Yet to you, something does not seem right. I am weaning off methimazole i was only taking 10 mg a day down to 7.5 mg for 2 weeks feeling lightheaded and was wondering if anyone knew of any side effects? In the case of our patient above, both laboratory parameters and the overall clinical picture confirm our suspicion of thyroid storm. My T3 and T4 are at mid to lower end of the range. 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 Me again. You should not shock your body that way. Thyroid Problems: Extremes Are Never Good. 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. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine. Radioiodine in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. I DONT KNOW IF I COULD STILL BE HYPER.MY LAB RESULTS HAAVE BEEN NORMAL FOR 1 YEAR. Do not use methimazole in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Read This Before You Abruptly Stop Taking Your Thyroid Medication When I started getting hyper symptoms from armour I tapered slowly and went off but my TSH never sprang back. Treatment of hyperthyroidism with a combination of methimazole and cholestyramine. It is not really safe to stop it suddenly. However, there are a lot of side effects from taking it and stop taking it (especially, without tapering). 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. Methods: We retrospectively studied patients with Graves' disease who were initially on MMI, in whom this drug was stopped because they had undetectable thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAbs) or were euthyroid after at least 24 months on MMI treatment. A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services. The Content on this Site is presented in a summary fashion, and is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. over a year ago. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Increased pain. Increased risk of infection. Thyroid storm. 0.84 t4 sounds pretty low so maybe that was part of the decision? 0.84 t4 sounds pretty low so maybe that was part of the decision? Your healthcare provider will check your thyroid levels and adjust your dose as needed. I was on 10mg daily of Tapazole, went to 7.5 in the early winter but also returned to work at same time (bad idea). 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. I have not been on it for 6 days now. Paying for medications can be stressful. Shoulder Replacement Surgery: What to Expect, Arachnoid Cysts: What They Are, What to Expect, What To Really Expect From Postpartum Sex, What To Expect When You Have Your Gallbladder Taken Out. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. However, since starting to wean off, my numbers have gotten closer to the Hyper T side again. If you have lived with untreated thyroid disease for years, you may have gotten used to living with symptoms. 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). Sounds like your doctor wants to work with you though if he gave you that choice. Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. and he said that it could not be my thyroid because the Methimazole will be in my blood for 2-3 weeks. Okay I didn't know you had completely stopped the Methimazole, but I think you misread what I wrote. 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. 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. STIs are the most common cause of genital sores. Home Treatment For Low Thyroid: What Essential Oils Are Good For Hypothyroidism? 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. When I was in the ER, they hooked me up to the BP cuff, and it stayed there, turning off and on the entire time. My GP suggestd similar action as my TSH levels started rising (only just out of range)and my FT4 dropped. Surgical Management of Graves' Disease - American Thyroid Association Doctor did not tell me this , it was my naturopath, but I am glad I listened to her. My body symptoms were freezing weak cold tired muscles and bones hurt. no one will listen. Couldn't go outside all summer. 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. It was the Acetyl-L-Carnitine that really worked for me and from other boards seems to work for Graves patients. Sometimes it can take a few months to adjust your medication, but the end result is well worth it. Maintenance dose: 5 to 15 mg orally per day. Mary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate. I just watched my diet, no red meat, no sugar, no wheat or dairy, and room temp water. 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. Methimazole (Oral Route) Proper Use - Mayo Clinic I am also trying to wean off and am having really really really bad anxiety is this normal???? as being in breach of those terms. a beta blocker--atenolol, carvedilol, labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, propranolol, sotalol, and others. RMMB, how much methimazole were you on before you stopped cold turkey? We strive to reshape medical education and academia in their evolution beyond the traditional classroom. unusual weight gain. Hyperthyroidism can cause unwanted symptoms like anxiety and excessive sweating. Methimazole: Basics, Side Effects & Reviews - GoodRx I'm afraid the L Carnitine I'll make me have more symptoms. My T's were always mid range. Side Effects of Stopping Thyroid Medication Abruptly 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. 