Does Fentanyl Affect The Thyroid Glands?

Posted on Wed, 11 Mar 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 11 Mar 2015 Answered on

Tue, 31 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I had eye surgery 08. 08. 2011 and I had adverse reaction to the Fentanyl, administered with anaesthetic, which cause histamine release and urticarial response. I stop breathing, had major pressure chest pain, my voice box was closed. All that was kept a secret. I had serious Asthma in childhood and Allergies latter. Hospital ignore my asthma and gave me 100 + 25 fentanyl, they not gave to me reverse medicine. Now during ultrasound we found 2cm. nodule on thyroid. It is very close to voice box. I believe, I had thyroid problems before surgery, but I didn't know. I have serious allergies to some medications like mittomycin.... Can Fentanyl be a problem on thyroid?

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No

Detailed Answer:
To the best of my knowledge, there is no published medical literature that has demonstrated any such effect of fentanyl on the thyroid.

I suggest you have your blood tested for thyroid function such as TSH and Free T4, in order to understand your current thyroid status.

Regarding the nodule, there is a systematic way to approach it, which includes a thorough physical examination. I recommend you see a Endocrinologist in person.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar