Does Carbimazole suppress the immune system?

[Crabb]

I know that a low white blood cell count is a dangerous, yet relatively rare side effect of Carbimazole. However, does Carbimazole suppress the immune system in general?

[Pegasus9492]

As far as I am aware overactive Thyroid is an auto immune condition so your immune is low anyway. I have been taking Carbimazole now for 3 years from 20 mil down to 5 mil a day and as yet have had no trouble

[WestBurrafirth]

I have ben told that Carbimazole is a drug that 'can' cause your white blood cell count to reduce and so long -term 'can' affect the immune system - causing the condition Agranulocytosis. It probably depends on a number of factors - how much you are taking on a daily basis/age/other health issues/how well you are generally. I have Graves disease and been on varying doses of Carbimazole for the last 18 months from 5 to 10 - 30 - 15 - and currently 20mg. I have been looking into this issue of affects on white blood cell count. My endocrinologist is now talking about surgery as they can't seem to get the thyroid to stabilise (I am going to resist this!).

From what I've read Agranulocytosis is a well-recognized but rare and life-threatening. side effect of carbimazole therapy, and 'usually' occurs within the first 3 months of treatment. Agranulocytosis is a rare condition in which your bone marrow doesn’t make enough of a certain type of white cell, most often neutrophils. Neutrophils make up the largest percentage of white blood cells in your body and are a critical part of your body’s immune system.

Having regular blood tests to check thyroid levels should mean that this is monitored, although whether they also check white blood cell count is another matter!

I would be interested in asking everyone who is taking carbimazole how long they have been on the drug, and if long-term what the doses are they are on and , what side effects they have. (I will post this as a separate question as well to see if there are more responses)

[Crabb in reply to WestBurrafirth]

In the end I asked my endo about this and he said that the dose I’m on (2.5mg per day) wouldn’t suppress my immune system. I couldn’t get an clarity on whether a larger dose could, aside from the rare side effect of Agranulocytosis.

[Gravesgirl1 in reply to WestBurrafirth]

Hi. I have just recently been diagnosed with Graves disease. I was advised by my endo that the side effects are generally seen in the first six weeks.

[pennyannie in reply to Gravesgirl1]

Hello Gravesgirl and welcome to the forum :

Can I just suggest that if you need to ask anything about Graves Disease you will be better served by posting on the sister forum - Thyroid uk :

There are a much larger nucleus people on that forum dealing with " all things Thyroid " and you'll be picked up there much more quickly ;