Do I really need? - Question and Answer Forum - Elaine Moore Graves' Disease and Autoimmune Disease Education

Web Site Search

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

..:: Q & A ::..

THE Q & A

Welcome to The Q&A with Elaine Moore. Registered members are invited to ask any question of Elaine Moore on autoimmune diseases, Graves' disease, other thyroid diseases and subconditions, laboratory work, traditional and complementary medicine, triggers and environmental influences, thyroid and immune disorders in pets and animals, and other relevant areas of inquiry.

Each thread represents one question with one answer and will only appear at the time it is answered. Once answered, further replies cannot be made to the same thread since each thread represents only one question. A new thread will need to be started for additional questions.

Questions are answered solely by Elaine Moore, a medical writer and clinical laboratory scientist, MT, CLS, with more than 30 years of experience in immunology. Moore has also authored and edited over a dozen books in the area of health sciences and is an editor for McFarland Publisher's Health Topics Series.

Copying of any posts is prohibited without permissions.

The Q & A with Elaine Moore

Notice: No notices today.

7/22/2010 5:18 AM

Betty

Joined: 7/22/2010

Posts: 1

Do I really need?

Hello Elaine,

I was diagnosed with GD in May 2010. My doctor advised me to start Methimazole on 20 mg ( 10mg x 2 times/day).

After about 4 weeks the first blood test was done since starting medication, it showed some liver function problem.

My doctor suggested to stop medication. She says that liver function should be back within a week.

She now push me to have RAI asap.

Do I really need to rush to RAI? That is my only option? I don't have any options with lower dose of medication?

When I was diagnosed, I only had minor symptoms. Test result was TSH- 0.004 /Free T3-5.5 / Free T4-1.46

The lab test two days ago was TSH-0.003 / T3-2.3 / T4-0.77

Thank you for your site and your help.

Betty

7/22/2010 5:52 PM

Elaine

Joined: 8/1/2008

Posts: 3173

Re: Do I really need?

Hi Betty,

A dose, like yours, that's too high will cause abnormal liver function tests. Typically, unless the enzyme level is 5 times the high end of the reference range, the drug is continued. Lowering the dose will lower your enzyme levels. Your levels were only slightly elevated to start and a starting dose of 10 mg may have been more appropriate.

There's no need to have RAI. Based on your initial labs, your hyperthyroidism is mild and your liver enzyme levels should fall on a more appropriate dose of meds. You should be on the lowest dose needed to bring FT4 to at least mid-range. Many doctors wouldn't have started meds since only FT3 was elevated. Beta blockers are usually used in this case to reduce any symptoms and slow down the conversion of T4 into T3. ATDs, as you've seen, are too likely to move your FT4 into the hypothyroid range. Since we have roughly 8 times as much FT4 as FT3, our dose should always be based on the FT4 level. Best, Elaine

Page 1 of 1

TO USERS: Q&A posts are visible to all readers. Users can delete their own threads at any time. Users must provide information which is true and correct to the best of their knowledge as well as provide sources or references to any health / medical information if not taken from personal experience. All users including the moderator must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Advertising and self-promotion is not allowed. The moderator or site administrator has the right to ban users with or without warning for not following the basic rules of this site. All posts by default are not to be considered that of medical professionals unless otherwise indicated. As sole moderator, Moore has no conflicts of interest in the sponsorship of this forum.

HOME | ARTICLES | BOOKS | BLOG | Q&A | RESOURCES | ABOUT | CONTACT | SUPPORT

ELAINE-MOORE.COM
Elaine Moore Graves’ Disease and Autoimmune Disease Education
Copyright © 2008-2011 by Elaine Moore. All Rights Reserved.
These pages and their content, including all articles and images are not to be copied, reproduced or printed without written permission. All articles are copyrighted. All images are copyrighted or licensed to use.

SITE LAST UPDATED 23 JAN 2011

ABOUT THIS SITE
This site is self-funded exclusively by Elaine Moore. Moore has no other external sources of funds and receives no monies from government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, Amazon, or other commercial entities to operate this site. There are no conflicts of interest in the operation of this site.
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

DISCLAIMER
The information at this site is true and correct to the extent that all information contained herein about the benefits or performance of any diagnostic or treatment are backed up with scientific evidence such as medical journals, reports, articles, and other relevant materials.The educational information provided within is designed to help users better understand the nature of disease and the solutions available. Nothing contained on this website should be construed as or is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Under no circumstances is a particular treatment recommended and in all cases it is recommended that a physician be consulted for any treatments. Reference to any specific commercial or noncommercial products, services, processes, companies or trademarks does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Elaine Moore does not host any form of commercial advertisement, does not sponsor or endorse any products or services that may have been mentioned at the site. This excludes mention of her own copyrighted materials, articles, and books. The opinions, views and recommendations of individual registered members of this website, specifically as it pertains to personal inquiries at the Q&A forum or comments made to blogs, are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Elaine Moore.