iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll cdt heFluoride-Containing Medications
Fluoride-containing medications include anesthetics, antacids,
anti-anxiety medications, antibiotics, antidepressants, antifungals,
antihistamines, cholesterol-lowering medications, anti-malarial
medications, chemotherapy, appetite suppressants, arthritis medica-
tions, psychotropics, and steroids.
Some of the most commonly used medications containing fluoride
include:
• Prozac®, Lexapro®, Celexa®, Paxil®: used for depression,
anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Prevacid®: used for acid reflux
• Diflucan®: an antifungal used for yeast infections
• Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (Cipro®, Levaquin®, Avelox®): used
for UTIs and other infections
• Celebrex®: used for pain
• Lipitor®, Zetia®: used to lower cholesterol
Full list available at slweb.org/ftrcfluorinatedpharm.html.
Please note: Not all fluoride-containing medications are detrimen-
tal to thyroid health.Substances containing two other halogens—chlorine and bromine—
have also been found to induce autoimmune thyroiditis.
Bromide
Studies show bromide-containing substances—polybrominated diphenyl-
ethers (PBDEs)—are connected to an increased incidence of Hashimoto’s.
Bromide is found in baked goods, plastics, soft drinks, and tea as well as
in our mattresses, which now contain brominated flame retardants. This is
a “safety feature” instituted by the US government to prevent mattresses
from rapidly bursting into flames from cigarettes if someone falls asleep
while smoking in bed. Great help for the minority who like to smoke in
bed but not so much for health-conscious people who do not smoke.
PBDEs are also frequently found in furniture foam and plastics used in
computers, appliances, and electronic products. Over time, PBDEs can
leach from these products into the environment.