LymeNet Flash: thyroid meds and ketek

This is topic thyroid meds and ketek in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Judith16 (Member # 4424) on :

Hi,

Has anyone had experience with Ketek interfering with the metabolism of their thyroid medication? I know this drug interacts with a lot of drugs and does affect the liver. My thyroid tests have changed over the last 3 months and the only thing different is the Ketek.

I asked my pharmacist, but he said there is nothing documented about this.

Thanks.

Judith

Posted by sweet pea (Member # 6495) on :

Judith,

I have been hypothyroid since 1991, and have always controlled it easily. After taking abx for about 9 months, I started on ketek. Within a couple of weeks I felt extra sluggish and gained some weight. This continued after stopping the ketek. Turned out my thyroid was messed up again. I too wondered if it was the ketek. Have been taking a higher dose of synthroid now, and lost weight and am slightly less tired. But I don't know how you'll do if change your thyroid med dose and continue taking ketek. Has your LLMD considered switching you to different abx?

Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :

I'm slightly hypo and my thryoid levels have maintained with 8 months on Ketek.

Perhaps it's that the Ketek is actually working, and as part of the herx the Lyme is impacting the thyroid? Just as other symptoms increase in a herx, could thryoid?

Posted by lla2 (Member # 2364) on :

I think it's the lyme that 's changing your thyroid and messing with the hormones..mine changed bigtime and I wasn't even on ketek at all...but I went from .137 to .150 of levoxyl,a nd I had been the same for 20 years!

Lisa

Posted by Judith16 (Member # 4424) on :

Hi,

Thank you for all the replies. I should have added that I do not have a thyroid. I had to have a thryoidectomy in 2002. I have maintained a good level of Free T3 and Free T4 for almost a year now. I have monthly blood tests and the last 2 months showed a drop in these levels.

It just dawned on me last night if it might be the Ketek. I was changed to Ketek from Zithromax because I broke through on the Zithromax.

I will be having a repeat bood test next week so will see if things are the same. I was just wondering if anyone had noticed there lab function tests changing with this drug.

Judith

Posted by Judith16 (Member # 4424) on :

Hi,

This message might appear twice because I responded to this post, it went to the top but my message did not appear.....strange.

Anyway, I do not have a thyroid. I had a thyroidectomy in 2002. I have maintained a stable Free T3 and Free T4 for the last year until my last 2 blood tests. I showed a large decrease on both.

It was not until last night that it dawned on me that the only thing that has changed is the Ketek. I was changed from Zithro to Ketek about 3 months ago.

So I was wondering if anyone had noticed a problem with their thyroid meds while on this drug.

Thanks for all your replies.

Judith

Posted by sweet pea (Member # 6495) on :

Maybe Lisa is right, maybe our thyroids were affected by the Lyme, not by taking ketek. My adrenal glands were severely compromised a few months before my thyroid was affected. The physical stress of the Lyme and all the meds took their toll on my adrenal glands, which could have affected my thyroid.

Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :

My doctor explained to me that thyroid antibodies could sit on the receptors for throid hormones, blocking the effectiveness. I know that other antibodies and also inflammatory hormones are suspected of doing the same thing.

If the Ketek or any other treatment changes those levels, it could easily change your need for thyroid hormone. My LLMD says he often finds people in treatment have their thyroid levels swing up and down.

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