Antithyroid Agents (Systemic)
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For antithyroid agents,
the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to methimazole or propylthiouracil. Also tell your health
care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods,
preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy - Use of too large a dose during pregnancy may cause
problems in the fetus. However, use of the proper dose, with careful monitoring
by the doctor, is not likely to cause problems.
Breast-feeding - These medicines pass into breast milk. (Methimazole
passes into breast milk more freely and in higher amounts than propylthiouracil.)
However, your doctor may allow you to continue to breast-feed, if your dose
is low and the infant gets frequent check-ups. If you are taking a large dose,
it may be necessary for you to stop breast-feeding during treatment.
Children - This medicine has been used in children and, in effective
doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in children
than it does in adults.
Adolescents - This medicine has been used in teenagers and, in
effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems
in teenagers than it does in adults.
Older adults - Elderly people may have an increased chance of certain
side effects during treatment. Your doctor may need to take special precautions
while you are taking this medicine.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
antithyroid agents, it is especially important that your health care professional
know if you are taking any of the following:
-
Amiodarone or
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Iodinated glycerol or
-
Potassium iodide (e.g., Pima) - The use of these medicines may
change the effect of antithyroid agents
-
Anticoagulants (blood thinners) - The use of antithyroid agents
may affect the way anticoagulants work in your body
-
Beta-adrenergic blocking agents (e.g., Inderal, Metoprolol, Sotalol) - The
use of antithyroid agents may change the amount of beta-blockers you need
to take.
-
Digitalis glycosides - The use of antithyroid agents may affect
the amount of digitalis glycosides in the bloodstream
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of antithyroid agents. Make sure you tell your
doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Liver disease - The body may not get this medicine out of the
bloodstream at the usual rate, which may increase the chance of side effects
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