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Stopping methimazole

Posted , 19 users are following.

cheryl08343
cheryl08343

My levels are going into the hypo range and so my gp told me to stop taking methimazole. Is there side effects from stopping or withdrawal symptoms? I was on 5 mg once a day. I have not been on it for 6 days now.

0 likes, 41 replies

41 Replies

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  • renee4439
    renee4439 cheryl08343

    Posted

    My doctor had me on 3 methimazole twice a day. Propanol twice a day and Selenium once a day. Did you take any of these others?

    Something is definitely wrong with me. I'm gaining along with dieting and exercise.

    Have you experience this?

    • dawn60697
      dawn60697 renee4439

      Posted

      Im only taking the methimazole 5 mg, but I have to watch my calories.  Are you experiencing any shedding with your hair?  I am shedding bad, but I started this prior to taking it.  It stopped for a couple months but I went off for about 3 weeks and now its really bad.  I have since started back at same dose
    • millicent33461
      millicent33461 dawn60697

      Posted

      Did you every find the answer to your hairless.  I am expierenceing the same thing.  It stopped for quiet sometime and now it is starting all over over again.  My levels are out of line again. I have an appointment on the 13th of this month.  Hope your hair grew back.  sincerely millicent
    • mindy90757
      mindy90757 millicent33461

      Posted

      I was diagnosed with graves back in june. I started on 10mg a day of methimazole. After 2 months I was brought down to 5mg a day after 2 months I was brought down to 5mg every other day and was kept there for 3 months. My hair started falling out a few months after starting the medication. It is one of the side effects, it only happend to a small amount of people but it does happen. Also our hormones can be whacky due to the thyroid issues so that can cause hairloss as well. I was just told to stop the medication because all my labs are normal. So fingers crossed my graves is in remission and stays there. The methimazole made me so sleepy, muscle fatigue, joint pain, weight gain, nausea, headaches, dizziness and hairloss. Hope all your labs are good the next time
  • dawn60697
    dawn60697 cheryl08343

    Posted

    I have been on Methimazole  5 mg for about 6 months  for hyperthyoid.  My levels go back and forth, but since I have started the methimazole it stays somewhat in the lower range.  The problem is I was losing my hair prior to starting the medication.  After taking for a month or so it seemed to work.  Then it started shedding again slowly so I freaked out and adjusted the dose to 10mg dly.  This helped some with the hair loss.  The labs came back out of range too high so I then stopped taking it for about 3 weeks.  I am now shedding alot!  I started back at 5 mg and now my labs are fine, but I am still losing my hair bad.  What is the problem now?  Labs are good and hair is still shedding?  Please any help would be appreciated ... Thanks 
  • millicent33461
    millicent33461 cheryl08343

    Posted

    Not sure what it means when doc said in an e=mail my levels were to low I am on methamzole 5mg for hyper I have nodules that seemed to shrink a little in june now he wants me to have a sonogram but now after my blood work he was aid levels were low does that mean he will lower the does plus I am on Nadolol . 

     

    • linda187
      linda187 millicent33461

      Posted

      It is a good idea to always get a copy of any lab tests that are done on you and keep your own file on them.  And also learn what they mean.  We can better comment if you post those lab results along with the range (figures in brackets beside your results).
  • jennifer46887
    jennifer46887 cheryl08343

    Posted

    Hi! I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease due to having a hyperthyroid almost 3 years ago after the birth of my son. For the past 3 years I have been in methamazole 10mg. No matter what I do I have gained an average of 15lbs. My doctor tells me every time that my numbers and levels are perfect yet I continually tell him that I al so lethargic and tired. I eat healthy and clean as well as excercise. If my levels are always where they need to be can we try to lower my dosage and see what happens? I have so much fatigue some days it’s hard to function. My eye lids have been puffy since I started my medication, has anyone else had this issue? I really hate the idea of being on a medication if it’s unnecessary or possibly hindering. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is it a possibility that one day I can lower my dosage or all together quit? I’m so tired of being tired. Feeling hopeless. 
    • linda187
      linda187 jennifer46887

