Presently there is dearth of any form of drugs or therapy which could halt the immune system of a patient from launching an assault on the thyroid gland and leading to Graves disease. But, several potential treatments could be carried out for allaying symptoms of Graves disease and reducing thyroxine from being produced or blocking its action.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers are usually effectual drugs for assuaging hyperthyroidism signs and symptoms like rapid cardiac beats, quivering and edginess.
Beta blockers do not have an upshot on the amounts of thyroxine production; however they do appear to having some upshot on the thyroid hormone action. Prevalently, prescription of beta blockers are usually done along with other treatment types which comprise of metoprolol (Lopressor), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal) and atenolol (Tenormin).
Anti-thyroid medications
This form of drug is prescribed for preventing production of unwarranted quantities of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. In several situations, this form of drug would be taken by patients for a minimal of a year’s time. In several situations, subsequent to a lengthy span of therapy, the ailment would subside for an extensive time span ultimately relapsing in most cases. Anti-thyroid medications used are methimazole (Tapazole) and propylthiouracil that are prescribed in combination with radioactive iodine therapy or surgical intervention to aid in easing symptoms.
Propylthiouracil intake has been linked to chances of developing liver damage that could at times be grave. Those patients showing intolerance to methimazole are solely recommended propylthiouracil.
Radioactive iodine therapy
Thyroid gland requires iodine for producing thyroid hormone. Soon after receiving radioactive iodine, it accrues in the thyroid gland. The radioactivity is known to gradually annihilate the overly active thyroid cells leading to smaller-sized thyroid gland and hence lesser thyroid hormone being produced. Thyroxine therapy would be required in few cases for ensuring levels of blood thyroid hormone are normal as the treatment is known to lead to declining thyroid activity.
This therapy bears a chance of aggravating symptoms of Graves’ophthalmopathy. But, associated signs are generally mild-ranging and transitory. Those people having acute symptoms of Graves ‘ophthalmopathy might not be apt candidates for radioactive iodine therapy. Excretion of radioactive iodine occurs via urination and salivation.
Surgical intervention
Surgical excision of the thyroid gland or thyroidectomy is done for those patients incapable of tolerating anti-thyroid drugs or those not intent on receiving radioactive thyroid treatment. Consequently, thyroxine therapy is required for ensuring ample blood thyroid hormone levels are present in such patients.
Associated risk with thyroidectomy is likely harm to the parathyroid glands and vocal cords. Parathyroid glands are quite small-sized glands situated close to the thyroid gland, producing a hormone that is responsible for regulating blood calcium levels. Complications atypically occur in case surgery for Graves disease is being performed by an adept surgeon.
