[shaylee43]

#1059554

Hello all, I’m so thankful that I’ve found this forum. I was diagnosed with Graves in June of 2010, I was put on methimazole for 6 months and I was in remission for two years. I started feeling hyper again a couple of months ago and that was confirmed with my last labs. Now my doctor will not give me another round of anti thyroid drug and said I needed to do RAI. So I went and got a second opinion he also will not prescribe anti thyroid drugs. I’m frustrated because I was in remission for two years, so why not give the anti thyroid drugs another shot? Has anyone out there run into the same issue? Thanks in advance.

[Kimberly]

#1175693

Hello and welcome! The latest medical guidance from the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists somewhat leans to RAI/surgery, *but* does leave the door open for continued use of Anti-Thyroid Drugs:

“If a patient with GD becomes hyperthyroid after completing a course of methimazole, consideration should be given to treatment with radioactive iodine or thyroidectomy. Low-dose methimazole treatment for longer than 12–18 months may be considered in patients not in remission who prefer this approach.”

You can find the full guidance document in the “Treatment Options” thread in the announcements section at the top of the forum. Perhaps discussing this with your doctor would be helpful. If there is some particular reason why the doctors feel RAI/surgery are better options in your particular case, they should be able to provide you with an explanation.

We do have members here who have come out of remission and chosen another round of ATDs as their treatment option, including a facilitator (James) who is in a 9+ year period of remission after 3 rounds on ATDs.

Hope this helps!

[Claire95]

#1175694

I was in remission for five years after about nine months on Tapazole. When I became hyperthyroid again, my endo wanted to first put me on Tapazole to stabilize my levels, and then do RAI. I ended up not having RAI as my endo reconsidered and thought I may have a chance of another remission because of the length of my first remission. I plan to have RAI if I relapse again. Right now I am hypothyroid and my dosage of Tapazole was just decreased to 5 mg daily. The Dr. I saw after my uptake scan said my endo. may not write me a prescription for Tapazole. I’m glad that wasn’t the case.

[shaylee43]

#1175695

Thanks so much for the information! I’m really glad I’ve found this group. Thank you!

[Khadijah]

#1175696

My dr is all for the methmizole and as long as toxicity is not an issue he will be glad to put me on and off it until I find it a burden for whatever reason.

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