People with thyroid problems should not take “excessive” medication. According to researchers, it can boost the risk of fractures in elder people.

People, whose thyroid glands are not active naturally, are given a synthetic hormone. But in a study conducted by Toronto researchers, people who are given high doses of levothyroxine (synthetic version of thyroxine) are three times more prone for hip and other fractures.

Thus, researchers emphasize the need for regular monitoring of thyroid patients to make sure they don’t overdo the intake of medicine. Too much thyroxine can make thyroid glands overactive putting people on increased risk of fractures.

In the study, Toronto researchers analyzed 213,500 people around 70 years and above who were prescribed for levothyroxine (the synthetic version of thyroxine) at least once between 2002 and 2007.

They were grouped into categories; people still on medicine, people who stopped taking medicine 180 days before study. It was found that people who were still taking thyroxine exhibited higher risk of fractures.

The study was published in British Medical Journal.