Carbimazole treatment for hashitoxicosis - what to expect?

[PugMama78]

Hello,

After two tests showing extremely high T4/T3 levels my GP has decided to start treatment with carbimazole while I wait for my referral to the endocrinologist. I am assuming this is a hashis hyper swing since I was put on levothyroxine last year for having a slightly under-active thyroid and testing positively for Hashimoto’s. My levels have been high for at least 2 months now and awful side effects including insomnia, anxiety like I’ve never know, racing heart and diarrhea. I’ve been on propranolol the past few weeks to help with side effects while I wait for my referral, but they may me feel quite out of it and dizzy.

Hoping the GP knows they are doing and this is the right path forward? I hear that hashitoxicosis can last up to 2 years, so I think so. I am just feeling a bit overwhelmed with it all. The GP has booked me for a blood test in a months time and has prescribed me 20mg carbimazole once per day.

Has anyone here had a similar experience and can tell me what I can expect on this medication and how long it may take to bring my high thyroid hormone levels back under control?

Thank you in advance 💕

[pennyannie]

Hello PugMama -

Carbimazole is an Anti Thyroid drug and generally prescribed when there is a diagnosis of Graves Disease but see your test for Graves came back negative for TSI antibodies -

You do know you have Hashimoto's and this causes transient hyper type swings in symptoms and not treated with an AT drug as the T3 and T4 thyroid hormones will fall back down into range themselves and likely you leave you more hypo than you were previously and needing a dose increase in Levothyroxine.

Have you stopped taking your T4 - Levothyroxine until this swing in hyper symptoms is over ?

The AT drug will be a much quicker way for you to become more hypothyroid - generally speaking doctors consult and work under instruction when prescribing an AT drug -

Has your doctor considered prescribing you a beta blocker in the short term as this is what usually happens when patients experience these hyper swings ?

[PugMama78 in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you for your reply

Yes… I am aware that this is a temporary state but know that it can last for some time. I don’t think it’s common but have heard stories where it can extend for up to 2 years, and because it’s been two months already and just getting worse I really need to get control of it sooner than later, as the symptoms are bad. I have been given beta blockers already but they only help for some symptoms and I’m finding it not enough, especially if this could be going on for many months.

I stopped my levothyroxine after my last blood test results came back a few weeks ago now. But stopping that and taking propranolol has not been enough to keep my symptoms at a bearable level. I know that carbimazole can also be prescribed for prolonged periods of being in a hashis hyper swing… which seems to be what I am in right now?

[pennyannie in reply to PugMama78]

Well maybe the Propranolol dose needs increasing -

I'm not aware an AT drug is prescribed for Hashimoto's and I do not believe you can put a time scale of 2 years on a Hashi swings or on Hashimoto's totally disabling your thyroid - so I need to read around a bit more than I have.