March, 2001

by Mary J. Shomon

In the past, studies have shown that treatment for hyperthyroidism with a single daily dose of the antithyroid drug methimazole could be effective.

A research study just reported on studied a group of Graves' disease patients, to determine if the same type of dosage would work with propylthiouracil (PTU).

The results showed that a single daily dose of 15 mg of methimazole was much more effective in making the patient euthyroid (normal thyroid range), versus PTU.

The once daily regimen methimazole reduced T3 and T4 levels more rapidly and also brought the patient into normal thyroid range four times more effectively than once daily PTU.

(Reference: Efficacy of single daily dosage of methimazole vs. propylthiouracil in the induction of euthyroidism. Clinical Endocrinology 54 (3), 385-390.