Yes, the taste of PTU is the pits. There have been a variety of things suggested over the years I’ve been working this board, to try to minimize the bitterness, so you could try to run a Search to see if you could find those ideas.
No, Tapazole does not have the same problem.
Yes, there is a reason, typically, why doctors prescribe one over the other. While they do somewhat the same thing (i.e. interfere with the production of thyroid hormone), they do it in different ways. PTU also is able to interfere with the conversion of T4 into T3, which can be a big help to some patients. PTU, since it only comes in one small size, and we take multiple pills, actually allows a bit more “fine-tuning” of the dose. Tapazole has a longer effective time than does PTU, so it sometimes can be taken only once a day. PTU is the medication of choice in lactating women and pregnant women, because it apparently tends to cross the placental barrier (and through the breast milk) in smaller concentrations than does Tapazole. There are lots of different reasons for a doctor choosing one over the other. You would need to ask your doctor for his/her reasons and discuss whether it would make sense, be safe, for you to try the other medication, if that is what you are thinking of.
I hope this helps,
Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator
