Low TSH

[satyajeet1968]

I want to know what could be reason for low TSH to a level of 0.03

can this happen with medication

and is it reversible

[helvella Administrator]

Two main possibilities.

Your pituitary is producing the appropriate amount of TSH for the amount of thyroid hormone in your body. Your thyroid hormone levels could be high, or if you are taking a medicine containing T3, that can lead to low TSH.

Your pituitary is not producing as much TSH as would be expected.

Or the TSH test is not returning the appropriate result due to interference of some sort. For example, taking high doses of biotin in the days leading up to the blood draw.

[avocadopeardrops in reply to helvella]

Helvella

Please can you advise me which medicines may contain T3 without our knowing it, if you see what I mean. Thank you.

[helvella Administrator in reply to avocadopeardrops]

Not really!

The only medicines that contain appreciable T3 are liothyronine (that is, T3), desiccated thyroid and some synthetic combination medicines.

[avocadopeardrops in reply to helvella]

Phew ! hanks.

Had me worried there! I know that phenytoin can suppress the tsh .

[Clutter]

Satyajeet1968,

You could be becoming hyperthyroid or if you are taking Levothyroxine the dose you are taking can suppress TSH. Some medicines can cause low TSH.

[radd]

satyajeet,

Welcome to our forum.

Medicating thyroid hormone can suppress the TSH level as the pituitary senses enough thyroid hormone and reduces TSH output but a problem with the hypothalamus (gland in the brain) releasing TRH to encourage secretion of TSH, may also reduce levels.

Remember TSH represents only the brain’s need for thyroid hormone so also problems in the nervous & immune system and nutritional status can all affect thyroid signaling. This is known as non-thyroidal illness, when there is nothing wrong with the thyroid gland itself but the TSH signal can still be affected.

And of course what helvella mentions above, re the supplementation of Biotin that can alter the TSH test results.

Are you medicating ? Have you got recent thyroid hormone test results, complete with ranges (numbers in brackets) to post for members comment ? ? ..