Goiter Medication

  • Author: James R Mulinda, MD, FACP, FACE; Chief Editor: George T Griffing, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 19, 2011
 

Medication Summary

The goals of pharmacotherapy are to reduce morbidity and to prevent complications.

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Thyroid hormone replacements

Class Summary

Benign goiters can be treated with thyroid hormone. The most widely used thyroid hormone is levothyroxine sodium, administered once a day. Liothyronine sodium requires more frequent administration. Desiccated thyroid powder, thyroglobulin, and liotrix are less predictable following ingestion.

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Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid)

 

Synthetic thyroxine is converted to the active form, triiodothyronine, in the pituitary by 5'-deiodinase. Inhibits production of thyrotropin, which is the main growth factor for the thyroid gland.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

James R Mulinda, MD, FACP, FACE  Consulting Staff, Department of Endocrinology, Endocrinology Associates, Inc

James R Mulinda, MD, FACP, FACE is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Steven R Gambert, MD, MACP  Chairman, Department of Medicine, Physician-in-Chief, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore; Professor of Medicine, Program Director, Internal Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Steven R Gambert, MD, MACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American Geriatrics Society, Association of Professors of Medicine, Endocrine Society, and Gerontological Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Kent Wehmeier, MD  Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, St Louis University School of Medicine

Kent Wehmeier, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Hypertension, Endocrine Society, and International Society for Clinical Densitometry

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mark Cooper, MBBS, PhD, FRACP  Head, Diabetes & Metabolism Division, Baker Heart Research Institute, Professor of Medicine, Monash University

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

George T Griffing, MD  Professor of Medicine, St Louis University School of Medicine

George T Griffing, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Medical Practice Executives, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American Diabetes Association, American Federation for Medical Research, American Heart Association, Central Society for Clinical Research, Endocrine Society, International Society for Clinical Densitometry, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  9. Bardin CW. Endemic goiter. In: Current Therapy in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 6th ed. Mosby-Year Book; 1997:101-112.

  10. Becker KL, Bilezikian JP, Bremner WJ. Nontoxic goiter. In: Principles and Practice of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2nd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1995:338-345.

  11. Bostanci I, Sarioglu A, Ergin H, Aksit A, Cinbis M, Akalin N. Neonatal goiter caused by expectorant usage. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. Sep-Oct 2001;14(8):1161-2. [Medline].

  12. Braverman LE, Utiger RD. Thyroid diseases: nontoxic diffuse and multinodular goiter. In: Werner and Ingbar, eds. The Thyroid: A Fundamental and Clinical Text. 7th ed. Lippincott-Raven; 1996:889-900.

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  14. Romanchishen AF, Iakovlev PN. [Special surgical treatment of patients with nodular tumors of the thyroid gland against the background of diffuse toxic goiter]. Vestn Khir Im I I Grek. 2005;164(1):21-4. [Medline].

  15. Sawin CT, Geller A, Wolf PA, et al. Low serum thyrotropin concentrations as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation in older persons. N Engl J Med. Nov 10 1994;331(19):1249-52. [Medline].

  16. Schumm-Draeger PM. [Every third German has a sick thyroid gland. Nodules and goiter are a challenge that needs to be met]. MMW Fortschr Med. Feb 5 2004;146(6):20. [Medline].

  17. Thompson L. Dyshormonogenetic goiter of the thyroid gland. Ear Nose Throat J. Apr 2005;84(4):200. [Medline].

  18. Vetshev PS, Chilingaridi KE, Bannyi DA, Dmitriev EE. [Repeated surgeries on the thyroid gland in nodular euthyroid goiter]. Khirurgiia (Mosk). 2004;37-40. [Medline].

  19. Wilson JD, Foster DW. The thyroid gland. In: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 8th ed. Harcourt Brace & Co; 1992:463-465.

 
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Patient with a goiter. Prominent side-view outline.
Thyroid nuclear scan of a patient with a euthyroid goiter showing different projections.
 
 
 
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