Hyperthyroidism: Should I Use Antithyroid Medicine or Radioactive Iodine
What is a Decision Point?
Hyperthyroidism: Should I Use Antithyroid Medicine or Radioactive Iodine?You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Hyperthyroidism: Should I Use Antithyroid Medicine or Radioactive Iodine? Get the facts Your options
Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. If your hyperthyroidism is not caused by Graves' disease, this information may not apply to you. Key points to remember
FAQs What is hyperthyroidism?When you have hyperthyroidism, your thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones control your metabolism—how your body turns food into energy—and they influence your heart rate, digestion, muscle and bone strength, and cholesterol levels. When you have too much thyroid hormone, all of your body's functions speed up. What are the risks of hyperthyroidism?Without treatment, hyperthyroidism can lead to:
Why might your doctor recommend one treatment over the other?Your doctor may recommend radioactive iodine if:
Your doctor may recommend antithyroid medicine if:
Compare your options Compare
Radioactive iodine
Radioactive iodine
Antithyroid medicine
Antithyroid medicine
Personal stories Are you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These personal stories may help you decide. Personal stories about treatment for hyperthyroidismThese stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. Who would have thought that the symptoms I was having were caused by my thyroid gland? I thought that they were just part of growing older. But after I decided to pay attention and wrote down how I felt and told my nurse practitioner, she did blood tests that showed that I had an overactive thyroid gland. Then she referred me to a doctor for treatment. I have never been a guy who liked to take medicine, so I opted to take radioactive iodine. I like the idea that I only had to take it once and then it was over and done with. Now I take thyroid hormone every day. But it's easy to take, and I just see my doctor once or twice a year for monitoring. Harry, age 63 Some people tell me that taking radioactive iodine is the best treatment for my thyroid condition. But I don't like the idea of taking something that's radioactive. Maybe I am too cautious. My doctor tells me that the amount of radioactive iodine is so small that it doesn't cause problems. I just can't get past that word "radioactive." I have decided to take antithyroid pills. I don't think I'll have a problem with them. I have a pretty regular kind of life and take vitamins every day, so remembering to take another pill won't make a big difference to me. Jesse, age 52 I took antithyroid medicine for my overactive thyroid about 2 years ago. I had trouble remembering to take the pills every day, and sometimes when I would go out of town to visit my family, I would forget to take my pills with me. Now, my thyroid is acting up again. I don't want to mess with pills. I worry that I might get some of those side effects from taking medicine. I have decided to take radioactive iodine. I know that I have a risk of hypothyroidism because of this treatment, but I am willing to take thyroid hormone pills if that happens. Emilia, age 45 My neighbor Geraldo took radioactive iodine for his overactive thyroid gland, and his thyroid gland became underactive. So now he has to take thyroid hormones. I guess I'll just skip the radioactive iodine and take pills. Besides, my doctor tells me that because of my age I might even be able to stop taking the pills and never have to take them again. That sounds good to me. Penny, age 35 What matters most to you? Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to take antithyroid medicine Reasons to take radioactive iodine I'm worried that radioactive iodine will damage my thyroid and I'll have to take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of my life. I can live with the damage to my thyroid, because I know I can take thyroid hormone pills to treat it. More important Equally important More important I don't mind taking pills for a few years to see if that will fix my thyroid problem. I want to get my thyroid problem taken care of quickly. More important Equally important More important I worry more about putting something radioactive into my body than about side effects of antithyroid medicine. I worry more about side effects of antithyroid medicine than about putting something radioactive into my body. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important Where are you leaning now? Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Taking antithyroid medicine Taking radioactive iodine Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward What else do you need to make your decision? Check the facts 1.
Which treatment is more likely to cure hyperthyroidism?
2.
When does antithyroid treatment work best?
3.
Which treatment eventually leads to hypothyroidism (having too little thyroid hormone) in most people?
Decide what's next 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Certainty 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. 3.
Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Your Summary Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Your decisionNext steps Which way you're leaning How sure you are Your comments Your knowledge of the factsKey concepts that you understood Key concepts that may need review Getting ready to actPatient choices Credits and ReferencesCredits
References Citations You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Hyperthyroidism: Should I Use Antithyroid Medicine or Radioactive Iodine?Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
1. Get the factsYour options
Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. If your hyperthyroidism is not caused by Graves' disease, this information may not apply to you. Key points to remember
FAQs What is hyperthyroidism?When you have hyperthyroidism, your thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones control your metabolism—how your body turns food into energy—and they influence your heart rate, digestion, muscle and bone strength, and cholesterol levels. When you have too much thyroid hormone, all of your body's functions speed up. What are the risks of hyperthyroidism?Without treatment, hyperthyroidism can lead to:
Why might your doctor recommend one treatment over the other?Your doctor may recommend radioactive iodine if:
Your doctor may recommend antithyroid medicine if:
2. Compare your options
Personal storiesAre you interested in what others decided to do? Many people have faced this decision. These personal stories may help you decide. Personal stories about treatment for hyperthyroidismThese stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "Who would have thought that the symptoms I was having were caused by my thyroid gland? I thought that they were just part of growing older. But after I decided to pay attention and wrote down how I felt and told my nurse practitioner, she did blood tests that showed that I had an overactive thyroid gland. Then she referred me to a doctor for treatment. I have never been a guy who liked to take medicine, so I opted to take radioactive iodine. I like the idea that I only had to take it once and then it was over and done with. Now I take thyroid hormone every day. But it's easy to take, and I just see my doctor once or twice a year for monitoring." — Harry, age 63 "Some people tell me that taking radioactive iodine is the best treatment for my thyroid condition. But I don't like the idea of taking something that's radioactive. Maybe I am too cautious. My doctor tells me that the amount of radioactive iodine is so small that it doesn't cause problems. I just can't get past that word "radioactive." I have decided to take antithyroid pills. I don't think I'll have a problem with them. I have a pretty regular kind of life and take vitamins every day, so remembering to take another pill won't make a big difference to me." — Jesse, age 52 "I took antithyroid medicine for my overactive thyroid about 2 years ago. I had trouble remembering to take the pills every day, and sometimes when I would go out of town to visit my family, I would forget to take my pills with me. Now, my thyroid is acting up again. I don't want to mess with pills. I worry that I might get some of those side effects from taking medicine. I have decided to take radioactive iodine. I know that I have a risk of hypothyroidism because of this treatment, but I am willing to take thyroid hormone pills if that happens." — Emilia, age 45 "My neighbor Geraldo took radioactive iodine for his overactive thyroid gland, and his thyroid gland became underactive. So now he has to take thyroid hormones. I guess I'll just skip the radioactive iodine and take pills. Besides, my doctor tells me that because of my age I might even be able to stop taking the pills and never have to take them again. That sounds good to me." — Penny, age 35 3. What matters most to you?Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to take antithyroid medicine Reasons to take radioactive iodine I'm worried that radioactive iodine will damage my thyroid and I'll have to take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of my life. I can live with the damage to my thyroid, because I know I can take thyroid hormone pills to treat it. More important Equally important More important I don't mind taking pills for a few years to see if that will fix my thyroid problem. I want to get my thyroid problem taken care of quickly. More important Equally important More important I worry more about putting something radioactive into my body than about side effects of antithyroid medicine. I worry more about side effects of antithyroid medicine than about putting something radioactive into my body. More important Equally important More important My other important reasons: My other important reasons: More important Equally important More important 4. Where are you leaning now?Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Taking antithyroid medicine Taking radioactive iodine Leaning toward Undecided Leaning toward 5. What else do you need to make your decision?Check the facts1. Which treatment is more likely to cure hyperthyroidism?
You are right. Most people will be cured after one dose of radioactive iodine. But this treatment isn't for everyone. 2. When does antithyroid treatment work best?
You're right. Antithyroid medicine works best if you have only mild hyperthyroidism. 3. Which treatment eventually leads to hypothyroidism (having too little thyroid hormone) in most people?
You are right. This treatment works by killing most or all of the tissue in the thyroid gland. Over time, this leads to hypothyroidism in most people, so they need to take thyroid hormone medicine. Decide what's next1. Do you understand the options available to you? 2. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3. Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Certainty1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Not sure at all Somewhat sure Very sure 2. Check what you need to do before you make this decision.
3. Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Credits
References Citations Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version. Last Revised: November 4, 2011 Author: Healthwise Staff Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology eMedicineHealth Medical Reference from Healthwise 
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions. To learn more visit Healthwise.org © 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. |
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