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Question: My mother had a thyroidectomy many years ago and has been on Levothroxine since. She was hospitalized on September 26 for behavioral disturbances. They mistakenly stopped the medication. Her TSH is now 327.
Medication has been restarted. Will she have permanent damage from going without the medication for more than three months?
Medication has been restarted. Will she have permanent damage from going without the medication for more than three months?
Brief Answer:
No
Detailed Answer:
There is no published medical evidence to the best of my knowledge, that inadvertent stoppage of levo thyroxine for 3 months resulting in TSH of 327 causes permanent damage.
It is obviously good however that the error was caught in time before she developed a now-uncommon complication of untreated hypothyroidism (an under active thyroid) called Myxedema coma. This is a serious condition that occurs due to severe deficiency of thyroid hormones in the body.
Having restarted the medication, it is important to check blood levels of thyroid hormone to ensure adequate replacement. I generally test for TSH and free T4. This does not require fasting and can be done at any time.
No
Detailed Answer:
There is no published medical evidence to the best of my knowledge, that inadvertent stoppage of levo thyroxine for 3 months resulting in TSH of 327 causes permanent damage.
It is obviously good however that the error was caught in time before she developed a now-uncommon complication of untreated hypothyroidism (an under active thyroid) called Myxedema coma. This is a serious condition that occurs due to severe deficiency of thyroid hormones in the body.
Having restarted the medication, it is important to check blood levels of thyroid hormone to ensure adequate replacement. I generally test for TSH and free T4. This does not require fasting and can be done at any time.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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