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, I hope you go into remission and you dont have to keep taking those god forsaken meds. Posted Coming Off Percocet (Endocet) Or Oxycodone. 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. Yes I know it's dumb and it's something I struggle with daily. I'm not on meds yet but I agree with AnnLW. I got pulled over for speeding on Christmas eve last year. Gimel is right, it only has a 6 hour half life. I did this (decided to lessen the dose) all by myself with a naturopath's advice (my "specialist" seems to have forgotten about me and never did the follow up in mid-March, and I am not disappointed =;) The biggest help has been to deal with my stress. 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. I should have listened to him. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I just have to say thanks for always replying to my posts. For myself, I found that I could not lower my dose too quickly or stop my Methimazole altogether. Then and only then did my doc increase my meds and will do bloodwork at 4 weeks instead of the usual 8 weeks. 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. Weaning off Methimazole : r/gravesdisease - Reddit My blood pressure was constantly high until I was off of medications. Thyroid Storm: Treatment Strategies - ALiEM I was tested again today my gp ordered that I do will have results later today. If you are hypothyroidwhether due to Hashimoto's, Graves' disease treatment, thyroid surgery, or congenital hypothyroidismfailing to take your thyroid hormone replacement medication can pose many risks to your health. "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 can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. My pcp didn't like that. Unfortunately, there isn't a natural or herbal replacement for thyroid hormone. Before Tom died, I felt amazingly well off the armor even with low TSH. TSH above 1 is a good place to be in according to my endo. 2012 Aug;86(3):244-251. 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. It works by making it harder for the body to make thyroid hormone. I was diagnosed with Autoimmune Hyperthyroidism in Dec., 2006. I am a 52 year old female and I have been on 15MG Methimazole for the over 2 months and Endo lower the dose since my result for Tr Hi, doc. with 87 to 100 percent becoming euthyroid within a few weeks to a few months . nausea, vomiting, upset stomach; headache, dizziness, drowsiness; numbness or tingly feeling; rash, itching, skin discoloration; muscle or joint pain; hair loss; or. I was on 5 mg daily and now my dr halved it to 2.5 daily. STIs are the most common cause of genital sores. It got to the point where I could barely eat. They were always very high. Hello, what you think of my lab results & should I see another doctor? This list is not complete. What Do Herpes Sores Look Like at Different Stages. Press J to jump to the feed. 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). A Community for those living with and dealing with Graves' Disease. I remember being on armour thyroid. Being short tempered can go along with being fatigued and/or depressed or not feeling well in general. 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. So I now went to Winthrop Hospital and am off 5 mg of methimazole since I'm taking the nuclear test this week. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. You must tell us if you are pregnant, even if you Hi, Methimazole is usually taken every 8 hours. However I choice to go off the med and now I'm wondering what the side effects may be because of my choice. 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. You have a 54-year-old female who presents to the emergency department with a chief complaint of just feeling out of it. She has felt off and on for the past 12 hours and has had an occasional cough with some sputum production along with the shakes and chills. She also feels as if her heart was going at a mile a minute and because of this, she is very much out of breath. HELP. "Can I take 5mg methimazole for Graves Disease for life" Thank God for my good health again. My TSH plunged this year after Tom's death and all my health scares (the eye bleeds - occular migraines - vertigo - stroke scare which turned out to be migraine aura - ugh) This must have tipped me into real hyper maybe graves. This exact thing happened to me and then my endo put me back on it and my body couldnt tolerate it I was passing out and my symptoms were so much worse,. Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: 1 or 2 Tablets BID? It can also increase the risk of developing a dangerous condition known asthyroid storm, which has a high fatality rate. I don't remember the rest of the reading. Instructions for Women Pregnant women cannot receive the therapeutic radioactive iodine, since it will harm the fetus. There are 3 kinds of L Carnitine suppslements what kind did you take to help? 