Skip to main content

Amiodarone induced thyroid dysfunction management.

Amiodarone has high iodine content, because of the high iodine content it may affect the thyroid gland.
It can either cause hypothyroidism or thyrotoxicosis.
Approximately 1 out of every 6 patients who are using amiodarone develops thyroid dysfunction.

1. Amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism (AIH). 

If a patient's TSH is high and Free T4 is low, it means the patient has developed hypothyroidism. In this situation, start thyroxine and if possible amiodarone should be stopped, but it is not necessary, if the patient still has symptoms such as ventricular tachycardia or arrhythmias then you may continue amiodarone, just add thyroxine and monitor thyroid function every 6 weeks first then maybe after 3 months or 6 months, depending on the clinical scenario.

2. Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (Hyperthyroidism). 

If the patient has developed hyperthyroidism, then it is advised to stop amiodarone and start an anti-thyroid drug such as carbimazole, if it is type 1 amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis, in type 1 AIT, there is an excess production of thyroid hormone due to excess of iodine. If FNAC or biopsy reveals AIT type 2, in which there is amiodarone-induced destructive thyroiditis, in this condition corticosteroids is the treatment.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Human Parasites, Types of Parasites, and Classification

Parasite: A parasite is a living organism which gets nutrition and protection from another organism where it lives. Parasites enter into the human body through mouth, skin and genitalia. In this article, we will generally discuss the types and classification of parasites. It is important from an academic point of view. Those parasites are harmful, which derives their nutrition and other benefits from the host and host get nothing in return but suffers from some injury. Types of Parasites Ecto-parasite: An ectoparasite lives outside on the surface of the body of the host. Endo-parasite: An endo-parasite lives inside the body of the host, it lives in the blood, tissues, body cavities, digestive tract or other organs. Temporary parasite: A temporary parasite visits its host for a short period of time. Permanent parasite: Permanent parasite lives its whole life in the host. Facultative parasite: A facultative parasite can live both independently and dependently. It lives in the

How to taper off, wean off beta blocker, atenolol, Propranolol, Metoprolol

Beta blockers include, atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal ) and metoprolol (Lopressor) and are used to treat high blood pressure, certain cardiac problems, migraine and few other conditions. People usually take atenolol, propranolol or metoprolol for many years as a treatment of high blood pressure or after having an episode of heart attack . Sometimes, it becomes necessary to withdraw these beta blockers due to their potential side effects that trouble the patients or sometimes doctor wants to change the drug and shift the patient to some other anti-hypertensive medicine. No matter whatever the cause is, whenever, a patient who has been using a beta blocker for a long period of time, and he needs to be stopped from further usage of that beta blocker, must not stop taking it. One should taper off the dose of a beta blocker. Now a question arises how to wean off or taper off a beta blocker? The method of tapering off beta blocker varies from individual to individual. Allow you