potential side effects that sometimes arise from thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
What is the sign of a taxed cardiovascular system?
A slowed heart rate, which may be a sign of a taxed cardiovascular system. Anemia, which is an abnormally low amount of red blood cells. Diminished hearing or complete hearing loss. These effects vary in their seriousness, but none of them are desirable.
What are the contraindications and cautions for the use of thyroid hormones?
Contraindications and Cautions. The following are contraindications and cautions for the use of thyroid hormones: Allergy to any component of the drug. To prevent hypersensitivity reactions. Acute thyrotoxicosis (unless used in conjunction with antithyroid drugs). Can be exacerbated by the drugs.
Which drugs block the formation of thyroid hormones?
This include thioamides and iodide solutions . These groups of drugs are not chemically related but they both block the formation of thyroid hormones within the thyroid gland.
What is the most common type of thyroid dysfunction?
Hypothyroidism is a lack of sufficient levels of thyroid hormones to maintain a normal metabolism. This is the most common type of thyroid dysfunction and is common among older women and men. Symptoms include obesity and fatigue, among others.
What is the purpose of thioamides?
Thioamides lower thyroid hormones by preventing the formation of thyroid hormone in the thyroid cells. They also partially inhibit the conversion of T 4 to T 3 at cellular level. Thioamides include propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole.
What are the indications for thyroid hormones?
Thyroid hormones are indicated for the following medical conditions: Replacement hormone for hypothyroid states like myxedema coma, goiters, and thyroid cancer. Treatment for thyroid toxicity in conjunction with antithyroid drugs. Treatment for thyroid overstimulation during pregnancy.
What hormones are made available to replace the low or absent levels of natural thyroid hormone?
Thyroid Hormones. Thyroid hormones are made available to replace the low or absent levels of natural thyroid hormone and suppress the overproduction of TSH by the pituitary. These can contain both natural and synthetic thyroid hormone.
What is thyroid dysfunction?
Thyroid dysfunction involves either under activity ( hypothyroidism) or overactivity ( hyperthyroidism ). This can affect any age group. Hypothyroidism is a lack of sufficient levels of thyroid hormones to maintain a normal metabolism.
What is the purpose of antithyroid drugs?
Antithyroid agents are a class of drugs used to treat an overactive thyroid gland caused by hyperthyroidism (when the thyroid gland produces more thyroid hormones than the body needs) and Graves’ disease (an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones) and prepare the thyroid g land for surgical removal.
What is the term for overactive thyroid?
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine and the symptoms include:
What hormones regulate weight?
The hypothalamus releases thyrotropin -releasing hormone (TRH), which stimulates the pituitary gland to release thyroid-stimulating hormone ( TSH ). When the hypothalamus and pituitary are working normally, they sense when:
What hormones are produced by antithyroid drugs?
Antithyroid drugs decrease the levels of two hormones produced by the thyroid gland (located at the front of the neck )-- thyroxine ( T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) , which are formed by combining iodine (from food ) and a protein called “ thyroglobulin ” with the assistance of an enzyme called “peroxidase.”
How does antithyroid work?
Antithyroid agents work by inhibiting or suppressing the synthesis of thyroid hormones or decreasing thyroid hormone activity. They are also indicated for use in the radioactive iodine uptake test to evaluate thyroid function and protect the thyroid gland in a radiation exposure emergency.
What hormones are secreted by thyroid glands?
thyroid hormone levels are low, so they secrete more TRH and TSH, stimulating the thyroid to make more hormones.
What hormones are suppressed by a syringe?
They suppress the excessive production of the thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and decrease their activity.
What is competitive inhibition of the iodide transport mechanism?
Competitive inhibition of the iodide transport mechanism (block uptake of iodide by the gland)
Can you give methimazole during the first trimester?
Methimazole (teratogen; do NOT give during 1st trimester):
Why do thyroid hormone replacements need to be increased?
Thyroid hormone replacement drugs change the effectiveness of insulin and other drugs for diabetes , and often these drugs need to be increased to prevent high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). Patients with diabetes and hypothyroidism should be taught to check blood glucose levels more frequently.
