comments on my PTU dose,to Elaine

October 15, 2003

Thank you for the welcome and for commenting on my PTU

dose,Elaine.

The doctor didn`t explain how the PTU would work and

he only told me to call the office if I experienced a

sore throat or fever. I can`t remember him even saying

when he wanted to see me again.

I called the office yesterday and asked for an order

for blood tests and I guess that I can go anytime I

like so four weeks it will be.

Tomorrow I`m going to call again and ask if I can come

in for an explanation of his treatment plans and then

I`ll tell him what I would like to have happen,now that

I know a little more about Graves.

If I can`t get to see him, do you think that I should

cut back a little on the PTU? I`ve been taking it for 1

week,today.I am very afraid of becoming Hypo to the

point of panic.Is it usual for the doctor to want this

to happen? He didn`t offer a choice of treatments

either so I have no idea what he has up his sleeve.

Geez... I guess that I`m getting paranoid too.

Thanks

Crystal

>>Hi Crystal,

Welcome to the group. The usual starting dose for PTU

is 300 mg, using 100 mg

3 times daily. With your higher dose, you are likely to

become euthyroid

(normal FT4 and FT3) or hypothyroid sooner than the

usual 6-8 weeks. With that

dose you should have tests at 4 weeks to prevent

hypothyroidism from developing.

Be sure your doctor tests for FT4 and FT3 since TSH

can't be used for

monitoring your meds. TSH, which is a pituitary

hormone, can take quite some time to

start rising. One of the earliest symtom of

hypothryoidism is depression. Check

the list here for other symptoms so you'll know what to

watch for. Take care,

Elaine <<

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