If you have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, your treatment will depend on many factors. Your physician can help find the best option for you, but here are the three main types of treatment.
1. Anti-thyroid drugs — According to Endocrine Web, the most commonly used treatment for an overactive thyroid is anti-thyroid drugs. The thyroid gland works by producing two hormones called T3 and T4, and with hyperthyroidism, the gland produces too much hormone. These drugs work by blocking production of excess hormones.
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There are two kinds of anti-thyroid drugs: propylthiouracil, or PTU, and methimazole, or Tapazole. These drugs can take a few months to produce a noticeable reduction in symptoms. Some patients need to take these medications for more than a year, but the dosages will be gradually reduced over time.
2. Radioactive iodine treatment — This treatment is very likely to permanently cure
hyperthyroidism, according to WebMD. Radioactive iodine is a drug that is taken just one time, and it works by gradually destroying the thyroid gland. It is considered a very safe treatment that has been used for more than six decades, and it will not harm the tissues in any other part of the body.
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However, because the thyroid gland has been destroyed and is no longer producing thyroid hormones, most patients will need to take synthetic thyroid hormones in order to achieve the proper balance needed for metabolism and other body functions, Endocrine Web noted. Radioactive iodine cannot be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It also is not used to treat hyperthyroidism that is temporary, such as with thyroiditis.
3. Surgery — This is an option in only rare cases of
hyperthyroidism, explained Mayo Clinic. It can be used for patients who cannot tolerate anti-thyroid drugs or if radioactive iodine is not an option because of pregnancy. During surgery, most of the thyroid gland is removed. Just as with radioactive iodine treatment, patients who undergo thyroid removal surgery will need to take synthetic hormones for the rest of their lives to supply the body with the missing thyroid hormones.
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