CHF medication effect on thyroid?

[Madelyn__0]

  Is there a potential effect on the thyroid function by any of the standard CHF medications (ACE inhibitor, anti-arrythmic, beta-blocker, blood thinner, diuretic, etc.)?  A friend who has cardiomyopathy like myself has recently been diagnosed wuth a thyroid problem that caused rapid weight loss.  I vaguely recall reading about some effect of a CHF med on the thyroid, and I know I was given blood tests for thyroid function by my cardiologist a long while back.  Or is it just a matter of testing to eliminate thyroid problems as a possible source of some symptoms such as abnormal heart rate?

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

Dear Madelyn,
The thyroid is tested in the beginning of a cardiomyopathy workup so as to deliniate
a potentially reversible cause of the disease (hyper or hypo thyroid.)
The 'standard' CHF drugs (digoxin, diuretics, and ace-inhibitors) are not
known to have adverse effects on the thyroid gland, however there is a commonly
used antiarrhythmic drug used in cardiomyopathic patients that is famous for
causing thyroid abnormalities and that drug is amiodarone (cordarone.) This
is more than likely what you recall reading about.  I hope this has been of
help to you.
Information provided in the heart forum is intended for general medical informational
purposes only, actual diagnosis and treatment can only be made by your physician(s).