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Learn about hyperthyroidism

Treatments for Hyperthyroidism

There are a number of hyperthyroidism treatments available. The best plan for you depends on your symptoms, the cause of your hyperthyroidism, and what treatment option makes you most comfortable.

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms

When you have hyperthyroidism, your body is producing excessive amounts of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Since these hormones regulate your metabolism (how your body processes and uses energy), having too high a level will cause symptoms related to a high metabolism. In essence, hyperthyroidism speeds up some of your body's processes.

Surgery for Hyperthyroidism

Surgery is a treatment option for hyperthyroidism, but it's not as commonly used as antithyroid medications or radioactive iodine.

Radioactive Iodine for Hyperthyroidism

Radioactive iodine treats hyperthyroidism by gradually shrinking your thyroid—ultimately destroying the gland. This therapy is much safer than it sounds; in fact, it is the most commonly used hyperthyroid treatment in the US.

Hyperthyroidism Complications

Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to serious complications, mainly related to the heart. When you have hyperthyroidism, your body is, in a way, running on overdrive all the time, and that can greatly affect your heart. Some possible heart-related complications of uncontrolled hyperthyroidism are:

Antithyroid Medications for Hyperthyroidism

Antithyroid medications—sometimes written as anti-thyroid medications—are a common treatment for hyperthyroidism, particularly if you have an ongoing form of hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease or a

Graves’ Disease Treatment

With proper treatment, you can minimize the effects of Graves’ disease. The goal of treatment is to control over-production of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). There are three treatment options for Graves’ disease. Your doctor or endocrinologist will recommend the best treatment for you and your particular case of Graves’ disease.  

An Overview of the Thyroid

Thyroid Essentials

Hyperthyroidism: Overactivity of the Thyroid Gland

Hyperthyroidism is a large topic, so we have split it into four manageable sized portions. This page introduces hyperthyroidism. Subsequent pages are listed at the bottom which address more specific details of making the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, the causes of hyperthyroidism, and different treatment options available for hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism: Overactivity of the Thyroid Gland

There are several causes of hyperthyroidism. Most often, the entire gland is overproducing thyroid hormone. This is called Graves' disease. Less commonly, a single nodule is responsible for the excess hormone secretion.
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