BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuFactitious hyperthyroidismFactitious thyrotoxicosis; Thyrotoxicosis factitia; Thyrotoxicosis medicamentosa; Factitious hyperthyroxinemiaFactitious hyperthyroidism is higher-than-normal thyroid hormone levels in the blood and symptoms that suggest hyperthyroidism. It occurs from taking too much thyroid hormone medicine.Hyperthyroidism is also known as overactive thyroid. Causes The thyroid gland produces the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). In most cases of hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland itself produces too much of these hormones.HyperthyroidismHyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. The condition is often called overactive thyroid.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hyperthyroidism can also be caused by taking too much thyroid hormone medicine for hypothyroidism. This is called factitious hyperthyroidism. When this occurs because the prescribed dosage of hormone medicine is too high, it is called iatrogenic, or doctor-induced, hyperthyroidism. This is common. Sometimes this is intentional (for some patients with depression or thyroid cancer), but often this happens because the dose is not adjusted based on follow up blood tests.HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Factitious hyperthyroidism can also occur when someone takes too much thyroid hormone on purpose. This is very uncommon. These may be people:Who have mental disorders such as Munchausen syndrome Munchausen syndromeMunchausen syndrome by proxy is a mental illness and a form of child abuse. The caretaker of a child, most often a mother, either makes up fake symp...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Who are trying to lose weight Who are being treated for depression or infertilityChildren may take thyroid hormone pills accidentally. Symptoms The symptoms of factitious hyperthyroidism are the same as those of hyperthyroidism caused by a thyroid gland disorder, except that:There is no goiter. The thyroid gland is often small. GoiterA simple goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. It is usually not a tumor or cancer.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The eyes do not bulge, as they do in Graves disease (the most common type of hyperthyroidism). Graves diseaseGraves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The skin over the shins does not thicken, as it sometimes does in people who have Graves disease. Exams and Tests Blood tests used to diagnose factitious hyperthyroidism include:Free T4 Thyroglobulin Total T3 T3Triiodothyronine (T3) is a thyroid hormone. It plays an important role in the body's control of metabolism (the many processes that control the rate...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Total T4 T4T4 (thyroxine) is the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland. A laboratory test can be done to measure the amount of free T4 in your blood. Fre...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article TSHTSHA TSH test measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland. It prompts the thyroid g...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests that may be done include radioactive iodine uptake or thyroid ultrasound.Radioactive iodine uptakeRadioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) tests thyroid function. It measures how much radioactive iodine is taken up by your thyroid gland in a certain time...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Your health care provider will tell you to stop taking thyroid hormone. If you need to take it, your provider will reduce the dosage.You should be re-checked in 2 to 4 weeks to be sure that the signs and symptoms are gone. This also helps to confirm the diagnosis.People with Munchausen syndrome will need mental health treatment and follow-up. Outlook (Prognosis) Factitious hyperthyroidism will resolve on its own when you stop taking or lower the dosage of thyroid hormone. Possible Complications When factitious hyperthyroidism lasts a long time, the same complications as untreated or poorly treated hyperthyroidism may develop: Abnormal heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) Atrial fibrillationAtrial fibrillation (Afib) and atrial flutter are common types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) which affect the upper chambers (atria) of the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Anxiety Chest pain (angina) Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AnginaAngina is a type of chest discomfort or pain due to poor blood flow through the blood vessels (coronary vessels) of the heart muscle (myocardium). T...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Heart attack Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of bone mass (if severe, osteoporosis) OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weight loss Weight lossUnexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight, when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Many people gain and lose weight. Uninten...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Infertility Problems sleeping When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Prevention Thyroid hormone should be taken only by prescription and under the supervision of a provider. Regular blood tests are often needed to help your provider adjust the dose you are taking.Open ReferencesReferencesHollenberg A, Wiersinga WM. Hyperthyroid disorders. In: Melmed S, Auchus, RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 12.Kopp P. Autonomously functioning thyroid nodules and other causes of thyrotoxicosis. In: Jameson JL, De Groot LJ, de Kretser DM, et al, eds. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 85.AllVideoImagesTogThyroid gland - illustration The thyroid gland, a part of the endocrine (hormone) system, plays a major role in regulating the body's metabolism.Thyroid glandillustrationThyroid gland - illustration The thyroid gland, a part of the endocrine (hormone) system, plays a major role in regulating the body's metabolism.Thyroid glandillustrationRelated Information Hyperthyroidism(Condition)Hypothyroidism(Condition)Pulse - bounding(Symptoms)Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter(Condition)Chest pain(Symptoms)Angina(Condition)Heart attack(Condition)Osteoporosis(Condition)Weight loss - unintentional(Symptoms)Hypothyroidism - InDepth(In-Depth)Coronary artery disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Heart attack and acute coronary syndrome - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 4/29/2022 Reviewed By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. 