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May 24, 2013
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Hyperthyroidism (cont.)

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Therapies to Decrease Thyroid Hormone Levels:

Antithyroid Medications

  • Effect: Decreased thyroid hormone production
  • Indications:
    • Hyperthyroidism from multiple causes
    • Low doses of methimazole (<10-15mg/day) are safe in pregnancy or postpartum in a woman breastfeeding
    • Elderly persons or cardiac patients requiring 'pretreatment' with antithyroid medications before radioiodine therapy
  • Risks :
    • Skin rashes, agranulocytosis (compromised immune system), and hepatitis
    • Increased risk of liver failure. FDA black box warnings restricts use of PTU to those patients who cannot tolerate methimazole or are in the first trimester of pregnancy.

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Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Hyperthyroidism »

Thyrotoxicosis is the hypermetabolic condition associated with elevated levels of free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), or both.

Read More on Medscape Reference »


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