[Anonymous]

#1021164

I was newly diagnosed with Graves disease yesterday. My TSH has been in the 0.34 range the past few tests and my uptake scan was about 20.6%. My endo thought I’d want to do RAI but I pushed to try Tapazole first. He said that was just fine and prescribed 10 mgs. twice a day. I go back in four weeks for labs and another endo appt. Because my Graves is mild, am I making the right decision to try the meds first? RAI scares the crap out of me! Also, I worry about the possibility of getting some kind of cold or infection while on the Tapazole because my endo said if that happens I have to come into urgent care right away to get a CBC test done to check my white cell count. Can anyone share their experiences with Tapazole with me? Any advice is greatly appreciated!! Oh, I haven’t started the Tap yet, I picked up the med, but I’m waiting until I talk to my family dr. tomorrow when I have my annual exam, just to see what her opinion is. Thanks much!!!

[Anonymous]

#1079523

My TSH was .01 August of 2004. I started Tapazole that month. I have been on 20-30 mg of Tapazole for 1 year with little problems. After 1 year my TSH was still .01. My uptake scan was 24.8. I had RAI yesterday so we’ll see. So far I feel OK. I talked to so many people who had been through the same thing I wish I had the RAI last year instead of waiting. I wanted to give the Tapazole a try but ended up as most do choosing the RAI. I had to make my own decision but after 1 year I was fed up with the whole thing and “just went for the RAI”.

[Anonymous]

#1079524

I was diagnosed about a year ago and have been on tapozole since being diagnosed. I too was scared about the RAI and wanted to try the meds first. The meds have been working great. I immediately felt better and had positive results. I dropped into normal range after my first month, but dropped too low in the follwoing months and became hypo. It has been a juggling act as there is no magic dosage. I am currently experiencing some side effects of Graves again even though my levels are normal, but I notice it’s directly related to the stress that I have been experiencing in my family. When I’m good, I’m perfect and feel actually normal. Then there are the days when I’m off and things feel bad, not only physically but emotionally. Just know that you will be juggling your dosage to find what is correct for you. After a year I alternate my dosages. One day I take 5mg then the next 10mg and so on. I don’t regret being on tapozole and if I have to eventually do the RAI, I will go down that road when the time comes. I wouldn’t worry too much about the side effect of the tapozole where it lowers your white blood count. True it is a side effect, but not a common one. It does sound very scary, but as with any drug, you must look for side effects. Good luck! I was in your shoes a year ago and had many of the same questions and fears you have, and things to get to be less scary and you just learn to live with it!

[Anonymous]

#1079525

My TSH is 0.34, while my uptake test was elevated at 20.7%. I did decide to start the Tapazole and I will see how that goes. I go back to my endo on Aug. 30 so I will cross my fingers and pray that the medication will work. Thanks everyone!

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