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Medications for Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the body makes too much thyroid hormone. It may also be called an overactive thyroid, Graves disease, thyrotoxicosis, and toxic goiter. Thyroid hormones help control body temperature, heart rate, growth, and weight, so common symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include:

  • Heat intolerance
  • Increased appetite
  • Increased sweating
  • Frequent bowel movements
  • Goitre (a visibly enlarged thyroid gland)
  • Hair loss
  • Irregular menstrual changes
  • Pounding or racing heartbeat
  • Restlessness
  • Sleep problems
  • Weight loss (or weight gain in some cases).

Other symptoms may include:

  • Anxiety or nervousness
  • Breast development in men
  • Clammy skin
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Fatigue
  • Hand tremor
  • High blood pressure
  • Itchy skin or eyes, or protruding eyes
  • Nail changes
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Skin rash on the shins.

What is the thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland is located at the front of your neck, just above where your collarbones meet. It makes the hormones that control the way every cell in the body uses energy and is an important organ of the endocrine system, but the secretion of hormones from the thyroid gland is controlled by the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.

Causes of Hyperthyroidism

People with hyperthyroidism sometimes have other family members who also have the condition, so there is an inherited component. Other causes of hyperthyroidism include:

  • Autoimmune diseases, such as Graves disease or Plummer disease
  • High iodine levels
  • Medications, such as lithium, amiodarone, or aspirin
  • Thyroid cancer or inflammation
  • Viral infections.

What is a thyroid storm?

A thyroid storm can occur if your thyroid hormone levels go too high. Symptoms include a very high temperature, very fast heartbeat, difficulty concentrating, increased sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea. Some people may have seizures or go into a coma. An infection, injuries, burns, and not taking your thyroid medication can precipitate a thyroid storm.

How is hyperthyroidism treated?

Some people may not need treatment for hyperthyroidism, but treatments include:

  • Antithyroid medications to decrease thyroid hormone levels and improve symptoms.
  • Radioactive iodine reduces the number of thyroid gland cells which decreases the amount of thyroid hormone produced
  • Surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.

Drugs used to treat Hyperthyroidism

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
methimazole 5.5 106 reviews for methimazole to treat Hyperthyroidism
Rx D N
Generic name:
methimazole systemic
Brand name:
Tapazole
Drug class:
antithyroid agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Tapazole 8.8 4 reviews for Tapazole to treat Hyperthyroidism
Rx D N
Generic name:
methimazole systemic
Drug class:
antithyroid agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
propylthiouracil 10 4 reviews for propylthiouracil to treat Hyperthyroidism
Rx D N
Generic name:
propylthiouracil systemic
Drug class:
antithyroid agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
potassium iodide 10 1 review for potassium iodide to treat Hyperthyroidism
Rx/OTC D N
Generic name:
potassium iodide systemic
Brand names:
SSKI, ThyroShield
Drug class:
expectorants, antithyroid agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
SSKI Rate Add review
Rx/OTC D N
Generic name:
potassium iodide systemic
Drug class:
expectorants, antithyroid agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
ThyroShield Rate Add review
Rx/OTC D N
Generic name:
potassium iodide systemic
Drug class:
expectorants, antithyroid agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
iodine / potassium iodide Rate Add review
Rx/OTC D N
Generic name:
iodine / potassium iodide systemic
Drug class:
minerals and electrolytes
For consumers:
interactions, side effects
sodium iodide-i-131 Rate Add review
Rx X N
Generic name:
sodium iodide-i-131 systemic
Brand names:
Hicon, i3odine Max
Drug class:
therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, antithyroid agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Hicon Rate Add review
Rx X N
Generic name:
sodium iodide-i-131 systemic
Drug class:
therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, antithyroid agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
i3odine Max Rate Add review
Rx X N
Generic name:
sodium iodide-i-131 systemic
Drug class:
therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, antithyroid agents
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

Learn more about Hyperthyroidism

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.