Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid or thyrotoxicosis, occurs when thethyroid glandproduces too much thyroid hormone.
There are three main treatments forhyperthyroidism:
This article explains hyperthyroidism and how it can be treated.
Hyperthyroidism
What Medications Are Available for Hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism is treated with antithyroid drugs called thionamides.
Currently, there are only two drugs Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to treat hyperthyroidism in the United States:
Beta-blockersare often used to help with heart issues (i.e., tremors, irregular/increased heart rate) that develop due to hyperthyroidism.
Side Effects
Side Effects of propylthiouracil and methimazole may include the following:
This is not an all-inclusive list of side effects of propylthiouracil and methimazole. If you have any concerns, please talk with your healthcare provider.
If your symptoms are severe, please seek medical attention immediately.
How Effective Are Different Treatments for Hyperthyroidism?
The following are all effective treatments for hyperthyroidism:
The goal of prescription medications like methimazole and propylthiouracil is to restore the thyroid gland to normal function safely and as soon as possible.
Methimazoleis the preferred treatment for almost all people with hyperthyroidism compared to propylthiouracil.
Propylthiouracilis typically only used in the treatment ofthyroid stormin the following instances:
A more permanent option for treating hyperthyroidism issurgery(thyroidectomy). Your healthcare provider may remove all or part of your thyroid gland. Once your thyroid gland is removed, most people must take thyroid hormone drugs for the rest of their life to maintain normal hormone levels.
Older female taking medication.J_art / Getty Images
J_art / Getty Images
How Long Do I Need to Take Medication for Hyperthyroidism?
Antithyroid drugs aim to achieve normal thyroid function, which can happen anywhere from six to 12 weeks after starting them.
Use with methimazole is generally recommended for 12 to 18 months.
Suppose your thyroid hormones have not leveled out (achieved remission) after 1 to 2 years of taking methimazole or propylthiouracil. Your healthcare provider will likely consider radioactive iodine treatment or surgery to treat your hyperthyroidism.
How Long Do the Medications Take to Work?
After taking antithyroid drugs, your thyroid may take several weeks to achieve normal function. Generally, it may take six to 12 weeks to start to see improvements in normal thyroid function.
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism include the following:
Causes of Hyperthyroidism
The most common cause of hyperthyroidism isGraves' disease. Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes the thyroid to produce too much thyroid hormones.
Thyroiditis(inflammation of the thyroid) and excess intake of iodine can also lead to hyperthyroidism.
In addition, the following drugs can cause hyperthyroidism:
Diagnosis of Hyperthyroidism
If you have signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism, your healthcare provider will determine if you have hyperthyroidism through a series of tests.
Your healthcare provider will most likely perform the following to come to a conclusion:
Imaging tests, such as a thyroid ultrasound, CT scan, or thyroid uptake scan, may also be needed.
For blood tests, the following are usually key indicators for adiagnosis of hyperthyroidism:
Complications of Hyperthyroidism
If left untreated, hyperthyroidism can lead to the following:
In rare cases, some people develop a life-threatening medical emergency called athyroid storm.
Symptoms of thyroid storm are usually quite extreme and include the following:
When to Go to the ERYou must go to the emergency room immediately whenever a thyroid storm is suspected. Thyroid storm requires immediate treatment, as it is life-threatening and can develop and worsen quickly.
When to Go to the ER
You must go to the emergency room immediately whenever a thyroid storm is suspected. Thyroid storm requires immediate treatment, as it is life-threatening and can develop and worsen quickly.
Nutrition Considerations
If you have hyperthyroidism, you should maintain alow-iodine diet.
Iodine promotes the release of thyroid hormone, so you should keep foods rich in iodine to a minimum.
Foods rich in iodine that you should avoid include the following:
Foods that are low in iodine that you can eat include the following:
Summary
In summary, hyperthyroidism is when your thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone.
Thethyroid glandproduces thyroid hormones that affect the following in your body:
The three hyperthyroidism treatments include the following:
Radioactive iodine treatment and surgery are more permanent solutions to treating hyperthyroidism.
Radioactive iodine treatment and surgery sometimes destroy or eliminate the thyroid gland. In this case, most people who receive them must take thyroid hormone drugs for the rest of their lives to maintain normal hormone levels.
Frequently Asked QuestionsPrescription medication (antithyroid drugs)Radioactive iodine treatment (destroys part of the thyroid gland, reducing the amount of hormones it can produce)Surgery (removal of all or part of the thyroid gland)With all treatments for hyperthyroidism, it will take a few weeks to see your symptoms improve. Radioactive iodine treatment and surgery can cure hyperthyroidism; however, without a working thyroid gland, you will need to take thyroid hormone drugs for the rest of your life to maintain normal hormone levels.Excess iodine intake, Graves' disease, thyroiditis, and certain drugs like amiodarone, interferons, or excessive doses of thyroid hormone can all trigger hyperthyroidism.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prescription medication (antithyroid drugs)Radioactive iodine treatment (destroys part of the thyroid gland, reducing the amount of hormones it can produce)Surgery (removal of all or part of the thyroid gland)
With all treatments for hyperthyroidism, it will take a few weeks to see your symptoms improve. Radioactive iodine treatment and surgery can cure hyperthyroidism; however, without a working thyroid gland, you will need to take thyroid hormone drugs for the rest of your life to maintain normal hormone levels.
Excess iodine intake, Graves' disease, thyroiditis, and certain drugs like amiodarone, interferons, or excessive doses of thyroid hormone can all trigger hyperthyroidism.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mathew P, Kaur J, Rawla P.Hyperthyroidism. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; March 19, 2023.Food and Drug Administration.Methimazole label.Food and Drug Administration.Propylthiouracil label.Ross DS, Burch HB, Cooper DS, et al.2016 American Thyroid Association guidelines for diagnosis and management of hyperthyroidism and other causes of thyrotoxicosis.Thyroid. 2016;26(10):1343-1421. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0229Idrose AM.Acute and emergency care for thyrotoxicosis and thyroid storm.Acute Med Surg. 2015;2(3):147-157. doi:10.1002/ams2.104American Thyroid Association.Low iodine diet.Michigan Medicine.Low iodine diet guidelines.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mathew P, Kaur J, Rawla P.Hyperthyroidism. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; March 19, 2023.Food and Drug Administration.Methimazole label.Food and Drug Administration.Propylthiouracil label.Ross DS, Burch HB, Cooper DS, et al.2016 American Thyroid Association guidelines for diagnosis and management of hyperthyroidism and other causes of thyrotoxicosis.Thyroid. 2016;26(10):1343-1421. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0229Idrose AM.Acute and emergency care for thyrotoxicosis and thyroid storm.Acute Med Surg. 2015;2(3):147-157. doi:10.1002/ams2.104American Thyroid Association.Low iodine diet.Michigan Medicine.Low iodine diet guidelines.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mathew P, Kaur J, Rawla P.Hyperthyroidism. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; March 19, 2023.Food and Drug Administration.Methimazole label.Food and Drug Administration.Propylthiouracil label.Ross DS, Burch HB, Cooper DS, et al.2016 American Thyroid Association guidelines for diagnosis and management of hyperthyroidism and other causes of thyrotoxicosis.Thyroid. 2016;26(10):1343-1421. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0229Idrose AM.Acute and emergency care for thyrotoxicosis and thyroid storm.Acute Med Surg. 2015;2(3):147-157. doi:10.1002/ams2.104American Thyroid Association.Low iodine diet.Michigan Medicine.Low iodine diet guidelines.
Mathew P, Kaur J, Rawla P.Hyperthyroidism. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; March 19, 2023.
Food and Drug Administration.Methimazole label.
Food and Drug Administration.Propylthiouracil label.
Ross DS, Burch HB, Cooper DS, et al.2016 American Thyroid Association guidelines for diagnosis and management of hyperthyroidism and other causes of thyrotoxicosis.Thyroid. 2016;26(10):1343-1421. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0229
Idrose AM.Acute and emergency care for thyrotoxicosis and thyroid storm.Acute Med Surg. 2015;2(3):147-157. doi:10.1002/ams2.104
American Thyroid Association.Low iodine diet.
Michigan Medicine.Low iodine diet guidelines.
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