Treating Hyperthyroidism

This is generally caused by Graves disease. It is important to know this can affect other family members. Other causes may include Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, functioning adenomas (benign tumors), multindular toxic goiter (Plummer’s disease), and medications (thyroid, amiodorone, excessive iodine intake).

Several methods are available to treat hyperthyroidism. Medications may slow the production of thyroid hormone, returning the level of hormone to normal.

If medications don’t work, patients who do not return to normal function after two years of medical therapy or who do not tolerate the medications (PTU or Tapazol) are generally treated with nuclear medicine ablation (I 131).

Thyroidectomy is also a possible treatment fpr Graves disease but is limited to selected cases where there is large gland size, failure of other therapy, patient choice, and progressive eye findings.

Surgical treatment is recommended for multinodular toxic goiter and adenomas.

After treatment for hyperthyroidism, you may need to take thyroid hormone pills to keep your thyroid hormone at normal levels.