I have been on a course of 20mg Carbimazole for 4 weeks. All was well for 3 weeks, without side effects and I could feel them working as my symptoms subsided gradually. My resting heart rate is 78, which isn’t great but is loads better than 90 before.
I developed hives last week but these have now gone.
The last few days have had a sore throat and this morning I have woken up and it’s worse! My son is a toddler and has a cold, so it could be just this but I am on high alert due to medication. What shall I do? Is it cause for concern?
I really don’t want to stop taking meds but I have a sore throat which is meant to be a red flag.
If you have any recommendations please let me know!
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It could be nothing BUT it could be serious and I was advised to go directly to A & E and where a different AT drug is prescribed - Propylthiouracil - PTU for short - and likely blood tests run to assess the situation.
We are all different - and why you need to respond to the instructions on the PIL - as they are there for a reason - you have had the rashes and now the sore throat -
no one chooses to go to A & E - but it needs attention now - and not next week.
The randomly selected Patient Information Leaflet I just checked says:
Allergic reactions
If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking Carbimazole and see a doctor straight away.
The signs may include: sudden rash, swelling or difficulty breathing.
Stop taking Carbimazole and see a doctor straight away if you notice any of the following side effects:
• Sore throat.
• Mouth ulcers.
• High temperature or fever.
• Significant tiredness.
• Increased bruising or bleeding tendency.
• You are feeling generally unwell or think that you may have an infection.
In addition, if you experience any of these symptoms while taking Carbimazole you should also contact your doctor immediately:
• Muscle pain or weakness.
• Nerve pain.
• Swelling of lymph nodes.
• Swelling of glands in your mouth.
• Feeling faint (low blood sugar).
• Yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes.
These could be signs of muscle problems, jaundice or inflammation of the liver and under medical supervision your doctor may want you to stop taking the medicine and carry out some blood tests on you.
I think if they said wait so many days, or only to do something if you have two issues, that would undermine the advice severely. And, by delaying, could worsen severity of the problem, and make treating the problems much more difficult.
They really do mean "straight away" and "immediately".
We have had quite a few members who had to go to A&E as the only route to be seen quickly. I'm adding this here so anyone else coming along and searching old posts can see this information.
A sore throat when taking carbimazole *always* needs to be reported.
The patient information leaflet will specify this & the BFT who produce leaflets found in many hospital produce this drug alert card (downloadable) as it nots always well known by professionals.
Have both PIL & alert card info to hand if possible.
Carbimazole should not be resumed until your FBC (full blood count) has been taken & neutrophils checked.
Carbimazole can cause a rare side effect of triggering a drop in this fighting infection cell, & this can occur anytime when taking the medication.
If you can’t get help via GP or clinic going to A&E is not an over reaction.
This happened with a member a few months ago. The nurse initially said wasn’t an urgent matter but once staff had checked information they agreed to complete tests. Fortunately it was nothing serious but they did need to checked & needed antibiotics for tonsillitis.
I was really surprised (and pleased) that when I rang to organise a blood test and explained why I had absolutely no problem with the surgery receptionist booking me in the same morning.
We’ll, first of all I would familiarise yourself with the Patient Information Leaflet that you ought to have been given along with your carbimazole.
I had a bit of a sore throat a couple of weeks after I started taking 20mcg carb. It wasn’t very bad but it was coming up to Christmas and I was worried that it might get worse etc so I phoned and had a blood test and fortunately everything was ok.
I had another sore throat a while later and I spoke to my GP and we decided to ‘wait and see’, which I was happy with.
As it was I had a blood test four weeks after I started my carb and I got a letter from my consultant who I had not seen at that point telling me to get more carb from my GP and to double up to 40mcg a day. Once I settled down I had no further sore throats.
I didn’t have any mouth ulcers and I could drink, eat and sleep and felt ok really.
So, even though it is Easter I’m sure if you call 111 they ought to be able to arrange for you to have a blood test. I would say it’s better to do something that to sit and worry. Good luck.
Thanks all for your counsel. I called 111 who ran me through a list of questions. As I had 0 other symptoms they suggested watchful waiting. The sore throat has now gone, so all good but I am glad I checked with the professionals as it meant I could get on with my day.
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