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Factitious hyperthyroidismFactitious thyrotoxicosis; Thyrotoxicosis factitia; Thyrotoxicosis medicamentosa; Factitious hyperthyroxinemiaFactitious hyperthyroidism is higher-than-normal thyroid hormone levels in the blood and symptoms that suggest hyperthyroidism. It occurs from taking too much thyroid hormone medicine.Hyperthyroidism is also known as overactive thyroid. Causes The thyroid gland produces the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). In most cases of hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland itself produces too much of these hormones.HyperthyroidismHyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. The condition is often called overactive thyroid.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hyperthyroidism can also be caused by taking too much thyroid hormone medicine for hypothyroidism. This is called factitious hyperthyroidism. When this occurs because the prescribed dosage of hormone medicine is too high, it is called iatrogenic, or doctor-induced, hyperthyroidism. This is common. Sometimes this is intentional (for some patients with depression or thyroid cancer), but often this happens because the dose is not adjusted based on follow up blood tests.HypothyroidismHypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. This condition is often called underactive thyroid....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Factitious hyperthyroidism can also occur when someone takes too much thyroid hormone on purpose. This is very uncommon. These may be people:Who have mental disorders such as Munchausen syndrome Munchausen syndromeMunchausen syndrome by proxy is a mental illness and a form of child abuse. The caretaker of a child, most often a mother, either makes up fake symp...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Who are trying to lose weight Who are being treated for depression or infertilityChildren may take thyroid hormone pills accidentally. Symptoms The symptoms of factitious hyperthyroidism are the same as those of hyperthyroidism caused by a thyroid gland disorder, except that:There is no goiter. The thyroid gland is often small. GoiterA simple goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. It is usually not a tumor or cancer.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The eyes do not bulge, as they do in Graves disease (the most common type of hyperthyroidism). Graves diseaseGraves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The skin over the shins does not thicken, as it sometimes does in people who have Graves disease. Exams and Tests Blood tests used to diagnose factitious hyperthyroidism include:Free T4 Thyroglobulin Total T3 T3Triiodothyronine (T3) is a thyroid hormone. It plays an important role in the body's control of metabolism (the many processes that control the rate...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Total T4 T4T4 (thyroxine) is the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland. A laboratory test can be done to measure the amount of free T4 in your blood. Fre...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article TSHTSHA TSH test measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland. It prompts the thyroid g...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests that may be done include radioactive iodine uptake or thyroid ultrasound.Radioactive iodine uptakeRadioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) tests thyroid function. It measures how much radioactive iodine is taken up by your thyroid gland in a certain time...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Your health care provider will tell you to stop taking thyroid hormone. If you need to take it, your provider will reduce the dosage.You should be re-checked in 2 to 4 weeks to be sure that the signs and symptoms are gone. This also helps to confirm the diagnosis.People with Munchausen syndrome will need mental health treatment and follow-up. Outlook (Prognosis) Factitious hyperthyroidism will resolve on its own when you stop taking or lower the dosage of thyroid hormone. Possible Complications When factitious hyperthyroidism lasts a long time, the same complications as untreated or poorly treated hyperthyroidism may develop: Abnormal heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) Atrial fibrillationAtrial fibrillation (Afib) and atrial flutter are common types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) which affect the upper chambers (atria) of the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Anxiety Chest pain (angina) Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AnginaAngina is a type of chest discomfort or pain due to poor blood flow through the blood vessels (coronary vessels) of the heart muscle (myocardium). T...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Heart attack Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Loss of bone mass (if severe, osteoporosis) OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weight loss Weight lossUnexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight, when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Many people gain and lose weight. Uninten...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Infertility Problems sleeping When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Prevention Thyroid hormone should be taken only by prescription and under the supervision of a provider. Regular blood tests are often needed to help your provider adjust the dose you are taking.Open ReferencesReferencesHollenberg A, Wiersinga WM. Hyperthyroid disorders. In: Melmed S, Auchus, RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 12.Kopp P. Autonomously functioning thyroid nodules and other causes of thyrotoxicosis. In: Jameson JL, De Groot LJ, de Kretser DM, et al, eds. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 85.