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Overactive Thyroid, Heat Intolerance, Diarrhea, High Pulse, Heart Palpitations, On Proporonal, Loratadine, Carbimazole. Recovery Possible?
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My sister has been diagnosed with overactive thyroid, heat intolerance, diarrhea, high pulse and heart palpitations.
The doctor has subscribed proporonal up to 3-4 times a day for her heart (10mg), Loratadine (10mg) and carbimazole (20mg).
Could you tell us, do these medicines need to be taken for a life time, what are the implications of doing so, are there any chances of recovery? Other information which may be helpful to us.
She has been referred to a consultant, xray for the neck (thryoid gland) is next week.
Thank you.
Thanks for posting your query.
I hope either Technetium scan of thyroid or Radio iodine uptake was done before starting the medicines.
If the diagnosis is hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease -specifically) then the treatment with Carbimazole for 12 - 18 months will cause remission in 40 - 50 % of all the patients treated.
If the patient has not entered remission even after 12 -18 months of treatment then there could be 3 options:
1. To give radio iodine therapy - called as Radio iodine ablation.
2. To continue these medicines indefinitely.
3. Surgery.
So you dont really have to take these medications lifelong.
Propranolol and Loratidine can even be stopped as early as 6 months depending on the response.
Response varies from patient to patient and some of the factors associated with increased chances of remission/ recovery are - small goitre, slightly elevated levels of T3 and T4, and low dose of medicines(Carbimazole ~5 mg/d) at the end of therapy.
Hope I have answered your query.
I will be available for your follow up queries if any.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
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