      Posted

      Hi Jennifer.  You can obtain a copy of your lab test results.  When  you do, please post them to this Board so we can better comment.   With my disease on 10 mg of Methimazole for 2 years, my Free T3 and Free T4 (which are measurements of the actual thyroid hormone levels in your body) normalized immediately on that dose and stayed there for 2 years.  However, my TSH was less than 0.001 and would not budge for two years until I added supplements to my treatment.  When I added them, I was able to gradually lower my dose of Methimazole.  I now take Methimazole 2.5 mg 3 or 4 times a week and I would be happy to take that dose the rest of my life.  I do not have any energy problems unless I get a viral illness and all my values, including TSH are now normal.  So please post your most recent tests and we can better comment to help you.
    • jennifer46887
      jennifer46887 linda187

      Posted

      Thank you so much  Linda187. I will search for my last lab tests that I had months ago. I have a new set coming up in the next month or so and I will share those once I get them. 
    • jennifer46887
      jennifer46887 linda187

      Posted

      It says t4,free(direct) result 1.71 and beside it it says  .82-1.77 normal range 

      TSH 2.630 normal range .450-4.500

      Triiodothyronine (T3) 76 normal range 71-180. 

  • cheryl08343
    cheryl08343

    Posted

    Just an update. All my levels are normal started a healthier diet and I’m doing ok. However it took me a VERY LONG TIME TO GET BACK TO NORMAL. Thank you everyone for helping me and commenting on my posts. Especially to Linda. 
  • linda187
    linda187 cheryl08343

    Posted

    Your labs look good Cheryl.  My doc would not stop my meds unless my antibodies had normalized as well.  So . I would ask your doc to check that.
    • cynthea72747
      cynthea72747 linda187

      Posted

      I am having a difficult time sorting out my thyroid issues. I was diagnosed with Graves in 2007 and have been on methimazole since then. The dose now is 5 mg per day. I have developed pain and stiffness in my shoulder/arm muscles and my Endo does not think that the thyroid or the methimazole have anything to do with it but I am not so sure. From what I have read, both the drug and the thyroid issues can cause myopathy/myalgia. I believe I am more hypo than hyper although I have had swings both ways in the past. I just want to get to a place where I feel good for a change. My most recent labs at the endo are {TSH-2.113, Free T4-1.01} bloodwork done at my PCP last October {TSH-1.22, Free T3- 4.51, Free T4-0.70} My PCP is trying to help but does not want to override what my Endo does. During a days time I may feel great for a bit then feel like crap which isn't exactly a detailed explanation but it is difficult to put words to. Any ideas?

    • linda187
      linda187 cynthea72747

      Posted

      The fact that you are having swings makes me wonder whether you also have Hashimoto antibodies.  I was diagnosed in 2007 as well but my pattern was very different in that I was on 10 mg and stayed on that dose for two years.  My Free T3 and T4 immediately normalized in mid range but my TSH would not rise.  Though i felt better without the excess thyroid hormones, I was concerned that my TSH had not normalized and started doing research which led me to research articles on the use of L-Carnitine as treatment for hyperthyroid disease and from there I was tested and found to be deficient in carnitine, and vitamin D especially and low in Magnesium.  After 2 years I added these supplements which allowed my dose to be lowered significantly.  There was another lady on this Board, her name was Linnet and you might be able to find her old postings.  She had Hashimoto's and the Regular L-Carnitine was perfect for her.  Initially she just could not get control of her thyroid values and bounced all over the place but after taking the Carnitine, she was able to sustain normal thyroid values by just checking her temperature in the morning and making small adjustments.  Unfortunately Cynthia physicians do not know about the deficiencies and supplements necessary to have the best results.  I will email you a link where you can get a lot of amazing information about thyroid disease and how to manage all kinds of thyroid conditions.

    • jennifer46887
      jennifer46887 linda187

      Posted

      Thank you so much linda187. Are my levels in the normal range? I get retested soon. My doctor told me I can try cutting my dose of methimazole down to 5mg.  I did this about a week ago. I have notice much more energy. I am not sure how to read my numbers and need to research this more. Thank you for sharing the info on supplements, I would love to get off meds at some point. Is there a specific blood test I should request? 
    • linda187
      linda187 jennifer46887

      Posted

      Your TSH is within range.  For the other values, you need to post the range for normal which is in brackets beside your results on your lab test page because each lab differs in their measurements.
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