Thyroid medication

Introduction

The thyroid gland is an important hormone producing organ of the human body, technically it is called endocrine organ. The gland is located in the area of the larynx in front of and to the side of the windpipe. It produces the hormones T3 and T4 and calcitonin, which are produced and stored in the butterfly-shaped organ.

The iodine-containing hormones are important for the metabolism of the organism as well as for growth. Thyroid gland diseases can have severe consequences, especially in adolescents, which is why they should be detected and treated early. Disorders of the thyroid gland‘s hormone production can be roughly divided into under- and over-functions of the organ. The drugs used to treat the diseases are discussed below.

Medicines for hyperthyroidism

Overactive thyroid is an overproduction of thyroid hormones with symptoms such as weight loss, palpitations (tachycardia) and sweating. Depending on the cause of the hyperthyroidism, a goiter, i.e. an enlarged thyroid gland, can be palpable. In the case of Graves’ disease, the protrusion of the eyeballs is also characteristic of an inflammation of the tissue behind them.

Hyperthyroidism, as hyperthyroidism is also called, is treated with thyrostatic drugs. The sulfur-containing substances such as carbimazole, thiamazole and propylthiouracil inhibit the formation of thyroid hormones with a delay of about one week. Sodium perchlorate and potassium perchlorate inhibit the absorption of iodine into the thyroid gland and thus also the formation of the iodine-containing hormones.

They act without delay. In tachycardia, beta-blockers such as propanolol are used to alleviate the symptom. Propylthiouracil Carbimazol Thiamazol Sodium perchlorate (Irenate), Potassium perchlorate Beta-blockers such as Propanolol, Bisoprolol, Metoprolol Radioiodine therapy is an alternative to the treatment of hyperthyroidism with drugs and uses the radiation of the radioactive iodine isotope 131 Iodine to destroy the diseased cells of the thyroid gland. This will be discussed in the following.

  • Trade names: Propycil, Prothiucil, Thyrostat
  • Trade names: Carbimazole, Carbistad, Neo-Thyrostat
  • Trade names: Favistan, Methizole, Thyrozole