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. Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. However I choice to go off the med and now I'm wondering what the side effects may be because of my choice. It works by making it harder for the body to make thyroid hormone. The ENT in the group did suppression therapy. 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". Most people who have thyroid disease feel better with the appropriate medication. Do not use methimazole in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. Some my symptoms inc My thyroid was stable for about 4 years, then suddenly, after my Mom's death, my thyroid went into hypothyroid. However, since starting to wean off, my numbers have gotten closer to the Hyper T side again. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. With a thyroid condition, your symptoms can be a good reflection of how well the medication is working. Is There a Best Time to Take Your Thyroid Medication? Your hair loss or hair thinning may also be a symptom of hyperthyroidism, when your thyroid gland is overactive and makes too much thyroid hormone. The screen reading the results was behind me, and I was in a bed. 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. It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. If true allergy to iodine or contraindication to iodine therapy (e.g. Im feeling exactly those symptoms minus the weight loss because that hasnt changed on 2.5. Your email address will not be published. Many people prefer natural remedies or don't think their medication is helping. This is perfect for me. No, no doctor has ever tapered off my meds without bloodwork. So this is a surprise to me that I migh have Graves or toxic nodules as I feel I'm bouncing back with no symptoms of hyper. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. They are still really active so she changed her mind and I am staying on the medication. I have been told by every doctor that I've seen in the past few months that it is a serious med, and even though I was only on it for mere months it could have done damage. MedHelp is not a medical or healthcare provider and your use of this Site does not create a doctor / patient relationship. My gut feeling is that this method seems to make greater ense than the shock and confusion of going 'cold-turkey'. I feel like lying on a hot beach would cure me for life lol but I live on a mountain! no one will listen. Burch H, Wartofsky L. Life-threatening thyrotoxicosis. We went to the ER. ALiEM by ALiEM.com is copyrighted as "All Rights Reserved" except for our Paucis Verbis cards and MEdIC Series, which are Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. 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. By learning about your labs and what they mean and following your body symptoms, you will have more information and be more prepared for discussions with your physician. 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. Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism, a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. Also did the same with Vitamin D and Magnesium. I am so overwhelmed and only end up having a few days out of a month. I started off with relatively normal levels but my doc found nodules. Why would she try to wean me off the medicine if my numbers didnt indicate remission? When I go back in May, he will probably wean down to 25 mg a week. Endocrine causes of dangerous Fever. Unusual weakness or fatigue, fever, headache, skin rash, muscle or joint pain, loss of appetite, pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet. I'd never stop any medication cold turkey. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. Her overall presentation does not seem to add up in being secondary to urosepsis. His goal is to wean me off very slowly. Its been almost a month now on the 2.5 so Im going to get the blood work rechecked within a week or so. My Endocrinologist has started weaning me off of Methimazole. 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. 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. But I'm wondering now if it could be missing dosses? Thyroid Storm Treatment & Management - Medscape 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. Brand names: Tapazole, Northyx What Happens When You Don't Take Your Thyroid Medication - Verywell Health Weaning off Methimazole : r/gravesdisease - Reddit We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. 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. It interferes with the step that causes the iodination of tyrosine residues in thyroglobulin, mediated by the enzyme thyroid peroxidase, thus preventing the synthesis of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). My current doctor, who is new to me, also wanted to wean me off but she tested my antibodies first. When I asked if my numbers should have been closer to hypo range if I was a candidate for remission, she said yes but wanted to see if I could wean off anyway. Good luck!!! It does not stay in the body for 2-3 weeks, this is just not true. Methimazole - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf I found out the hard way. I doubt yours would be near that. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited. Is there side effects from stopping or withdrawal symptoms? Alfadhli E, Gianoukakis A. Your number for what was 2.13? Methimazole is an antithyroid medicine. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Call your doctor at once if you have: liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). My methimazole was 5 mg once a day. Radioiodine in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. It was the Acetyl-L-Carnitine that really worked for me and from other boards seems to work for Graves patients. Unfortunately, there isn't a natural or herbal replacement for thyroid hormone. You will learn what these results mean very quickly and you can always learn more about them online. All lab work has come back in normal ranges. as being in breach of those terms. Be sure to check with your doctor before you stop taking these medicines. