Re: RAI - Good or Bad. Thanks!!

November 16, 2003

What is ATD?

ATD is what you're currently taking. It stands for anti thyroid drug and

it's medication that suppresses thyroid hormone production;

hyperthyroidism means there's too much thyroid hormone being produced. Of

the 3 conventional options it's the most benign. Ideally one stays on

ATDs, gradually reducing the dose, until thyroid hormone and antibody

levels are normal. The time frame is usually 12-24 months but some people

need to stay on them longer, but at very small doses. (I'll bring this up

again at the end of this post.)

The 2 ATDs are methimazole (AKA Tapazole, Carbimazole, Neomercazole -

when people in the US refer to Tap those numbers should sound familiar to

you) and PTU.

Is

> there anywhere that I can find out the 'normal' levels of TSH. T3,

> T4? I'm not really sure what my levels are supposed to be...

I would imagine on the paper with your lab results. Here in the US the

normal ranges are always given. While we can give you an idea of what

normal TSH should be, the T3 and 4 differ from lab to lab, and the ranges

for the Total T3 and 4 are very different than the Free T3 and 4. You

should insist on having a Free T4, not a Total, or any other form.

My

> consultant seemed to think that staying on Carbimizole as a

> treatment forever was not an option. Does anyone know why this is?

There are very rare though serious posibilities from staying on ATDs long

term. Heart arrythmia seems to be the one endos bring up most. But again,

very rare, the patient and dr. would have some warning about the

situation, and the pros of the low dose of ATDs in keeping the thyroid in

check seem to far out weigh the cons of staying on.

Take care, Fay

P.S. To Carolyn - I think I was getting some of your details confused

with Elise's; my apologies though the thrust of what I had to say is

still applicable.

P.P.S. Dale - I think that the reason people here thought you were a

man is that some of your posts were coming under Del's (?) original

subject line - " It's official, today I am a man with GD. "

________________________________________________________________

The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

Recommended Posts