Research analyzing users of the drug levothyroxine indicates that those on the thyroid medication, especially those prescribed higher doses, experience an increased risk of fractures.
The study collected data from over 213,500 people, aged 70 and older, who filled at least one prescription for the drug. 10.4% of study participants suffered from at least one fracture during the course of the study, with current users and those who discontinued the drug less than 180 days before the start of the study had much high fracture rate than those who had stopped use of the drug more than 180 days prior.
Among current users, dosage made a big difference, with those on high or medium doses of levothyroxine much more likely to experience a fracture than those prescribed a low dosage. “Our findings provide evidence that levothyroxine treatment may increase the risk of fragility fractures in older people even at conventional dosages, suggesting that closer monitoring and modification of treatment targets may be warranted in this vulnerable population,” concluded Lorraine Lipscombe, a scientist at the Women’s College Research Institute in Toronto.
