10mg Dosage of Carbimazole

[Mansapansa]

Hello, I have recently been told I have an over active thyroid. The specialist in my closest hospital phoned me and said he believes I have graves disease but unsure as of yet. I picked up my prescription today and it is 1 10mg carbimazole a day. Even the leaflet in the packaging says a childs STARTING dose is total 15g a day. Is this a good thing and I’m maybe only a bit over active or do you think this could be an error?

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Welcome to forum

10mg is a low starting dose. You may have mildly elevated levels or your doctor may want to see how you respond to carbimazole 1st.

Ask for a copy of your results, or see if you can set up online access to results. You need to see what’s the levels are & what has been tested.

Post results & lab range for TSH, FT4, FT3.

Graves is confirmed by testing TSI or TRab antibodies.

TPO & TG antibodies can be tested by GP but these are positive with Graves and with autoimmune thyroiditis. Which can start with transient hyper but drops to under active.

What symptoms do you have?

[Mansapansa in reply to PurpleNails]

Hi thanks for this information.

My symptoms recently have been extremely sore eyes and blurred vision, tiredness, headaches

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Mansapansa]

Have you been referred to a separate specialist for eye issues (ophthalmology)

Eye issues are common with thyroid disfunction & Thyroid eye disease (TED) is often associated with Graves.

As you have headache visiting an optician also a good idea. They can be helpful for referrals & eye drops.

TEDct also have an informative site.

tedct.org.uk

Things you can do:

These can be used for any similar eye issues.

Taking a selenium supplement is said the help protect eye.  200mcg for up to 6 months.  Then reduce to 100mcg.  Can be brought over the counter.  Bear in mind selenium rich food can take you over the maximum requirement.

*Preservative* free eye drops & wipes.  Rotating different brands seem to help.  You could try, liquid versions for daytime & gel versions at nighttime.  

I’ve recently been using ocufresh carbomer lubricating eye gel it a light gel so best of both worlds. 

For when eyes are dry I use warm compresses (eg wheat bags, microwaveable gel masks).  Very gentle massage toward lash line, can use fingertips or carefully with roller ball tool or gua sha facial stones.  Warmth & message “unclogs” the blocked Meibomian Gland (tiny glands along lash line) and allows lipid oil layer to flow, & this protects eye and helps retains the water.  

If swollen, inflamed & more painful, I switch to cold compresses.  

If you like to moisturise near your eye area use water based clear gels not oil / cream.  I did this as developed milia white spots round eye.  I found the puffiness & swelling reduced when I switched. 

Serious complications with vision or changes to eye appearance are very, very rare.  Don’t Google and panic over worst case scenarios, they are always the most severe examples.

It can help to keep a photo record of eyes eg take a photo every 2 or 3 weeks. Put in an album on phone (buddy195 tip👍). I hide them behind a cute kitty picture.

Many report TED triggered or worsened when thyroid levels are low / high or fluctuating. So getting stable control of levels a priority.

TED can occur without having Graves (many doctors are not aware of this) so you still need TSI & TRab antibody confirmation.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Also request GP test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin levels

Or they may have been tested already

Very common for vitamin levels to be low with Graves’ disease (autoimmune HYPERTHYROID) or with Hashimoto’s (autoimmune HYPOTHYROID)

Important to get TSI or Trab antibodies tested to definitely confirm Graves’ disease

Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid type results before becoming increasingly hypo

[Chill71]

Hi Mansapansa,

I was treated for an overactive thyroid in 2021.

My endocrinologist said it was due to Graves’ disease.

I was treated with 10mg per day of a Cambrimazole for 18 months and have not had any problems since then, thank goodness.

I asked for a low dose as I did not want to gain weight.

Weirdly I gained weight due to my over active thyroid before diagnosis. I was able to loose all that weight while on the low dose of Cambrimazole.

You should start to feel better after 10-14 days.

I wish you well in your journey back to health.

E

[Hidden]

Hi Mansapansa,

I wanted to write and say, I’m sorry you’re feeling this way. I’m curious, have the meds started to work yet?

Curious as I have recently been prescribed 10g of carbimazole.