Treatment of hyperthyroidism should be indicated by the family doctor or endocrinologist based on levels of hormones circulating in the blood, the age of the person, the severity of the disease and the intensity of symptoms, and the use of medications, treatment with radioactive iodine. or surgery to remove the thyroid.
Hyperthyroidism is caused by an alteration in the functioning of the thyroid gland, which causes it to overact, releasing hormones to the body in a much greater amount than expected. It is important that hyperthyroidism is identified and treated so that the person can improve their symptoms and have a better quality of life. Learn more about hyperthyroidism.
- The use of drugs corresponds to the first line of treatment of hyperthyroidism since they act directly in the regulation of hormone levels.
- Which can inhibit the synthesis of T4 and block its conversion into T3.
- Thus decreasing the amount of circulating thyroid hormones in the blood.
The main remedies recommended by the doctor to treat hyperthyroidism are proppiltiouracil and metimazole, however the dose will depend on circulating hormone levels, response to treatment over time and side effects. Therefore, during treatment, dose adjustment may need to be adjusted over time and your doctor may maintain, increase or decrease the dose of the medicine.
To evaluate whether the drug is at the correct dose and if it has the desired effect, blood tests will be required to evaluate TSH, T3 and T4 hormone levels in the body, and the correct dose of medications can be obtained between 6 and 8 weeks. Treatment.
Learn more about hyperthyroidism remedies
Treatment with radioactive iodine, also called iodine therapy, involves ingestion of a capsule containing this substance, being indicated when drug treatment is not effective. This method promotes intense inflammation of thyroid cells, resulting in a decrease in hormone production.
Often, a single dose of radioactive iodine may be enough to treat hyperthyroidism, but there may be cases where your doctor needs to prolong treatment for a while.
This type of treatment is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women, and it is recommended to postpone pregnancy 6 months after the end of treatment, for women considering becoming pregnant.
Understand how iodine therapy works for hyperthyroidism
Thyroid ablation surgery, also known as thyroidectomy, is a definitive treatment that involves reducing thyroid tissue to decrease hormone production. However, due to the fact that part of the thyroid is removed, this type of surgery is also associated with an increased risk of developing hypothyroidism. Therefore, it is important for the doctor to regularly follow up on the person.
This surgery is indicated in cases where other treatments have not worked or where nodules, thyroid enlargement or cancer are present and, depending on the severity of the disease, may be total or partial, i.e. if the thyroid is removed in whole or in part. .
Recovery after surgery is very simple, so it is only recommended to avoid making efforts to avoid causing swelling or bleeding at the cutting site. See how thyroid surgery is performed.
See also what you can eat daily to control hyperthyroidism in the video below: