A 38-year-old member asked:
How long till ur treated from hyperthyroidism? i hav been taking ptu (propylthiouracil) for 6 months now should i continue taking d meds?
3 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Patricia Vuguinanswered
Pediatrics 33 years experience
Not sure: Usually the majority the patients will go on remisión after 1-3 years after the diagnosis, but there is also a large percentage that will need the medication for decades,
very difficult to figure that out, the only way to know is by serial blood test in which we measure thyroid hormones.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Susan Wingoanswered
Endocrinology 33 years experience
Usually 12-18 months: Typically, people take thyroid-blocking meds like ptu (propylthiouracil) or Methimazole fro 12-18 months. Then the med is stopped, and thyroid hormone levels watched closely to see if hyperthyroidism returns. About 1/3 of people have it return as soon as med stopped, another 1/3 have it return within 2 years of stopping med. Usually surgery or radioactive used if it returns.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Melissa Younganswered
Internal Medicine 9 years experience
Usually 12-24months: But it depends on how over active your thyroid was to begin with, how quickly you responded and how much medication you need. Blood tests will tell if your thyroid hormones levels are ok. Generally i wait til someone has been within normal for a year, but sometimes i'll take them off sooner if they need very little med and levels are low side of normal.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Sep 9, 2014
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