how to wean off methimazole

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 was the Acetyl-L-Carnitine that really worked for me and from other boards seems to work for Graves patients. RMMB, how much methimazole were you on before you stopped cold turkey? Your phone, computer, or another alarm can be programmed to give you a daily reminder. The article suggested hyperthyroid patients and patients who have thyroid storm benefit from taking 3,000 mg of Regular L-Carnitine. Skipping or stopping your antithyroid medication or thyroid hormone replacement will lead to undesirable and possibly dangerous effects. Just like a person with type 1 diabetes needs insulin, you need thyroid hormonefor survival. In addition to the labs you have already ordered for our patient, you quickly decide to add a thyroid function panel, just in case. They do better controlling their thyroid hormones using Regular L-Carnitine. Takiing Armour (thyroid hormone replacement) has seemed to cause your hyperthyroidism. I don't remember the rest of the reading. Diagnosis of thyroid storm can be somewhat of a challenge because of this, but a scoring system developed by Burch and Wartofsky 1 can assist in determining the likelihood of thyroid storm in patients based on presenting signs and symptoms. Could the anxiety be stemming from you actually still needing the methimazole? A dosage change can start to be felt for me in 3 days and reaches fullness in about a week, but if it is too big a dosage change the symptoms can last for week(s) afterward till my body adjusts. An EKG is ordered, revealing an irregularly irregular rhythm, and an urinalysis is conducted, showing many bacteria. Upgrade to Patient Pro Medical Professional? Typical dosing for methimazole The dose of methimazole for adults ranges from 5 to 40 mg by mouth per day depending on how severe your hyperthyroidism is. My GP suggestd similar action as my TSH levels started rising (only just out of range)and my FT4 dropped. no one will listen. Sometimes it can take a few months to adjust your medication, but the end result is well worth it. I take 5 mg at night and 2.5 in the morning. rachelemacd appropriate medical assistance immediately. Most people who have thyroid disease feel better with the appropriate medication. However I choice to go off the med and now I'm wondering what the side effects may be because of my choice. Unusual weakness or fatigue, fever, headache, skin rash, muscle or joint pain, loss of appetite, pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet. My levels are going into the hypo range and so my gp told me to stop taking methimazole. Other than that, he said that they didn't find anything, such as pneumonia. MedHelp is not a medical or healthcare provider and your use of this Site does not create a doctor / patient relationship. Best, Rachel. 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. Her overall presentation does not seem to add up in being secondary to urosepsis. my dr. didnt warn me about any of this I am having a hard time working without panicking and having to leave. MedHelp is not a medical or healthcare provider and your use of this Site does not create a doctor / patient relationship. T3 total: 332; FT3 11.1; FT4 387, TSH <.005. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. All lab work has come back in normal ranges. Slowly weaning off or tapering to the right dose is the best method. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited. But he also closely monitored my levels after weaning off, bloodwork once a week for a while to make sure things stayed normal. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Unfortunately, there isn't a natural or herbal replacement for thyroid hormone. Yes I know it's dumb and it's something I struggle with daily. respect of any healthcare matters. 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. A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services. Endometriosis And Thyroid disease: Is There Really A Connection? If you are on a beta blocker for your heart rate (propranolol, atenolol, metoprolol, etc), your doctor may discontinue, decrease the dose, or keep the dose the same with plans to wean the medication in the weeks and . I refused to take blood pressure the whole time. Im feeling exactly those symptoms minus the weight loss because that hasnt changed on 2.5. Our clinical information meets the standards set by the NHS in their Standard for Creating Health Content guidance. Thank God for my good health again. Furthermore, you should fully understand the consequences of untreated thyroid disease. But have plenty of lab slips on hand and get checked if you feel like hurting someone. Most of us feel best with Free T4 at about the mid range point and Free T3 in the upper half to upper third of the range. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. over a year ago. 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. Stop using methimazole and call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: 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. If you are feeling conflicted about your thyroid medication, discuss your concerns with your doctor. Have been on it for 18 months. A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services. Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with methimazole. This required my Endo to make a lot of lowering adjustments and I adjusted my carnitine dosages. What Happens When You Don't Take Your Thyroid Medication. Increased risk of infection. 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. 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). Ive been on the 5 mg daily for a few years now. It is also used before thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine treatment. 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. 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. Methimazole may cause serious side effects. 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. Management of severe thyrotoxicosis when the gastrointestinal tract is compromised. Well, nothing like wasting money for an antiquated panel is there? 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. Birth defects an option due to untreated Graves' disease? I do have Hashitoxicosis so I remember you saying that I won't respond as well to methimazole. I'll hold the cetyl L-carnitine and start with L-Carnitine then. Seemed like it got stuck or something. I don't believe our bodies respond well to abrupt changes. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 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. The screen reading the results was behind me, and I was in a bed. It is also used before thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine treatment. Try our Symptom Checker Got any other symptoms? 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. Guest Methimazole is an antithyroid medicine. Paying for medications can be stressful. Side effects are also most likely to occur within the first three months of treatment, so keep that in mind if you are beginning a new regimen. Thyroid Problems: Extremes Are Never Good. 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. Burch H, Wartofsky L. Life-threatening thyrotoxicosis. Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome): Change in taste. It depends how you're feeling bad. Again, be sure to discuss any concerns with your doctor and do not stop taking your medication without consulting with them first. What many people don't realize is that there are quite a few symptoms that can apply to either/both hyper and hypo. You will be able to stop your methimazole or PTU immediately. What Do Herpes Sores Look Like at Different Stages. Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. A strategy of high MMI doses plus T4 was not used in these patients. Endocrine causes of dangerous Fever. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Is it possible that it is my thyroid or should I see my PCP for the attacks. MedHelp is not a medical or healthcare provider and your use of this Site does not create a doctor / patient relationship. Registered in England and Wales. 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. No, no doctor has ever tapered off my meds without bloodwork. Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Maybe paid for by government or yourself or medical plan, but still you are the one who has the right to say. Bartle W, Walker S, Silverberg J. Rectal absorption of propylthiouracil. a beta blocker--atenolol, carvedilol, labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, propranolol, sotalol, and others. A Community for those living with and dealing with Graves' Disease. 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. And I am still could thins be a side affect of relapse or not taking my meds? Patient is a UK registered trade mark. Found that I could not take vitamin D pills, that they had to be the gel caps. 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. But since then I have very gradually been reducing. Is there side effects from stopping or withdrawal symptoms? I would ask to do labs again. It is a smart investment to get affordable health insurance if you don't already have it. In the case of our patient above, both laboratory parameters and the overall clinical picture confirm our suspicion of thyroid storm. The ENT in the group did suppression therapy. Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex. 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, DID YOU NOTICE ANXIETY OR RAPID HEARTBEAT OR COULD I BE ANXIOUS ABOUT GETTING OFF THE MEDICATION. Thyroid medications usually do not work right away. You decide to pan-culture her and determining that she has no known drug allergies, you order a combination of piperacillin/tazobactam 4.5 g IV and tobramycin 500 mg IV as one-time doses for her suspected urinary tract infection (which you consider at this point to be urosepsis). 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. Methimazole is an antithyroid medicine. Sorry you're having these problems. 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. All of this has been a real struggle for me since I have a huge phobia of taking meds. Now I am in none. 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). Methimazole is usually taken every 8 hours. 0.84 t4 sounds pretty low so maybe that was part of the decision? I remember being on armour thyroid. People with Hashi's are extremely sensitive to both the thyroid-blocking meds and the thyroid hormone replacement meds. I was on 10mg (5mg x 2)a day Carbimazole. Even while I was having a thyroid storm and my hr was way to high it took the doctor telling me I was going to die before I let him give me meds to slow my heart. I was on 5 mg once a day. 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. 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. You will be able to stop your cholestyramine (if on it) immediately. I started off with relatively normal levels but my doc found nodules. Thyrotoxic Crisis Oral Some clinicians recommend 60-80 mg daily. Press J to jump to the feed. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. My T3 and T4 are at mid to lower end of the range. She enjoys giving lectures and writing articles for both the lay public and medical audiences. Yes, hair loss (alopecia) is listed as a side effect of methimazole (brand name: Tapazole) and other thyroid medications. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 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). If you have Graves' disease, toxic nodules, thyroiditis, or another cause of hyperthyroidism, you may need to take antithyroid medication such as methimazole or propylthiouracil (PTU). Anterior cervical discectomy, no fusion - what to expect? We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. You must tell us if you are pregnant, even if you I have had this for 2 years and I just got off the tapazole for at lease 6 weeks until the check my blood again. I was on 5 mg daily and now my dr halved it to 2.5 daily. If true allergy to iodine or contraindication to iodine therapy (e.g. Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex. 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. What Should You Expect When You Arrive at the Medical Office Late? Natural Solutions For Graves' Disease & Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. 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. This medicine is available only with your doctor's . She is the author of "The Thyroid Diet Revolution.". 2013 Nov;31(4):969-86. (unknowingly had covid at the time of last bloodwork). Now down to 5 mg a day, 6 days a week (so 30 mg a week). I am so overwhelmed and only end up having a few days out of a month. 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, Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. If your levels start to drop toward the lower end of the scale, you'll be able to taper the dose down a bit - to 20 mg a day. It got to the point where I could barely eat. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Some thyroid medications can also cause hair loss, which most people find frustrating and undesirable. What are the medication for hypothyroidism in cats? 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. Treatment of hyperthyroidism with a combination of methimazole and cholestyramine. She has a past medical history of hypertension and she has been compliant with her medications. 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 gut feeling is that this method seems to make greater ense than the shock and confusion of going 'cold-turkey'. don't know how much more I can take of feeling this way. 19 users are following. Metroprolol is a beta blocker that slows the heart rate. So I would gradually reduce until you think you can go cold turkey. Same as sudden weather changes, we get headaches etc. Slowly weaning off or tapering to the right dose is the best method. It can also increase the risk of developing a dangerous condition known asthyroid storm, which has a high fatality rate. Hashimoto patients do better on the Regular L-Carnitine. Two weeks ago my tsh was 4.70 then on the 19 th of this month it was 5.02 ref range is 0.34-4.82. Sounds like your doctor wants to work with you though if he gave you that choice. 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.