Monday, May 28, 2012 , 11:29 PM
What medications are used to treat Hyperthyroidism?
There are two medications used to treat hyperthyroidism, propylthiouracil and methimazole. Physicians also prescribe carbimazole, which turns into methimalzole upon absorption into the body. (The one in taking is carbimazole)
The drugs are similar. Both consistently brings hyperthyroidism under control, usually within several weeks. If symptoms persist, it is usually because the patient isn't taking the medicine regularly.
Are there any side effects to these medications?
Carbimazole and propylthiouracil causes severe side effect called agranulocytosis, which is rare but fatal. The disease may strike any hyperthyroid patient on carbimazole and propylthiouracil at any time.
Agranulocytosis is an idiosyncratic reaction with no known trigger. It is extremely dangerous because it strikes without warning and can annihilate most of the body's immune system by attacking immune cells called granulocytes.
Granulocytes are the body's standing army, protecting it from invading bacteria. They make up 70 percent of the body's white blood cells. If the granulocyte army were suddenly wiped out, bacteria would invade and overwhelm the body with acute infections.
Because agranulocytosis is so deadly, attaching suddenly and surreptitiously, hyperthyroid patients must be constantly on guard.
Agranulocytosis occurs twice as often with carbimazole and propylthiouracil. With carbimazole ( the one that I'm taking ), the risk of developing agranulocytosis is related to dosage; the lower the dose, the lower the risk. (In another words, I'm on the high risk side.)
Physicians does not recommend propylthiouracil and carbimazole as a permanent treatment for hyperthyroidism. A more effective approach is radioactive iodine ablation.
There is no way to monitor agranulocytosis successfully because checking the white blood count doesn't help. The count can be normal one day and zero the next day.
-- An extract from The Cleveland Clinic Guide To Thyroid Disorders, Mario Skugor, MD and Jesse Bryant Miller
After reading, I typed as said in the book. Every word just slapped me hard to wake me up to face the reality.
I just realize I am losing myself anytime. I pat my back, I cried, I regret not taking good care of my body.
I need to treasure my everyday life, I need to treasure my family, I need to treasure myself, for I don't know when, it's the time I'll be attacked.
Being healthy is such a beautiful and blessing thing.. Don't ever lose it. It cost you a life if it's severe.
I would be happy I once lived, loved, and laughed.
Very grumpy.
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