Hyperthyroidism, or Graves’s disease, is treated in three ways – drug therapy, radioactive iodine therapy or thyroidectomy. The drugs prescribed for hyperthyroidism can have some side effects that patients should be aware of.
Two types of drugs prescribed for hyperthyroidism are thyroid drugs and beta blockers. The thyroid drugs work to decrease the hyperactivity of the thyroid gland, whilst the beta blockers work to reduce side effects of hyperthyroidism on the cardiac system, such as high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and anxiety.
Anti thyroid drugs- Neo Mercazole
One popular anti thyroid drug is Carbimazole retailed in Australia as Neo Mercazole. Neo Mercazole exerts its anti thyroid effect by blocking the binding of iodine but does not affect the uptake of iodine by the thyroid gland. The active component of Neo Mercazole is methimazole, which is responsible for the anti thyroid activity of the drug.
Side effects of Neo Mercazole
Common side effects of Neo Mercazole are nausea, headache and gastric problems. It can also cause rashes and hair loss. Another side effect is loss of bone density after prolonged use; this makes regular bone marrow scans, particularly for women, important whilst using the drug.
The drugs are taken orally and the maintenance dose is usually between 10 and 15 mg daily.
Beta Blockers – Inderal
Beta blockers are prescribed to patients with hyperthyroidism to treat side effects such as rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure and anxiety. One common beta blocker is propanolol, marketed in Australia as Inderal. The drug works by blocking the production of certain chemicals in the body, including epinephrine. This results in a slowing of the cardiac system.
Side effects of Inderal
Inderal can cause dizziness and tiredness; this is a result of the body slowing down and is very common in users of beta blockers. It can also cause coldness to the extremities, especially the hands and feet; this is a result of the decrease in blood flow. Another common side effect is unusual dreams which may alarm the patient. These dreams can be very vivid and disturbing but are due to the drug not psychological disturbance of the patient. Beta blockers can also cause fever, fainting, sore throats and rash.
The drugs are taken orally and should be administered before meals.
The prescribed drugs for hyperthyroidism, beta blockers and anti thyroid drugs can cause several side effects. If a patient suffers prolonged or severe side effects he or she should immediately visit a doctor.
Sources:
Neo-Mercazole MIMS Australia, 1996-2007 (accessed November 30, 2010).
Propranolol, Inderal, Inderal LA, Innopran XL- Medicinenet (accessed November 30, 2010).
Leann Richards - I am a writer, a student, a teacher and an historian. My various occupations have included bookkeeper, historian, teacher, tax consultant ...
