Steroid Inhalers and thyroid levels

[pussycatwillow]

Does anyone know if steroid inhalers for asthma affect your thyroid levels.

I am undergoing investigation for breathlessness and consultant suspects it is late onset asthma.

Have been using an inhaler (Fostair) for 3 weeks which thankfully has improved symptoms.

However a recent Medichecks test shows very high T4.

T3 5.1 (3.1 - 6.8)

T4 30.3 (12 -22)

There was an error and they were unable to give TSH reading. I am awaiting a new test kit.

Last test with MMH early March

T3 3.3 (3.1 - 6.8)

T4 20.4 (12 - 22)

TSH 1.12 (0.27 - 4.2)

The latest T4 reading seems abnormally high. There has been no change in Levothyroxine medication and I don’t feel any different.

[humanbean]

Have you been tested for anaemia? It can be caused by low iron, low vitamin B12 or low folate, and can cause breathlessness.

People can also have deficiency of iron, B12, or folate with or without anaemia, and the deficiencies need treating even without anaemia.

Thyroid disease can also cause breathlessness.

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

irondisorders.org/symptoms/

Scroll down the page for the symptoms list : thatorganicmom.com/iron-def...

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

b12deficiency.info/folate-b...

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

[pussycatwillow in reply to humanbean]

Medichecks included the folate, ferritin and B12 tests. All seem fine.

Breathlessness has been going on for quite a long time. Had Covid last year, then was hospitalised in the Far East last October with acute bronchitis. I have never had bronchitis before. Consultant says late onset asthma can be caused by recent chest/lung infections!

T4 level has only risen since using the inhaler.

Although since Medichecks didn’t do the TSH, I am wondering if the test was faulty. Will redo blood sample next week.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

Hi, this is interesting, I ended up needing an inhaler when I was under-medicated, once my levels improved I had much fewer wheezy sessions. Low stomach acid also gave me silent reflux which made me wheeze in the night.

This was until I became a bit over medicated (FT4 27 same range as yours) which was a surprise, but I'd started T3 8 weeks before and my prescriber predicted this but told me not to reduce T4 for 12 weeks (advice from admins here is to reduce for a week before you add in T3). I've now dropped T4 by 25mcg and continued with T3 at 5 mcg and am feeling much more like me again, Again wheezing has gone away.

Had you taken your T4 Levo on the morning of the test? This can give you a higher reading.

It looks like you have T4 high and T3 low - if not down to testing timing and dosage it could be poor conversion of FT4 to FT3?

Might be worth dropping back the T4 and adding T3 in that case?

Could also be the time of the month you are testing, my last blood test was toward the end of my period and I realised this month that I feel overmedicated on those days... goes away a few days later.

I hope for you its passing, sending you my best wishes 🌱

[Gummybearx]

I have had asthma all my life and only diagnosed with Hashimotos after my second daughter 24 years later, tho suspect it was much earlier.I am off to the Thoracic specialist as my asthma is not great, but I am on the highest doses the gp can give me. I am taking Flutiform 250, Sprivia Respimat and Montelukast tablets.

My last thyroid tests were Tsh 0.02,T3 5.3 and T4 18. I am currently on 125mcg T4 and 10 of T3, as 4 years ago found that I was a poor converter.

I do know that I have read there is a link between thyroid and asthma. Maybe someone knows the article as I can't remember where I saw it, sorry.

I agree best to check all out.

I am mildly anaemic aswell but gp says it is stable., though they didn't test B12 which they should of done.

I am under the endo for my hashimotos, as gp says it's too complicated for them.

I hope that you find out what may be causing it and feel better soon. Take care

[Hidden]

To my knowledge there is no interaction with steroid inhalers for asthma and tT4 etc. I have been on steroid inhalers for 20 years and levothyroxine for 10 years with no ill effects. I would suggest GP checks thyroxine levels and not a kit. They are not always reliable.