Lithium & Overactive Thyroid

The human body sometimes does things that can create symptoms that are difficult for many people to cope with. Despite rigorous research, medical scientists sometimes struggle to determine what the cause is of a particular medical ailment. In the case of the overactive thyroid, which destabilizes the mood and causes other medical problems like heart damage, physicians search for different remedies and cures. One method of treating an overactive thyroid is the use of radioactive Iodine therapy in combination with lithium.

Thyroid

• The thyroid gland makes, stores and releases hormones that are used to regulate the heart, blood pressure, body temperature and metabolism, according to Medicine.net. Every part of the human body needs these thyroid hormones. This gland wraps around the trachea and is below the Adam ’s apple. The element most frequently used to make the hormones produced by the thyroid gland is iodine.

Lithium

• Lithium blocks the release of iodine and thyroid hormones released from the thyroid, according to the University of Pisa. How this works is not known to physicians. One theory is that the lithium interacts with atoms in the neurons and prevents the sodium pumps from operating as efficiently, which causes the body to use less sodium. This function can control effects such as mania and excitation. Dehydration is possible when taking lithium, so patients should drink plenty of water. Lithium should only be taken in recommended doses, with overdoses leading to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, muscle weakness, tremor, lack of coordination, blurred vision, and/or ringing in the ears. Lithium can lead to excessive thirst, weakness, restlessness, pain, light headedness, hallucinations, fever, tremors, nausea, thinning hair and itching skin.

Treatment

• Lithium is prescribed for patients with severely hyperactive thyroids, usually when the patient has Grave’s Disease. Lithium increases the effectiveness of radioactive iodine treatment, according to MyThyroid.com. This lithium must be used in the short term.

Grave's Disease

• Grave’s disease is a condition in which the human body attacks the thyroid gland, causing the thyroid gland to release thyroxine. When the thyroid gland becomes overactive, it can affect the patient’s mood and physical appearance. While Grave’s disease cannot be stopped, treatments can control the release of thyroxine, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Alternatives

• Grave’s disease is also treated with beta blockers, anti-thyroid medications and surgery. Since Grave’s disease is not a life-threatening disease, some patients choose to cope with the symptoms instead of treating it. However, Grave’s disease can lead to problems with the eyes, the heart and the bones.