About Cold & Flu Remedies for Thyroid Patients. - Thyroid UK

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About Cold & Flu Remedies for Thyroid Patients.

Ellie-Louise profile image
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Here is another great article by Mary Shoman.

verywell.com/cough-cold-dec...

There is one thing that confuses me though, she says thyroid patients can use Aspirin, I remember reading somewhere once that we shouldn't take it at all. I can't remember where I saw it though.

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Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise
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humanbean profile image
humanbean

I remember reading somewhere once that we shouldn't take it at all

When you say "we", do you mean thyroid patients or people in general?

I know that Aspirin must not be given to children. But there are loads of older adults who are on Aspirin for blood thinning reasons.

The problem for children is the risk of something called Reye's Syndrome.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspir...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reye_...

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply to humanbean

I'm sorry, I mean us as thyroid patients. Not people in general.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Well, actually, Mary said that herself about 15 years ago! She must have had a change of heart. I remember clearly, because it was not long after I was diagnosed, and avidly reading all she had to say. And she said no more aspirin or Alka-Seltza, and I was heart-broken, because I practically lived on Alka-Seltza at the time. But, I've been very good, and not had a drop since then! However, if she's changing her mind, I'm off tomorrow to buy a box! lol

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply to greygoose

You could well turn into a white goose then. ;)

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK

Perhaps this abstract contributes to the discussion:

Am J Hematol. 1986 Dec;23(4):391-9.

Hemostatic defects in response to aspirin challenge in hypothyroidism.

Zeigler ZR, Hasiba U, Lewis JH, Vagnucci AH, West VA, Bezek EA.

Abstract

A patient with hypothyroidism had ingested aspirin and bled profusely following dental extraction. The only abnormalities noted on coagulation survey were a prolonged aspirin bleeding time and reduced retention of platelets on glass beads. Based on this index case, an additional 12 hypothyroid patients, on no medications, were evaluated for a mild bleeding disorder, including studies with aspirin challenge. The results indicate that thrombin-induced platelet serotonin release, following aspirin ingestion, was subnormal in most hypothyroid patients. However, only hypothyroid individuals with TSH levels of greater than 60 microU/ml have an increased hemostatic sensitivity to aspirin, as measured by the bleeding time test. These findings did not appear to result from decreased synthesis of the factor VIII-von Willebrand factor complex. As this drug is commonly ingested, the effects of aspirin on bleeding may explain the easy bruising and menorrhagia that occur in hypothyroid individuals.

PMID: 3788962

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/378...

Also this review article:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Don't miss that acquired von Willebrand's disease is another issue that can occur in hypothyroidism.

Spareribs profile image
Spareribs in reply to helvella

and "acquired von Willebrand's disease"

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/234...

bit confused about what the bleeding time was,

and B12 for bruising

J :D

PS I used to take Sudafed but it just seemed to make the cold last longer, then a chap at work went to hospital with a Sudafed overdose and unable to walk - put me off a bit really.

Treepie profile image
Treepie

"12 hypothyroid patients on no medications" , no levo etc?

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