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Taking Carbimazole For Graves Disease. Sudden High TSH Levels. Should Carbimazole Be Stopped Altogether?
My Husband was diagnosed with graves disease , was on carbimazole for a couple of years, which was successfully keeping his TSH within normal levels, but then suddenly wasn t. He took the radioactive iodine tablet in June this year, then he had a very low TSH so upped his medication again (after stopping for the treatment) then suddenly from one month to the next, his TSH level went from very low to very high, indicating a serious level of hypothyroidism . He saw his specialist, who said to reduce the amount of carbimazole he was on from 20mg per day, to 15mg per day. He feels terrible. It has been a month now since his last blood test, and if his TSH remains so high, would it not be wise to remove the Carbimazole altogether? Why would the specialist not suggest stopping that drug immediately?
Wed, 29 Oct 2014
Hi,
After radio iodine treatment you can still be hyperthyroid for few more weeks as the radio iodine treatment treatment takes up to 3 months for its complete effect. Radio iodine treatment may not cure Graves disease in 5-10% of patients. Since hyperthyroidism is a more severe disease compared to hypothyroidism, most physicians prefer to continue carbimazole till they are hypothyroid.
If I were your treating doctor I would continue carbimazole for 3-4 weeks post radio iodine treatment, if you are hypothyroid I will stop medication and follow up Thyroid function test after 4-6 weeks. If you are hypothyroid, i would start on Thyroxine supplementation, if hyperthyroid smaller dose of carbimazole 5-10 mg.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Consultant Endocrinologist
After radio iodine treatment you can still be hyperthyroid for few more weeks as the radio iodine treatment treatment takes up to 3 months for its complete effect. Radio iodine treatment may not cure Graves disease in 5-10% of patients. Since hyperthyroidism is a more severe disease compared to hypothyroidism, most physicians prefer to continue carbimazole till they are hypothyroid.
If I were your treating doctor I would continue carbimazole for 3-4 weeks post radio iodine treatment, if you are hypothyroid I will stop medication and follow up Thyroid function test after 4-6 weeks. If you are hypothyroid, i would start on Thyroxine supplementation, if hyperthyroid smaller dose of carbimazole 5-10 mg.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Consultant Endocrinologist
I find this answer helpful
Hello welcome to HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
Carbimazole is a wonderful drug in case of hyperthyroidism but when you have taken radio active iodine treatment mostly you will have low thyroid levels.
Unfortunately more than 50% of patients having radioactive iodine treatment will have permanent Hypothyroidism with high TSH levels. In such type of patients carbimazole will be harmful rather then useful.
I recommend you to do your total thyroid profile once again and if still your TSH levels are very high consult an endocrinologist. You may require tab levothyroxine for Hypothyroidism with or without tappering dose of carbimazole.
I hope I have given you satisfactory answer.
Thank you.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
Carbimazole is a wonderful drug in case of hyperthyroidism but when you have taken radio active iodine treatment mostly you will have low thyroid levels.
Unfortunately more than 50% of patients having radioactive iodine treatment will have permanent Hypothyroidism with high TSH levels. In such type of patients carbimazole will be harmful rather then useful.
I recommend you to do your total thyroid profile once again and if still your TSH levels are very high consult an endocrinologist. You may require tab levothyroxine for Hypothyroidism with or without tappering dose of carbimazole.
I hope I have given you satisfactory answer.
Thank you.
I find this answer helpful
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