Can excessive thyroid medication given to hypothyroid sufferers cause hyperthyroidism?
As you know if you have read my other columns, finding the proper dose of medications for hypothyroidism (an underfunctioning thyroid) is not an exact science. In fact, the dosages prescribed may sometimes be so strong that they cause the thyroid to become hyperthyroid. In such a case, your doctor should reduce the dosage of your medication until the thyroid hormone in your system is back at normal levels. What about iodine as a cause of hyperthyroidism? Iodine is used by the thyroid gland to make thyroid hormones. Too much iodine can result in hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism caused by an excess of iodine is usually characterized by an abnormal thyroid gland – as in a gland with goiters or a multinodular goiter. Iodine excess can be caused by certain medications that contain larger amounts on iodine. An example is amiodarone – a heart medicine. What is thyroiditis and how is it a cause of hyperthyroidism? Thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid gland. It generally occurs after a vi
