Drug Effects on the Thyroid

This review article explores the diverse mechanisms by which medications can adversely affect thyroid function or interfere with thyroid laboratory testing. It covers drugs that disrupt hypothalamic-pituitary control, impair thyroid hormone synthesis or release, enhance thyroid autoimmunity, cause direct thyroid damage, or alter protein binding and metabolism of thyroid hormones. The article also highlights drugs that interfere with thyroid hormone therapy and those that produce spurious thyroid test results in euthyroid individuals. Clinically relevant interactions are emphasized, along with strategies to distinguish artifactual lab results from true thyroid dysfunction. The review underscores the importance of recognizing these drug-induced effects to avoid unnecessary diagnostic or therapeutic interventions.

This review article explores the diverse mechanisms by which medications can adversely affect thyroid function or interfere with thyroid laboratory testing. It covers drugs that disrupt hypothalamic-pituitary control, impair thyroid hormone synthesis or release, enhance thyroid autoimmunity, cause direct thyroid damage, or alter protein binding and metabolism of thyroid hormones. The article also highlights drugs that interfere with thyroid hormone therapy and those that produce spurious thyroid test results in euthyroid individuals. Clinically relevant interactions are emphasized, along with strategies to distinguish artifactual lab results from true thyroid dysfunction. The review underscores the importance of recognizing these drug-induced effects to avoid unnecessary diagnostic or therapeutic interventions.