Thyroid Drugs May Increase Risk for Fractures

According to a Health Day News article, seniors may be at increased risk for fractures because they take "excessive" doses of drugs used to treat thyroid problems. It suggests that regular dose monitoring of thyroid drugs is essential into older age.

Researchers examined the link between fractures and levothyroxine, widely used to treat an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).

• Many patients with hypothyroidism are diagnosed in early or middle adulthood but remain on the same drug dose as they age.
   
• This can lead to excess levels of thyroid hormone, which increases the risk of fractures, especially in older women.

They analyzed data from over 213,500 patients, aged 70 or older who filled at least one prescription for levothyroxine during the study period. More than 22,000 (10.4 percent) of the patients suffered at least one fracture.

• So check with your physician about your dosage if you are using this medication. 

Medication management and cross-management of medications is so important. My mom recently had an operation in which she may not have survived. She survived and thrived. However, he recuperation has been hindered by a cocktail of medications, all of which interact and cause other medical problems.