Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

What does a blood chemistry test show

I wanted to know if when you do a blood chemistry test, which is to show your sugar level, make sure your liver fonctions well and so on,can the doctor also see with the results if your taking a certain substance like a medication or on the counter drug? Or does he need to do a specific test in order to see, since he only asked for a normal blood test? In other words, can it indicate if you're taking medication or not?
Thank you
1 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
This is a thyroid forum, so I wonder if your question is in relation to a thyroid condition?  

Although there may be some OTC med or illegal  drugs that may skew certain blood tests because they affect your body in different ways or are processed differently, doctors would, most likely, need to do a specific test (blood, urine or breath) to know what you might be taking.  For instance, if you're taking a marijuana product, they'd have to test for THC in your blood to know that, likewise, for other drugs.  

Taking OTC supplements, such as iron, Vitamin B-12, etc could mask certain other issues or make it appear as though one has problems that don't exist, such as too much iron appearing to be the condition called hemochromatosis, higher than normal doses of ibuprophen may lower blood glucose levels, etc.

The bottom line is that for your own safety, it's always test to be upfront with your doctor regarding the medications (OTC or otherwise) you're taking since some medications may increase/decrease blood glucose, some may affect liver function, others may affect kidney function, etc, depending on how the body processes the substance.  You don't do yourself any favors by hiding things from your doctor because skewed results may look like there's something wrong that isn't or may miss something that is wrong.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community

Top Thyroid Answerers
649848 tn?1534633700
FL
Avatar universal
MI
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.