How much levothyroxine is prescribed?
A patient is prescribed levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid) 25 mcg orally once a day. The pharmacy sends liothyronine sodium (Cytomel) 25 mcg. What is your best action?
What is the normal level of T3?
The normal level for T3 (triiodothyronine) ranges between 70 and 205 ng/dL.
What is the most common source of iodine?
The most common dietary sources of iodine are saltwater fish and table salt to which iodide is added.
Does thyroid medication increase heart rate?
The side effects and adverse effects of thyroid hormone replacement drugs increase metabolic rate and cardiac activity. Checking heart rate and rhythm before giving the drug provides a baseline to determine whether or not the drug is working correctly or is causing an overdose effect.
Can thyroiditis be cured with antibiotics?
c. "The thyroiditis will be cured with antibiotics and then you will no longer need the thyroid replacement drugs."
Can underproduction of hormones cause high blood pressure?
a. When underproduced, these hormones can lead to high blood pressure and stroke.
Disease Spotlight: Thyroid Dysfunction
- Thyroid dysfunction involves either under activity (hypothyroidism) or overactivity (hyperthyroidism). This can affect any age group.
- Hypothyroidism is a lack of sufficient levels of thyroid hormones to maintain a normal metabolism. This is the most common type of thyroid dysfunction and is common among older women and men. Sympt...
- Thyroid dysfunction involves either under activity (hypothyroidism) or overactivity (hyperthyroidism). This can affect any age group.
- Hypothyroidism is a lack of sufficient levels of thyroid hormones to maintain a normal metabolism. This is the most common type of thyroid dysfunction and is common among older women and men. Sympt...
- Cretinism is a condition in children who are born without a thyroid gland or who have a nonfunctioning gland. This can lead to poor growth and development as well as mental retardation.
- Hyperthyroidism occurs when excessive amounts of thyroid hormones are produced and released into circulation. Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid Hormones
- Thyroid hormones are made available to replace the low or absent levels of natural thyroid hormone and suppress the overproduction of TSH by the pituitary.
- These can contain both natural and synthetic thyroid hormone.
Antithyroid Agents
- Antithyroid agents are drugs used to block the production of thyroid hormone and treat hyperthyroidism.
- This include thioamides and iodide solutions. These groups of drugs are not chemically related but they both block the formation of thyroid hormones within the thyroid gland.
Practice Quiz: Thyroid Agents
- Here are some practice questions for this study guide. Please visit our nursing test bank page for more NCLEX practice questions. 1. This is the most common type of thyroid dysfunction. A. Cretinism B. Myxedema coma C. Hyperthyroidism D. Hypothyroidism 1. Answer: D. Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is a lack of sufficient levels of thyroid hormones to maintain …
Recommended Resources
- Recommended resources and reference books. Disclosure: Includes Amazon affiliate links. 1. Focus on Nursing Pharmacology– Easy to follow guide for Pharmacology 2. NCLEX-RN Drug Guide: 300 Medications You Need to Know for the Exam– Great if you’re reviewing for the NCLEX 3. Nursing 2017 Drug Handbook (Nursing Drug Handbook)– Reliable nursing drug handbook! 4. …
See Also
- Here are other nursing pharmacology study guides: 1. Nursing Pharmacology – Study Guide for Nurses Gastrointestinal System Drugs 1. Antacids 2. Histamine-2 Antagonists 3. Proton Pump Inhibitors Respiratory System Drugs 1. Antihistamines 2. Bronchodilators and Antiasthmatics 3. Decongestants 4. Expectorants and Mucolytics 5. Inhaled Steroids 6. Lung Surfactants Endocrin…
References and Sources
- References and sources for this pharmacology guide for Thyroid agents: 1. Karch, A. M., & Karch. (2011). Focus on nursing pharmacology. Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. [Link] 2. Katzung, B. G. (2017). Basic and clinical pharmacology. McGraw-Hill Education. 3. Lehne, R. A., Moore, L. A., Crosby, L. J., & Hamilton, D. B. (2004). Pharmacology for nursing care. 4. Sme…