Interaction between psychotropic drugs and thyroid hormone metabolism - anoverview

Psychotropic drugs can influence synthesis and metabolism of thyroid hormon es at different sites. Generally, lithium, tricyclic antidepressants and ph enothiazines lead to a reduction in synthesis and/or metabolism of thyroid hormones. The induction of autoimmune thyroid disorders by lithium and phen othiazines has been proven in animal studies and possibly can also be found in humans. Antipsychotic drugs generally exert their therapeutic effects t hrough a modulation of the monoaminergic and serotoninergic system. At the hypothalamic level, thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) is controlled by th e monoamonergic system and by serotonin. Depending on the specific species, there is a particular and different influence on the secretion of differen t hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT)-axis hormones.