Methimazole and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2020

For Hyperthyroidism "I had a thyroid storm about 3-4 months ago and did the RAI 3X a day during my stay in the ICU along with methimazole 30mg a day and metoprolol 50mg a day. Immediately I did not have any side effects. Within a month or 2, the extreme Charley horses, numbness, shooting nerve pains, extreme tiredness, and sleeping all day came. My hair is brittle and thinning, and hair loss everywhere. My face got swollen chubby, periods got longer and heavier. Weight gain was very fast and I'm unsure of how to shed even one pound. On a positive note, none of my hyperthyroidism symptoms have returned. However, I don't know how to balance this out to avoid these pains, weight gain, and tiredness and maintain a healthy thyroid. Has anyone had this?"

• Pos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 4, 2020

Methimazole for Hyperthyroidism "I’ve been on Tapazole for several weeks now. I’ve seen many negative experiences online and wanted to share my early positive experience. I am currently on a low dose, and within the first 3 weeks, my hyperthyroidism has responded very well - levels were extremely high before and have come down to the upper end of the normal range. TSH is still low, but I’m told that takes longer to respond to treatment. The first few days on Tapazole were challenging but manageable: headaches, tiredness, overall feeling blah. I experienced some swelling from water retention as well as itchy skin. A couple of weeks in and most drug side effects have disappeared, and a lot of hyperthyroid symptoms have improved too. My heart is still racing, but overall I’m happy I tried this drug."

• Ton...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2019

For Hyperthyroidism "I have been on this med for a month now. It has thinned out my hair and made me gain weight. I have never had a weight issue in my life. I have pain in my muscles and tooth sensitivity. I feel tired all the time. I can't wait to get off this med."

• Anonymous
• September 3, 2016

For Hyperthyroidism "I was put on methimazole 10 mg late May. Within a month, I had gained 10 lbs, my finger and feet became swollen, pressure headaches that would not go away after taking Advil, it hurt just to walk, back pains, and I was soooooooo tired. I complained to my doctor and she lowered the dosage to 5 mg, and then she took me off of it after my levels were okay. Then last week, I've had to go back on it again, but I've noticed that my symptoms aren't that severe this time, but I'm still continuing to gain weight. My doctor says I need to be on it and try to have my hyperthyroidism go into remission. I hate this drug! I've never felt this bad in my entire life, but I have no choice but to be on it."

• Tas...
• January 17, 2021

For Hyperthyroidism "I have Graves’ disease. I’m on and off this medication. I really don't like it but have no choice but to take it because I want to keep my thyroid as long as I can because once you take it out, all it will do is go to another organ, then there's another problem. I don't like the side effects of this medication: headache, nausea, constipation, dizziness, body aches, tired all the time, like you have no energy, low white blood cells. It sucks. They need to make a new medication. It’s no winning with this disease and medicine."

• Spa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 24, 2019

For Hyperthyroidism "My hands were trembling, and leg muscles were weak, hair loss and 62 lbs lost. I was diagnosed with Graves. I started a low dose of methimazole 5 mg and kept doing labs, increasing 5 more mg at a time. I am now at a 30 mg dose, which my doctor considers a high dose and thinks it’s time to radiate the thyroid as I’m not in remission. Side effects were itching, slight nausea, joints aching all over instead of usual arthritic hands. Immediate and continuous weight gain every time I increase the dose. Feeling kind of lazy and sleepy. My labs are all normal, but I’m getting a goiter-like thing in my neck. But it’s been 2 years, so I will take the radioactive meds and switch to thyroid hormones. Would be interested in knowing how the radioactive swallow works out for others. Did side effects cease? They say there are no side effects after the radiation, whereas with the methimazole, you can have liver and kidney damage over too long a period."

• Mik...
• January 6, 2020

For Hyperthyroidism "Diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in August of 2019. First med was 10 mg methimazole daily. Then, 2 months later, upped to 15 mg daily. Most all symptoms subsided. 5 months later, some have started to return. Grumble heart. Sweats, cold clammy hands, and erratic heartbeat. However, it's better than what it was 5 months ago. Have some side effects of mild headache, joint aches, fatigue, and tiredness. Trying to make an appointment back at the endo. I wish it would all stop and go away. Strongly considering RAI or surgery. Just tired of waiting to feel normal."

• gmo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2018

For Hyperthyroidism "I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism 2 months ago. Numbers were not that elevated, just a little over the normal limits. I was prescribed Methimazole 5 mg. I started taking this medicine in the evening before going to bed. I have to admit there were a few times I forgot to take it. I returned to the doctor 1 month after starting this medicine and was having joint pains, muscle aches, and was so sleepy/tired all day with continuous yawning also. The doctor seemed to think the sleepiness and tiredness was coming from my BP meds since it made my heart rate drop. (This medicine and the thyroid problems also contributed to making my heart rate drop more-a few times to below 50 bpm.) Now after taking the meds regularly, the pains, aches, and other symptoms have multiplied tremendously."

• Cyn...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 13, 2024

For Hyperthyroidism "I was started on methimazole about six years ago, at 7.5 mg daily -- which I was told is a low dose. I am being treated for hyperthyroidism caused by thyroid nodules. While this drug keeps my thyroid labs within normal range, I find that I am always tired during the day and have developed sensitive skin/rashes that I didn't have before starting it. While methimazole does control other hyperthyroid symptoms, it won't 'cure' the thyroid nodules. I just don't feel like myself on this drug, but I don't want to go through radioactive iodine treatments, either, which I've read can cause other cancers. Sadly, the endocrinologists I've seen only seem to care about the 'numbers' in your lab work and don't care about how you actually feel. I am also worried about the liver damage that methimazole can cause -- and don't think it's good to be on this drug for the long term. Scary."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2021

For Hyperthyroidism "I have Grave's disease causing hyperthyroidism and was on it from May to Oct. I have the tooth sensitivity issue really bad. Why don't the doctors and dentists know? I gained ten lbs back. I could stay up all night. But I think it helped that I exercised an hour each day. I'm off for only four days and now I'm tired and achy. I'm also on Toprol. My TSH is over now and my T4 is too low, but my Endo took me off of the methimazole for now. I'm happy about this because I don't like drugs. My hair is falling out and the texture is actually getting straighter. I think I had some other side effects, but I can't remember. I felt so horrible for a year, so at least I know it's Grave's disease hyperthyroidism... and not GCA or vertigo. It's been hell, so do the drug even a little. But sore throats should be reported immediately along with fevers. In May, I was on ten, then 20, then 30, then ten due to liver damage, then ten, now off in Oct."