Initial dose: Mild hyperthyroidism: 15 mg orally per day. All lab work has come back in normal ranges. It works by making it harder for the body to make thyroid hormone. 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. Patient aims to help the world proactively manage its healthcare, supplying evidence-based information on a wide range of medical and health topics to patients and health professionals. Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. Is there side effects from stopping or withdrawal symptoms? I was on 5 mg once a day. In the case of our patient above, both laboratory parameters and the overall clinical picture confirm our suspicion of thyroid storm. I remember being on armour thyroid. Recently, after a six month stint of being in the normal range, my bloodwork indicated I was hyper. She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution.". Your story is exactly like mine. The Content on this Site is presented in a summary fashion, and is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. Drug class: Antithyroid agents. Methimazole prevents the thyroid gland from producing too much thyroid hormone. It flared up my GERD do now taking Prevacid and going to go to the counselor.. I'd love to be able to start these again once I'm diagnosed and under the care of a naturopath. Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. My body symptoms were freezing weak cold tired muscles and bones hurt. i am afraid of going hyper again, they told me to wean off i tried just quiting then had major panic attack and went back on the medication I feel off balance and am having anxiety my eyes hurt and I dont know if its me making myself feel that way or it is my thyroid, I will get my labs next week to see if i am still normal i only had post partum hyprethyroid, and i probably really nevre needed the medication because my tsh was low but had normal t3 t4. Ive been on the 5 mg daily for a few years now. And there are no natural substitutes for antithyroid medications, either. Didn't find the answer you were looking for? People with Hashi's are extremely sensitive to both the thyroid-blocking meds and the thyroid hormone replacement meds. I tapered and stopped completely and felt so good. Your email address will not be published. How should this medicine be used? Sometimes though if your levels are too far out of range (hypo) it is necessary to stop the meds temporarily and then restart them. Having irrational thoughts worries. Have been on it for 18 months. unable to get any financial help*SSI/DISABILITY DENIED X4, ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use. Is there some other underlying issue that is taking place? If you have lived with untreated thyroid disease for years, you may have gotten used to living with symptoms. Nabil N, Miner D, Amatruda J. Methimazole: an alternative route of administration. I do have Hashitoxicosis so I remember you saying that I won't respond as well to methimazole. Taking kelp pills, iodine and alcohol drinking after total thyroidectomy. Please adjust and get your doctor to test - YOU have the right to tell your doctor/ask politely lol, because you are the one they are working for. Shaky? At my last visit, my Dr suggested seeing if I could wean off my medicine. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Also you will have more definite information when you post on sites like this and we can respond better by knowing this information rather than "my levels are going into the hypo range" we will have your actual levels which makes it better for us to respond. So what I did was to start slow. That is a real challenge but I know one lady with both Graves and Hashi's who got treated by a Naturopath who was able to keep her thyroid levels normal with just the natural methods. Common side effects of methimazole may include: This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Your number for what was 2.13? I got diagnosed with graves approx 1 year ago I responded good to tapazole however I was sick with a cold and forgot to take my meds for like a week? And other symptoms of hypothyroidism. PMID: 24176474. If you lack thyroid hormone for a long period of time, you face the risk of a very dangerous condition called myxedema coma, which can ultimately be fatal. Stop using methimazole and call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: Debilitating fatigue; tiredness; pressure in head - related, Diagnosed with Graves' disease - my symptoms are high pulse, loose stools and very tired, Graves Disease - Hyperthyroid does anyone have the same symptoms. Home Treatment For Low Thyroid: What Essential Oils Are Good For Hypothyroidism? Im so confused. Alfadhli E, Gianoukakis A. Endometriosis And Thyroid disease: Is There Really A Connection? When starting medication, your appetite may change, you may be feeling tired, or you could have a change in your bowel movements. Your blood may need to be tested often. thanks for letting us know what you have gone through. