All articles tagged with #thyroid medication
The FDA issued a Class II recall for certain levothyroxine sodium tablets used to treat hypothyroidism after tests found subpotent levels of the active ingredient, potentially reducing effectiveness. Major Pharmaceuticals and Cardinal Health distributed twelve recalled dosages nationwide in cartons; the recall covered multiple lots, but the total quantity was not disclosed.
A study presented at the Radiological Society of North America suggests that levothyroxine, a common thyroid medication, may lead to reduced bone mass and density in older adults with normal thyroid levels. Conducted by Johns Hopkins University researchers, the study involved 81 participants over 65 and found bone loss over a 6-year period. This raises concerns about the potential overprescription of levothyroxine and its side effects, including increased osteoporosis risk, in older adults.
Overmedication with levothyroxine, a medication for an underactive thyroid, may be linked to an increased risk of dementia, according to a recent study. The study found that patients taking an excessively high dose of levothyroxine had a higher likelihood of receiving a new cognitive disorder diagnosis. Endocrinologists are calling for more research and recommend checking TSH levels every year, especially in older patients, to determine if the dose of thyroid medication should be adjusted or stopped. Taking too much thyroid medication can also lead to other health risks such as atrial fibrillation and fractures.