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 His goal is to wean me off very slowly. Additional benefit of PTU in thyroid storm: Inhibition of the peripheral conversion of T4 to T3 (3rdB), PTU and MMI can both be administered through the rectal route as a suppository and retention enema, Shown to have good response in several trials, Intravenous (IV) thionamides are currently not commercially available in the United States, IV formulation of MMI is available in Europe, Success reported in case reports and case series of treating thyroid storm with IV MMI compounded formulations, PTU: black box warning for severe and/or life-threatening hepatotoxicity issued by FDA in 2010, Tends to be dose-related with MMI, unlike PTU, Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) can be used in the management of thionamide-induced agranulocytosis, Used to prevent the release of pre-formed thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland, Administration of inorganic iodine should be delayed for at least one hour after initiation of thionamide therapy, Iodine load can serve as a substrate for thyroid hormone synthesis and exacerbate thyroid storm, Iodine content of formations (NOTE: Solutions, Dissolve the dose in solution of 3 to 4 ounces of milk, fruit juice, or water to ensure that the full dose is given and to mask the bitter taste. Dr. Fereidoun Azizi. 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. The problem can be changing your diet, as you don't know how the thyroid will react to this. I don't want to shock my body which has already had too many emotional and physical shocks. But yet they tell me I'm hyper. My Endocrinologist has started weaning me off of Methimazole. PDF This handout gives instructions for patients who will receive It is also used before thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine treatment. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ok. 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. We want the forums to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the forums are 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 do have Hashitoxicosis so I remember you saying that I won't respond as well to methimazole. Clearly, there are sensible health reasons to take your prescribed thyroid medication. I'd love to be able to start these again once I'm diagnosed and under the care of a naturopath. Available for Android and iOS devices. Methimazole doses are based on weight in children, and any changes may affect your child's dose. Could the anxiety be stemming from you actually still needing the methimazole? I tapered and stopped completely and felt so good. Our clinical information meets the standards set by the NHS in their Standard for Creating Health Content guidance. By Mary Shomon I retired in 2015 because I was unable to work. All rights reserved. If you are feeling conflicted about your thyroid medication, discuss your concerns with your doctor. If you want to get notified by every reply to your post, please register. 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. 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. Just like a person with type 1 diabetes needs insulin, you need thyroid hormonefor survival. Some clinicians recommend discontinuing methimazole 2-7 days before radioactive iodine; may restart methimazole 3-7 days after radioactive iodine, then generally taper over 4-6 weeks as thyroid function normalizes and radioactive iodine becomes effective. Thyroid medication can be expensive and can sometimes cause undesirable side effects, especially in the first three months of treatment. Your story is exactly like mine. Didn't find the answer you were looking for? And there are no natural substitutes for antithyroid medications, either. Slept all day, terrible itching skin especially at night while trying to sleep. 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. A relatively low dose of Methimazole was prescribed, along with Lisinopril, and Metoprolol. If the patient is given PTU during treatment of thyroid storm, this should be switched to methimazole at the time of discharge unless methimazole is contraindicated. 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. By using this Site you agree to the following, By using this Site you agree to the following. My levels are going into the hypo range and so my gp told me to stop taking methimazole. It does not stay in the body for 2-3 weeks, this is just not true. No, no doctor has ever tapered off my meds without bloodwork. I have the L Carnitine to start taking but have not yet. 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. But didnt feel any on the 5 mg. How long were you on Methimazole before weaning off? Sowiski J, Junik R, Gembicki M. [Effectiveness of intravenous administration of methimazole in patients with thyroid crisis]. I was taking a dosage of forty, then cut it down to twenty for about two weeks, and then was taken off of it entirely. over a year ago. Stopping methimazole | Hyperthyroidism | Forums | Patient Been on Tapazole for 13 months after being diagnosed with graves disease. Because I thought they might be responsible for lowering TSH. my dr. didnt warn me about any of this I am having a hard time working without panicking and having to leave. Common side effects of methimazole may include: This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. The risk of serious side effects due to thyroid medication is extremely smallfar lower than the risks of remaining untreated. Have been on it for 18 months. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. When did you start going off it?