What is it about?
1,246 patients on the hypothyroid registers of local GP practices were studied. Less than half were found to have documented biochemical evidence of hypothyroidism. From notes review, of those without documented hypothyroidism, at least two thirds appeared to have been prescribed thyroxine outwith current guidance and there was evidence of improvement in symptoms in less than 25%.
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Why is it important?
Thyroxine is commonly prescribed and replacement requires routine monitoring which has implications for Primary Care, laboratory services and Pharmacists. Nationwide this has a considerable resource implication. Whilst generally a safe drug there may be adverse effects from excessive dosage.
Perspectives
I hope this article causes people to question the clinical indications of prescribing thyroxine and to think about the resource implications of prescribing thyroxine replacement
Ruth Ayling
Barts Health NHS Trust
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Appropriateness of prescribing thyroxine in primary care, Annals of Clinical Biochemistry International Journal of Laboratory Medicine, January 2015, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0004563214568686.
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