[dlf]

#1060518

Has anyone experienced loss of taste while on Methimazole? If so, how long did it take for sense of taste to return once Methimazole was stopped?

[Kimberly]

#1183078

Hello – Yes, loss of taste is a potential side effect of methimazole, although I’ve actually heard more complaints wit PTU, the other anti-thyroid med.

Hopefully, others who have experienced this will jump in with info on how long the effects lasted.

I see from your post in another thread that your daughter has been on 60 mg of methimazole for 4 weeks. Hopefully, she has an appointment coming up very soon to re-check labs and see if the dose needs to be adjusted. Some patients respond very quickly to methimazole (I was one) and the dose might need to be adjusted downward to keep her from becoming hypothyroid. Paying attention to your daughter’s symptoms is important, but the only way to know for sure is with an updated set of labs. Make sure the doctor is looking at Free T4 and T3, and not just TSH, which can remain suppressed for quite some time and is therefore *not* a good benchmark early in the treatment process.

Take care!

[dlf]

#1183079

Thank you for your response. She just had labs checked a few days ago. TSH still low at 0.02 and her T4 was 1.1, which was down from 3.2 before she was started on Methimazole. Yes, I am in hopes that I hear from other who may have experienced this loss of taste.

[Kimberly]

#1183080

Hello – Don’t know what the “normal” range is for your lab, but if T4 is towards the bottom of the normal range, it would be helpful to call the doctor’s office to discuss whether a decrease in the dose would be appropriate.

Make sure your daughter’s doctor is aware of the latest medical guidance on treating hyperthyroidism – you can find a copy in the “Treatment Options” thread in the announcements section of the forum. Here’s a quick clip:

“Serum TSH may remain suppressed for several months after starting therapy and is therefore not a good parameter to monitor therapy early in the course.”

Sometimes, we have to be extra assertive in making sure doctors are looking at T4 (and T3) as opposed to TSH when making dosing decisions.

Take care!

[dlf]

#1183081

Hi Kimberly – I was not able to locate the treatment guidelines on the Forum which you mentioned in your repoly yesterday. Can you assist me in finding this?

[Kimberly]

#1183082

Hello – It’s the second link in this thread (which is located in the announcements section at the top of the forum):

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window)

http://gdatf.org/forum/topic/42490/

[ChristinaDe]

#1183083

I lost my sense of taste while on methimazole too. I only took the meds for about 2 or 3 months before getting my thyroid out…and then it took a few more months after that for my tastebuds to gradually return to normal. Really messed with my appetite…strangest feeling to suddenly not be able to taste so many things! The good news is that it did improve.

P.S. For whatever reason, I could still taste sugar when it happened.

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