Navigating Thyroid Hormone Deprescribing in Older Adults

Thyroid hormone medication use is common, with levothyroxine ranking among the 3 most commonly dispensed medications in the US and Europe. Older age is an independent predictor of thyroid hormone initiation. Up to 60% of adults are prescribed levothyroxine for subclinical hypothyroidism (defined as having an elevated thyrotropin [TSH] level and a free thyroxine level within the reference range) or for non–evidence-based indications and generally continue treatment lifelong. Widespread prescribin...