What is propylthiouracil used for?
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What is propylthiouracil used for?
Propylthiouracil is used to treat Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. It is also used before thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine treatment in patients who have already been treated with other medicines (e.g., methimazole) that did not work well.
How long does it take for propylthiouracil to start working?
Propylthiouracil should have some effect on your symptoms around three to four weeks after treatment starts. Your thyroid hormone levels should be stabilised within four to eight weeks. Continue to take the tablets for as long as you are advised to do so by your doctor.
What should be monitored when taking propylthiouracil?
Because propylthiouracil may cause hypoprothrombinemia and bleeding, monitoring of prothrombin time should be considered during therapy with the drug, especially before surgical procedures. Thyroid function tests should be monitored periodically during therapy.
Is propylthiouracil a hormone?
Propylthiouracil is in the antithyroid family of medications. It works by decreasing the amount of thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland and blocking the conversion of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3). Propylthiouracil came into medical use in the 1940s.
Does propylthiouracil cause hair loss?
Hair loss and antithyroid treatment Antithyroid drugs (carbimazole and propylthiouracil) can, in rare cases, cause diffuse hair loss. It may be very difficult to tell whether the hair loss is due to the effects of the previous overactivity of the thyroid or the anti-thyroid drugs.
Does propylthiouracil cause depression?
Conclusions. Our results indicate that PTU-induced hypothyroidism causes behavioral changes and depressive behavior in rats possibly via central serotoninergic hypofunction. Depressive symptoms could be avoided via application of serotoninergic drugs.
How long does propylthiouracil stay in your system?
Propylthiouracil is readily absorbed and is extensively metabolized. Approximately 35% of the drug is excreted in the urine, in intact and conjugated forms, within 24 hours.
Can you drink alcohol while taking propylthiouracil?
There are several activities you should avoid while taking propylthiouracil (PTU). Avoid drinking alcohol, as it may cause sedation or confusion. Also, avoid taking this drug during pregnancy and breastfeeding because of possible harmful effects to an unborn baby or infant.
What happens when you stop taking PTU?
Recap. Skipping or stopping your antithyroid medication or thyroid hormone replacement will lead to undesirable and possibly dangerous effects. Not taking your medication also increases your risk of fatal conditions like myxedema coma if you are hypothyroid, and thyroid storm if you are hyperthyroid.
Can I take PTU at night?
To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, if you are taking more than one dose a day, it is best to take the doses at evenly spaced times day and night. For example, if you are to take 3 doses a day, the doses should be spaced about 8 hours apart.
When can I stop taking PTU?
Stop taking propylthiouracil and call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver damage:
- nausea, vomiting, upper stomach pain;
- itching;
- fever, tiredness;
- loss of appetite;
- dark urine, clay-colored stools; or.
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
