Graves Disease Treatment

Graves' disease is a form of hyperthyroidism in which immune system attacks the thyroid gland and lead to excessive production of thyroxin. Graves’ disease increases the metabolic rate of the body and results in changes in the patient’s physical appearance and affects hi health.  There is no specific treatment available for Graves’ disease, but there are ways to slow down the production of thyroxin to prevent aggravation of the symptoms of Graves’ disease. Symptoms of Graves’ disease are as following:-

• Palpitations
• Increased heart rate
• Tremors and shakes
• Confusion and nervousness
• Irritability
• Increased appetite
• Enlarged thyroid gland characteristic of Goitre
• Unexplained weight loss
• Anxiety
• Insomnia.

The treatment for Graves disease focuses on two main goals that are:-

• Improving various symptoms of hyperthyroidism
• Easing the thyroid gland condition to slow down the production of thyroxin.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as palpitations, increased heart rate, tremor and shakes are cured using beta-blocker medication such as propanolol (Inderal). Diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan) or a similar medication is prescribed to improve the problem of anxiety and insomnia.
The three treatments available for reducing the excessive production of thyroxin are

• Antithyroid medications
• Radioactive iodine
• Surgery.

The doctors usually begin with antithyroid medication, such as Methimazole (Tapazole, Thiamazole) or propylthiouracil (sold as a generic) to treat this hyperthyroidism. After treatment if the thyroxin levels normalise, the doctor may advise to continue daily anti-thyroid medication or to opt for radioactive iodine treatment. Radioactive iodine is an oral treatment in which a large dose of iodine is given to completely halt the production of thyroxin from thyroid gland. After this, the patient is asked to take his thyroid medicine everyday for the rest of his life. A patient, who receives radioactive iodine, is advised to stay away from pregnant women and children after he has been treated for Graves’ disease. If a breastfeeding mother has been treated for Graves’ with radioactive iodine, she should immediately stop feeding her toddler because small concentrations of iodine may build up in the breast milk.
Another treatment for Graves’ disease is surgery although it is rarely done nowadays.  People with severe cases of Goitre are less likely to respond well to radioactive iodine, thus surgical removal of the enlarged thyroid gland is considered better option.
Patients of Graves’ disease with eye symptoms are asked to use eye drops to keep their eyes moist and use sunglasses to when going out.
Graves' disease affects women more than men. It most frequently strikes between the ages of 20 and 40 but can occur at any age.