Question

What is a thyroid storm (symptoms)?Why does that patent need to be hospitalized

Would you need to call the provider and/or hold synthroid?

Answer 1

Thyroid storm is an acute fatal condition where excess of thyroid hormone is released in the blood usually precipitated by thyrotoxicosis. It is a hypermetabolic state characterised by extremely high levels of hyperthermia, tachycardia, hypertension which may lead to heart failure, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, agitation, delirium, seizures and coma.

Thyroid storm is an emergency condition that requires immediate treatment otherwise the condition can prove fatal. The hypermetabolic state leads to overload which causes heart failure. Neurological degradation can lead to seizures and coma.

The condition needs immediate medical support and thus one needs to call healthcare provider. There is already enough thyroid hormone in the blood and synthyroid which is a thyroid supplement will increase thyroid levels in blood further more which will worsen the condition. Thus synthyroid needs to be stopped immediately.