1. Hyperthyroidism Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Thyroid Disorder Quiz
3. Thyroid Symptoms and Solutions Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Stephanie L Lee, MD, PhD, FACE

Coauthor:

Sonia Ananthakrishnan, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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The treatments discussed here are for all causes of hyperthyroidism except for subacute thyroiditis. Subacute thyroiditis typically gets better without any specific treatment.

The treatment options for hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease or nodular thyroid disease are divided into two sections.

1. treatments that decrease thyroid hormone production, and
2. symptomatic treatment to alleviate the effects of excess thyroid hormone.

Although the most common treatment of overactive thyroid disease is radioactive iodine ablation, many patients are initially treated with antithyroid medication to normalize thyroid hormone levels prior to either radioactive iodine ablation or thyroidectomy.

Surgery is used to treat hyperthyroidism if the patient requires a quick reduction in thyroid hormone levels such as during pregnancy.

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