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Im going to ask to go back to my old dose because my numbers were exactly in the middle at 2.13 but now theyre probably a mess. How Are Thyroid Disorders Linked To An Increased Risk Of Developing Osteoporosis? Should I stop Methimazole over a high TSH? - MedHelp Two-step method for administration: Test dose: 0.5 to 1 mg as slow IV push administered over 10 minutes Subsequent doses: 1 to 3 mg IV over 10 to 15 minutes every few hours to desired effect with monitoring of cardiac rhythm Esmolol can be considered as an alternative agent Methimazole may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. (unknowingly had covid at the time of last bloodwork). 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. 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). Thyroid level saga continuespart 20. You will be able to stop your methimazole or PTU immediately. Propylthiouracil (PTU; 5 to 10 mg/kg per day) is also effective . Same as sudden weather changes, we get headaches etc. Gimel is right, it only has a 6 hour half life. Been on Tapazole for 13 months after being diagnosed with graves disease. What Do Herpes Sores Look Like at Different Stages. doc. Available for Android and iOS devices. I have my test results and I am taking 15MG Methimazole a day since 5/25 and the Endo told me to continue taking the same dosage Hi, over a year ago. Im so confused. Previous: "Why Wasn't I Taught This Stuff In Medical School?" 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. [4] Patient is a UK registered trade mark. 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. Hodak S, Huang C, Clarke D, Burman K, Jonklaas J, Janicic-Kharic N. Intravenous methimazole in the treatment of refractory hyperthyroidism. Was there any tapering of the dose at all? The Content on this Site is presented in a summary fashion, and is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. 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. "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. methimazole - UpToDate It is generally well tolerated and has few side effects, but it does require close monitoring because of a low rate of some severe side effects, such as low blood counts. If you have lived with untreated thyroid disease for years, you may have gotten used to living with symptoms. Initial dose: Mild hyperthyroidism: 15 mg orally per day. 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. Sowiski J, Junik R, Gembicki M. [Effectiveness of intravenous administration of methimazole in patients with thyroid crisis]. I started out at 30mg a day. There are a number of strategies you can use toremember to take your thyroid medication. Being short tempered can go along with being fatigued and/or depressed or not feeling well in general. Increased pain. The first time my Endo told me to decrease my dose from 10 mg to 5 mg, about 2 weeks after I did that I got a rebound effect of symptoms so I raised it by 2.5 mg and told her. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, headache, joint pain, fever, itching, swelling, or pale skin and easy bruising or bleeding. Hashimoto patients do better on the Regular L-Carnitine. A Community for those living with and dealing with Graves' Disease. These side effects usually mimic the side effects of hypothyroidism, because if you stop taking your medication your body will not be able to produce it naturally for some time. I feel wonderful now. Clearly, there are sensible health reasons to take your prescribed thyroid medication. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. She seems relatively anxious on physical exam, and you note that she is diaphoretic. Some people get thyroiditis due to viral illnesses but it is usually short lived, like a couple of months at most. But didnt feel any on the 5 mg. How long were you on Methimazole before weaning off? Stomach/digestive issues (gassy feeling/bloating), depression and fatigue are certainly hypo symptoms, but many people who are hyper have them as well. Methimazole (Oral Route) Proper Use - Mayo Clinic Management of severe thyrotoxicosis when the gastrointestinal tract is compromised. Natural Endocrine Solutions. Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal. Methimazole can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. 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. 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. yes. We want the forums to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the forums are I don't want to shock my body which has already had too many emotional and physical shocks. 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. Maintenance dose: 5 to 15 mg orally per day. I am currently in a hospital bed recovering from a bilateral thyroidectomy. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. The maintenance dose is 5 to 15 mg per day. 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. This . So I would gradually reduce until you think you can go cold turkey. my dr. didnt warn me about any of this I am having a hard time working without panicking and having to leave. Ive been on the 5 mg daily for a few years now. When I stopped in 2015, I went hyper againin approx 8 months, so after a lotof readingand research, I've decided to taper my dose rather than stopping. "Can I take 5mg methimazole for Graves Disease for life" Anthing would be helpful. Methimazole is an excellent medication for Grave's disease and other forms of hyperthyroidism which works by interfering with the production of the thyroid hormones. I've read of people getting off Methimazole all at once and doing okay, although many do have "withdrawal" symptoms (symptoms of being hyper) as their body purges the medication. 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. I take individual vitamins and supps daily: B complex, C, D, LipoFlavinoid, potassium magnesium asparate, B2, CoQ10, (the last 3 for migraine) Flax capsules, Biotin. I told my endo. 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. I stopped Zinc, L-Lysine & alpha lipoic which made me feel amazing! What are the medication for hypothyroidism in cats? Should I stop Methimazole over a high TSH? Treatment and prognosis of Graves disease in children and adolescents. Patient does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Cold intolerance is a typical hypo symptom, but I've always had periods of heat intolerance as well and I've not been hyper in the past 12 yrs. But it can also cause weight loss and a reduced need for sleep, which some people actually welcome. Methimazole may cause serious side effects. As far as symptoms go, I have been gassy (for no reason), fatigued more than usual, depressed, short tempered,and I'm either too cold or too hot. You pituitary is trying to tell your thyroid to produce more hormones, but the Methimazole (anti-thyroid med) is preventing your thyroid from working. She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution.". The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. why does this happen? Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Thank you so much! The achy legs suggests you may be carnitine deficient, also vitamin D deficient and Magnesium deficient and these things are extremely important for thyroid patients. Answer. 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. PMID: 24176474. Before Tom died, I felt amazingly well off the armor even with low TSH. All of this has been a real struggle for me since I have a huge phobia of taking meds. Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal. https://patient.info/forums/discuss/stopping-methimazole-543742. Growth of thyroid nodules, increasing goiter size. any responses appreciated thx Lauren, If you go off tapazole cold turkey you can go into a thryoid storm and possibly die it happened to me I had dry heaves bad thank god I made it through the night. Stop using methimazole and call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat, cold or flu symptoms; painful mouth sores, pain when swallowing, red or swollen gums; or. My tsh leve as of yesterday dropped down to 3.65 so I'm in range again ref range is 0.34-4.82. appropriate medical assistance immediately. Emerg Med ClinNorth Am. I don't believe our bodies respond well to abrupt changes. My blood pressure was constantly high until I was off of medications. Birth defects an option due to untreated Graves' disease? Dr. Fereidoun Azizi. Methimazole (Oral Route) Description and Brand Names - Mayo Clinic The anxiety and the eye problem could be symptoms of Hyperthyroid, or it might be unrelated. Has anyone elses doctor done this? Try our Symptom Checker Got any other symptoms? 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 it possible that it is my thyroid or should I see my PCP for the attacks. Please get back to me.. Then and only then did my doc increase my meds and will do bloodwork at 4 weeks instead of the usual 8 weeks. Could the anxiety be stemming from you actually still needing the methimazole? Read our editorial policy. even my hair started falling out and to me to be a woman and have your hair fall out is the worst thing in the world. Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. tightness in the chest. 6 years ago, I think its common to wean off after being in normal range for 12-18 months to see if its gone into remission, thats what my endocrinologist did the first time my graves was diagnosed. 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. This list is not complete. It is also used before thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine treatment. RMMB, how much methimazole were you on before you stopped cold turkey? We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. Methimazole: Uses & Side Effects | Cleveland Clinic When did you start going off it? It works by making it harder for the body to make thyroid hormone. Swollen hands, feet, and face. Can You Eat Soy If You Have a Thyroid Condition? 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. Home Treatment For Low Thyroid: What Essential Oils Are Good For Hypothyroidism? I have been taking the same dosages for all those years, except my dosage for Methimazole was brought down to 1 and 1/2 pills (5 mg pills) about a year ago. Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). If your regular doctor can't explain why you have this problem, it can be fixedcheck out naturopathic ways to treat symptoms, you are worth it. i have been taking 2.5 mg of methimazole every other day for the past 3 years which is 4x a week and now she told me to just take 2.5mg once a week for 6 weeks and then just stop. 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. She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution. You should go off it slowly. I was on 5 mg once a day. Taking kelp pills, iodine and alcohol drinking after total thyroidectomy. 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. i teally feel I have late stage chronic lime. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. I STOPPED TAKING mathemizol on may 11, 2017 after 3 years of being sick. Seemed like it got stuck or something. You should not shock your body that way. I am a 52 year old female and I had been on 15MG Methimazole for the over 2 months and Endo lower the dosage to 10MG when my Triio Hi, 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. It is also taken before thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine therapy. I'll hold the cetyl L-carnitine and start with L-Carnitine then. 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. 2. 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. The problem can be changing your diet, as you don't know how the thyroid will react to this. I do have Hashitoxicosis so I remember you saying that I won't respond as well to methimazole. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. nausea, vomiting, upset stomach; headache, dizziness, drowsiness; numbness or tingly feeling; rash, itching, skin discoloration; muscle or joint pain; hair loss; or. There may be two explanations for this benefit of long-term therapy, according . Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Have been on it for 18 months. Hi Rachel, are you finally off the methimazole? 2 days on, one day off and this past week my endocrinologist gave me the choice of either going right off Tapazole or going off it slowly. It is FREE! I have nevery had anxiety attacks before. I tried this and my TSH rose from less than 0.001 (where it had been for 2 years) to 0.12 (in the right direction but not enough). As soon as they see that youre going hyper again, they should put you back on your regular dose. Methimazole prevents the thyroid gland from producing too much thyroid hormone. I just have to say thanks for always replying to my posts. 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.