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection. But the symptoms and side effects associated with thyroid disease can make it difficult to know whether you feel better overall with or without your thyroid medication. An EKG is ordered, revealing an irregularly irregular rhythm, and an urinalysis is conducted, showing many bacteria. Take your doses at regular intervals to keep a steady amount of the drug in your body at all times. Try our Symptom Checker Got any other symptoms? Hello, what you think of my lab results & should I see another doctor? How Are Thyroid Disorders Linked To An Increased Risk Of Developing Osteoporosis? Have been able to come off of the beta blocker as my blood pressure and heart rate have dropped back to a low/low normal range. I'm afraid the L Carnitine I'll make me have more symptoms. This required my Endo to make a lot of lowering adjustments and I adjusted my carnitine dosages. We disclaim all responsibility for the professional qualifications and licensing of, and services provided by, any physician or other health providers posting on or otherwise referred to on this Site and/or any Third Party Site. If you want to get notified by every reply to your post, please register. Hyperthyroidism can cause unwanted symptoms like anxiety and excessive sweating. It is also used before thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine treatment. It should always be tapered incredibly gradually, there's always a small rebound period for me no matter how small I chop it with my pill cutter. A Community for those living with and dealing with Graves' Disease. Dr.DanielleWeiss is the founder of the Center for Hormonal Health and Well-Being, a personalized, proactive, patient-centered medical practice with a unique focus on integrative endocrinology. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. Coming off of Klonopin after 8 monthswhat to expect and how to do so, Graves Disease/hyperthyroid & I experience Hypnagogic hallucinations-anyone with similar experie, Thyroid Removal Effects and Graves Disease. nausea, vomiting, upset stomach; headache, dizziness, drowsiness; numbness or tingly feeling; rash, itching, skin discoloration; muscle or joint pain; hair loss; or. Then and only then did my doc increase my meds and will do bloodwork at 4 weeks instead of the usual 8 weeks. Or, you could be experiencing over-treatment, meaning that you need a dose adjustment or a different medication. I dont think theres any harm in that as long as they are testing your blood frequently like every month. Use methimazole regularly to get the most benefit, even if you feel fine or have no symptoms of hyperthyroidism. They told me to do that when I was taking 4 pills a day (20 mg) to get a test. Her vital signs are blood pressure of 184/106 mmHg, heart rate of 130 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute, and temperature of 102.7F. I just have to say thanks for always replying to my posts. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. However, thyroid disease is complicated, and you can develop new symptoms when you begin your treatment, either due to the wrong medication dose or the way that your body responds to the medication. If you don't feel better after taking your medication for several months, you may need a dose adjustment or a different medicationnot a complete stop of your regimen. ", Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. A dosage change can start to be felt for me in 3 days and reaches fullness in about a week, but if it is too big a dosage change the symptoms can last for week(s) afterward till my body adjusts. But it can also cause weight loss and a reduced need for sleep, which some people actually welcome. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. Never disregard the medical advice of your physician or health professional, or delay in seeking such advice, because of something you read on this Site. Untreated Graves' disease caused severe problems for me. Good luck!!! Seemed like it got stuck or something. Methimazole side effects. Yet many hypo sufferers complain of it as well. Some people have Graves alone, some have Hashi's alone and some people have both Graves and Hashi's at the same time. She enjoys giving lectures and writing articles for both the lay public and medical audiences. decreased sense of taste. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. And I am still could thins be a side affect of relapse or not taking my meds? ACMT Toxicology Visual Pearl: Swollen Lips, PECARN Pediatric Head Trauma: Official Visual Decision Aid, A Starters Roadmap to EM Resources: Books, Websites, and Apps, D50 vs D10 for Severe Hypoglycemia in the Emergency Department, The Dirty Epi Drip: IV Epinephrine When You Need It, Tips for Interpreting the CSF Opening Pressure, Trick of the Trade: Mix Ceftriaxone IM with Lidocaine for Less Pain, Trick of the Trade: Urine Pregnancy Test Without Urine, Wellness and Resiliency during Residency: EM is a career with unresolved stories, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License, Academic Life in Emergency Medicine - All Rights Reserved (except for the PV Cards and MEdIC Series PDFs), Block the production and release of thyroid hormone (preventing the opposing team from getting the ball and scoring), Block the sympathetic outflow (preventing the soccer ball from going out of bounds), Block peripheral conversion of T4 to T3 (preventing penalty kicks), Mechanism of action: Inhibit thyroid peroxidase, an enzyme involved in the production of T3 and T4 through the iodination of tyrosine residues on thyroglobulin, Agents: propylthiouriacil (PTU) and methimazole (MMI), No head-to-head trials have shown any benefit of using one thionamide over another in the management of thyroid storm. But it started about Monday its about five days and the whole week my anxiety is through the roof! It can take a few days to a few weeks for you to even start noticing a difference in how you feel. with 87 to 100 percent becoming euthyroid within a few weeks to a few months . The Best IOL for 2022 RXSight Light Adjusted Lens, Will refractive surgery such as LASIK keep me out of glasses all my life. My levels are going into the hypo range and so my gp told me to stop taking methimazole. Posted His goal is to wean me off very slowly. It is also taken before thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine therapy. You may need a different medication or a dose adjustment, but you should never quit your medication without your doctor's approval. Anxiety is a major symptom of hyperthyroidism. A strategy of high MMI doses plus T4 was not used in these patients. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Hair loss. If someone else had been through this I'd certainly like to know their opinion. as being in breach of those terms. The Content on this Site is presented in a summary fashion, and is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. Even while I was having a thyroid storm and my hr was way to high it took the doctor telling me I was going to die before I let him give me meds to slow my heart. Saturday evening, I took my blood pressure, and the systolic reading was over 200. They took blood work and X-rays, and this went on for over 4 hours. You should go off it slowly. If you have thyroid disease and don't take your prescribed medications to manage it, you can have a number of serious long-term effects. One thing my Endo and I agree on is that he will not stop a patient's medication entirely unless their antibody levels are within the normal range even if all their thyroid labs are normal. She also tells you that she has had recent blood work ordered by her primary care physician that was highly suspicious for some sort of thyroid disorder, but the results have not been made known to her yet. Didn't find the answer you were looking for? There are experiences, however, that may cause you to question the benefits of your medications and not stick with your treatment plan. I just watched my diet, no red meat, no sugar, no wheat or dairy, and room temp water. I don't remember the rest of the reading. Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal. What Should You Expect When You Arrive at the Medical Office Late? Went back to 10mg, after 2 consecutive blood tests were good (12 weeks) and then went to 7.5, just did a another 12 week stint, all is good so went to 5 mg this week (very happy). This list is not complete. I'm on 2.5mg sun, we'd, Friday I was stressed about some things before. By using this Site you agree to the following, By using this Site you agree to the following. Slowly weaning off or tapering to the right dose is the best method. Said it was controversial. The doctor told me to take a Metoprolol once in the morning, then, around lunch time, take the 20 mgLisinopril, then, at dinner time, take another Metoprolol. I refused to take blood pressure the whole time. Level at 14. Usual Pediatric Dose for Hyperthyroidism: Initial dose: 0.4 mg/kg orally per dayMaintenance dose: 0.2 mg/kg orally per day (approximately half the initial dose) Comments: Daily doses are usually given in 3 divided doses at approximately 8 hour intervals. Available for Android and iOS devices. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. The maintenance dose is 5 to 15 mg per day. The antithyroid drugs methimazole (MMI) and propylthiouracil (PTU) are used as one option to treat patients with hyperthyroidism, especially those with Graves' disease. To me, it really is the missed mimic of several disease states, as described above in our possibly uroseptic patient. I am feeling ok just scared that I will be back to where I was 2 years ago, but with Gods help and my awesome doctor I hope that it will be all good. over a year ago, Glorrie https://patient.info/forums/discuss/stopping-methimazole-543742. But I'm wondering now if it could be missing dosses? Hashimoto patients do better on the Regular L-Carnitine. All lab work has come back in normal ranges. Please get back to me.. Vancomycin Loading Doses in Pediatric Patients: A Missed Opportunity? If there is a contraindication for the use of methimazole, alternative methods to treat hyperthyroidism should be considered after discharge, such as radioactive iodine or surgery. He wanted me at 0 TSH. Radioiodine in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. and he said that it could not be my thyroid because the Methimazole will be in my blood for 2-3 weeks. It can also increase the risk of developing a dangerous condition known asthyroid storm, which has a high fatality rate. I now what bugs me, I try to avoid situations, when I can't, I do deep belly breathing (sound weird but I only ever did shallow from mouth to lung breathing, and that is NOT good -check it out, really worth it)I have tried a diet change (gluten free, dairy free) but I do not think it was necessary for me BUT it did make me focus on me and my health ( I am exercising regularly now) which WAS beneficial. I feel like lying on a hot beach would cure me for life lol but I live on a mountain! Yes I know it's dumb and it's something I struggle with daily. My doctor took me completely off Methimazole at 1 year with very poor resultsI was off the charts in 2 1/2 weeks and back up to 20MG a day to get me stable. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. I found out the hard way. However, there are a lot of side effects from taking it and stop taking it (especially, without tapering). The dose is taken in 3 divided doses every 8 hours. Bartle W, Walker S, Silverberg J. Rectal absorption of propylthiouracil. Sowiski J, Junik R, Gembicki M. [Effectiveness of intravenous administration of methimazole in patients with thyroid crisis]. About Us Our Team Annual Report Our Culture Contact Disclosures, ALiEMU ALiEM Cards Chief Resident Incubator Faculty Incubator Wellness Think Tank, ACEP Annals of Emergency Medicine EBSCO Health-DynaMed Plus Essentials of Emergency Medicine SAEM The Teaching CoOp US Acute Care Solutions Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. These are valid concerns, but they are not reasons to stop taking your medication; the risks of going untreated are far too serious. