Graves disease treatment methimazole
Common Questions and Answers about Graves disease treatment methimazole
graves-disease
In the USA there is a tendency to use more I-131, but in many other countries (and in our office) we often use anti-thyroid meds such as methimazole for Graves and consider surgery for treatment as well. If it is a hot nodule, then would recommend either I-131 or surgery (w/ an expert thyroid surgeon).
“Long-term, low-dose methimazole treatment for 60-120 months is a safe and effective treatment for Graves hyperthyroidism and is accompanied by much higher remission rates than the usual 18-24 months of methimazole treatment,” he summarized.
d with Graves in March 2006. I have been on MMI(methimazole) for 2.8 yrs. I started off on 30 mgs. and went very very hypo right away. I have gained 38 pounds in 2.8 years and feel dreadful. When dx'd my TSI was 243 <129. My FT4 for was 1.86(.8-1.85) and FT3 was 2.60 <2.00. I really never had very high FT's. They have always stayed low but my TSH has been low forever. I think I have many blocking antibodies because of my TBII is 31% <16%.
I was diagnosed with Graves disease about a year ago. My thyroid for the past 6 years has been a rollercoaster. NOT fun. Just over the past 2 months my tsh level went from 1.26 to below 0. My endo doc also did blood work last week and my T3's are high. He said I have extreme hyper and that my Graves is kicking in finally. He has put me on methimazole and I will be taking my first dose tonight. I'll have to be on it 6 weeks and then get blood drawn again.
My question is...
Good day, Doctor! I have been diagnosed with Graves disease since Oct. last year. Been on Methimazole since then. Lately my FT4 became a lot lower than the normal, so my endo put me on 10mg of methimazole for 6 weeks. Since my FT4 became low, I've been experiencing intermittent muscle cramps, ranging from mild to extremely painful ones. Normally, it would occur around my legs or extremities. It would normally go away after a few minutes of rest. Is this due to my low ft4?
Have you been tested for thyroid antibodies to make sure you do, in fact, have Graves disease and are not simply in a hyper phase of Hashimoto's? Both Graves and Hashimoto's are autoimmune.
While Graves is always connected with hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's is most often connected with hypothyroidism, however it's not uncommon for one to have periods of hyperthyroidism in the beginning stages.
You should ask for thyroid antibody tests.
I then had an allergic reation to the Methimazole. She now wants me to have radioactive iodine treatment, and Im just not sure that is the right answer. Did you find anything about alternative theraapies?
I have had graves disease for 5-6 years now. I take one 10 mg of Methimazole at night time and that is all. I have been very stable on my medicine for years now. I have also been very lucky to not have any problems with my eyes or other symptoms of that nature. I always get concerned when thinking about pregnancy because I want to make sure it is safe for me to conceive. Also, I know that your thyroid can get worse and better during and after pregnancy.
Graves Eye Disease , caused or mad worse by the Iodine treatment. If you think Graves Disease is bad? Let me tell you Graves Disease is a walk in the park compared to the EYES being messed up. Let no Endo rush you into that fast cheap fix. Make sure you are eating properly and see a eye doctor to check for Graves Opthamology. I can tell you this, after being Hyper ..... Hypo is no fun at all. When are used to having tons of energy, having none is pure hades.
Graves Disease is never cured BUT it is managed better without a thyroid or after RAI.
You still have the antibodies but no thyroid for it to attack.
As for meds, you swap one lot for another.
You go from anti-thyroid meds to a T4 medication so basically you are on meds for life.
The thyroid regulates every organ in your body and if no thyroid, meds have to do the job.
Hyperthyroidism is a lot easier to manage without a thyroid.
"The "Ask a Doctor" forum has been shut down since June 2014; MedHelp has not indicated whether or not they plan to reactivate it." - Wikipedia.
Excerpt from Hashimoto's thyroiditis following Graves' disease. Acta Med Indones. 2010 Jan;42(1):31-5....
"Pathogenesis for chronic thyroiditis following anti-thyroid drug treatment in patients with Graves' disease remains unclear.
I was diagnosed with Graves Disease approximately 10 years ago and have been treating it and dealing with it fairly well. I have even gone off maintenance meds (methimozole) was on very low dosage, did not respond well after a long time. Recently was put on PTU and it has been suggested that I do Radioactive Iodine Therapy or Thyroid Surgery even though I am responding to PTU positively. I am on 150 mg a day and it is said that might be lowered to 100mg/day.
I am sorry that you are having such symptoms which can affect your life. It is always worth getting a second opinion if you aren't satisfied with treatment. My option for my Graves Disease treatment was simple, take methimazole or do RI. I chose the med which worked pretty well for me until I was taken off of it. Which my Thyroid went hyper again.
Lupo,
I am a 53 year old female just diagnosed with hyperthyroid due to Graves disease. I was on Methimazole 10mg 3x a day for about 3 weeks and now 2 x a day for about two weeks. Most of my syptoms have improved. My labs seem to be coming along; T4 Free is 1.3, my TSH 3rd Gen is 0.004 low and my ALT is 61. Since the on set of this illness I have had achy/painful gum episodes. Per Endocrin-md instruction I stopped the Methimazole to see if problem would subside.
I was dx with Graves about 2 months ago. After taking methimazole for two wks, I started having REALLY sensitive teeth and the pain gets worse until I take tylenol or ibuprofen. I am up to every three hours taking something for pain. My dentist, GP and Endo do not know anything about this pain-what is causing it. I have not had RAI, just methimazole. Bad thing is ..I was having no symptoms-the TSH and T4 showed up in routine blood work.
I was diagnosed with Graves disease 11 years ago. My endo prescribed Methimazole, which I was allergic to, so he told me he didn't want to prescribe me anything else because sometimes the allergy kills the thyroid. It apparently did, because all of a sudden I was hypo and I had to go on synthroid. Since then, I lost my health insurance and got handled by my PCP instead of the endo (cheaper).
Dr. Lupo , is there anything that will help this disorder. I have Graves Disease , took RAI in Oct of 08 then a few months later my eyes began swelling and tearing. I have been told there is nothing that can be done. My Eye Doctor says it is a unpredictable disease and will see me again in two months. Is there anything I can do at home , other than tear drops and wait? My Blood work showed TSH at 0.0 and my Free T4 at 1.85 . I know this means I am still Hyper. What should normal levels be?
Recommended
