Medicine Section

THYROID HORMONES

1. How is it toxic?
• Thyroid hormones are used to treat hypothyroidism in animals and people, is avialable as desiccated thyroid (Natural) and levothyroxine (synthetic) derivatives
• The liver and kidneys can act as buffers by releasing small or large amounts of hormones, depending on what the body needs, back into the plasma.
• In an overdose situation, these buffer organs can concentrate the extra hormone and not release the already stored hormone.
2. What happens? and How will you mange?
• 0.2 mg/kg levothyroxine - mild signs
• 1 mg/kg or more - need treatment
• Hyperactivity and tachycardia are the most common signs
• Manage by the following steps:
• Initiate gastric decontamination
• Monitor the patients' ECGs, blood pressures, and serum T4 concentrations.
• Diazepam can be given to control hyperactivity
• Beta-blockers can be given to control tachycardia