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. I was taken to jail where I was geld for two weeks without my medicine and let me tell you I got sick with peripheral edema, vasculitis. Now I am in none. It seems to me that I still am feeling more hyper, with some new symptoms, the worst being the high blood pressure, and the "gassiness". By using this Site you agree to the following, By using this Site you agree to the following, The Best IOL for 2022 RXSight Light Adjusted Lens, Will refractive surgery such as LASIK keep me out of glasses all my life. Dr. Fereidoun Azizi. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited. It is also used before thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine treatment. Not taking your hypothyroid or hyperthyroid medication can cause undesirable, dangerous, and even life-threatening conditions, ranging from fatigue and changes in blood pressure to death. When did you start going off it? unusual weight gain. Propylthiouracil (PTU; 5 to 10 mg/kg per day) is also effective . 7 Tips To Manage Heavy, Painful Or Irregular Periods When You Have Hypothyroidism. Methimazole is an antithyroid medicine. My GP suggestd similar action as my TSH levels started rising (only just out of range)and my FT4 dropped. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. appropriate medical assistance immediately. Version: 4.01. Thyroid medications usually do not work right away. I have the L Carnitine to start taking but have not yet. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Not taking your medication also increases your risk of fatal conditions like myxedema coma if you are hypothyroid, and thyroid storm if you are hyperthyroid. Two weeks ago my tsh was 4.70 then on the 19 th of this month it was 5.02 ref range is 0.34-4.82. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. Methimazole is an antithyroid medicine. To become an empowered patient, you need to obtain a copy of any medical documentation done on you, either lab tests or reports from other physicians and keep your own file so you can see your progresss. The anxiety and the eye problem could be symptoms of Hyperthyroid, or it might be unrelated. Thanks. We disclaim all responsibility for the professional qualifications and licensing of, and services provided by, any physician or other health providers posting on or otherwise referred to on this Site and/or any Third Party Site. Got dosage down to 5mgs. I was on 10mg (5mg x 2)a day Carbimazole. Yes, hair loss (alopecia) is listed as a side effect of methimazole (brand name: Tapazole) and other thyroid medications. When I say all is good, my TSH level is still less than .01 but that takes longer to bounce back. But since then I have very gradually been reducing. Anthing would be helpful. I just wanted to tell everyone DON'T GIVE UP and DON'T TAKE THE RADIATED IODINE or have your thyroid removed (unless there is a growth of course). 2013 Nov;31(4):969-86. Could the anxiety be stemming from you actually still needing the methimazole? over a year ago. The screen reading the results was behind me, and I was in a bed. Furthermore, you should fully understand the consequences of untreated thyroid disease. It depends how you're feeling bad. Most people who have thyroid disease feel better with the appropriate medication. Helpful - 0 Comment leilajax Gimel is right, it only has a 6 hour half life. Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism, a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. I have hyper numbers - very low TSH and high/normal T4 and I have the same kind of symptoms you have: freezing cold and sometimes achy legs. The third type of carnitine is Proprionyl-L-Carnitine recommended for heart disease. Thats what Im saying. Her overall presentation does not seem to add up in being secondary to urosepsis. 19 users are following. Coming Off Percocet (Endocet) Or Oxycodone. It was the Acetyl-L-Carnitine that really worked for me and from other boards seems to work for Graves patients. I agree, doctor should have told you this. no one will listen. Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Then I tried one 500 mg capsule and saw how I felt on it beofre I raised it to the dose that was mentioned in the research article. and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified Then I took 1,000 mg of Regular L-Carnitine and 1,000 mg of Acetyl-L-Carnitine and my TSH just shot right up well into the normal range. I have not been on it for 6 days now. My pcp didn't like that. I am at 15 MG per weekI take 5 mg on M/W/F and my body is getting used to it but I have passed the two year mark and no signs of it abating. She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution. I never was given clarity about what "the damage" entailed though:(. I have been having anxiety attacks and I have only been off it a week. I'd get night sweats and have trouble sleeping. It got to the point where I could barely eat. My Endocrinologist has started weaning me off of Methimazole. This was very irresponsible of them and I was not able to be well enough to work for a year after that. So instead of quitting the methimazole cold turkey I should have just lowered the dose to maybe half? Then later when I added supplements and my lab tests were improving very quickly, my new Endo would decrease my dose by no more than 2.5 mg at a time. I don't want to shock my body which has already had too many emotional and physical shocks. If you are on a beta blocker for your heart rate (propranolol, atenolol, metoprolol, etc), your doctor may discontinue, decrease the dose, or keep the dose the same with plans to wean the medication in the weeks and . But he also closely monitored my levels after weaning off, bloodwork once a week for a while to make sure things stayed normal. Maintenance dose: 5 to 15 mg orally per day. What Happens When You Don't Take Your Thyroid Medication.