acute management of hypothyroidism

Last reviewed 01/2018

Attempts to treat hypothyroidism before the other causes of a hypopituitary coma have been corrected is likely to exacerbate the coma.

With this proviso, the acute treatment of hypothyroidism should be:

  • tri-iodothyroxine (T3) 0.01 mg 8-hourly for three doses
  • then 0.02 mg T3 12-hourly for 2 doses
  • then 0.1 mg twice daily thereafter

Administration is either via a nasogastric tube or intravenously.