Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Get the Compare Your Your Quiz Your Summary Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. If your hyperthyroidism is not caused by Graves' disease, this information may not apply to you. When you have hyperthyroidism, your thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones control your metabolism—how your body turns food into energy—and they influence your heart rate, digestion, muscle and bone strength, and cholesterol levels. When you have too much thyroid hormone, all of your body's functions speed up. Without treatment, hyperthyroidism can lead to: Your doctor may recommend radioactive iodine if: Your doctor may recommend antithyroid medicine if: Compare What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. Who would have thought that the symptoms I was having were caused by my thyroid gland? I thought that they were just part of growing older. But after I decided to pay attention and wrote down how I felt and told my nurse practitioner, she did blood tests that showed that I had an overactive thyroid gland. Then she referred me to a doctor for treatment. I have never been a guy who liked to take medicine, so I opted to take radioactive iodine. I like the idea that I only had to take it once and then it was over and done with. Now I take thyroid hormone every day. But it's easy to take, and I just see my doctor once or twice a year for monitoring. Harry, age 63 Some people tell me that taking radioactive iodine is the best treatment for my thyroid condition. But I don't like the idea of taking something that's radioactive. Maybe I am too cautious. My doctor tells me that the amount of radioactive iodine is so small that it doesn't cause problems. I just can't get past that word "radioactive." I have decided to take antithyroid pills. I don't think I'll have a problem with them. I have a pretty regular kind of life and take vitamins every day, so remembering to take another pill won't make a big difference to me. Jesse, age 52 I took antithyroid medicine for my overactive thyroid about 2 years ago. I had trouble remembering to take the pills every day, and sometimes when I would go out of town to visit my family, I would forget to take my pills with me. Now, my thyroid is acting up again. I don't want to mess with pills. I worry that I might get some of those side effects from taking medicine. I have decided to take radioactive iodine. I know that I have a risk of hypothyroidism because of this treatment, but I am willing to take thyroid hormone pills if that happens. Emilia, age 45 My neighbor Geraldo took radioactive iodine for his overactive thyroid gland, and his thyroid gland became underactive. So now he has to take thyroid hormones. I guess I'll just skip the radioactive iodine and take pills. Besides, my doctor tells me that because of my age I might even be able to stop taking the pills and never have to take them again. That sounds good to me. Penny, age 35 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to take antithyroid medicine Reasons to take radioactive iodine I'm worried that radioactive iodine will damage my thyroid and I'll have to take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of my life. I can live with the damage to my thyroid, because I know I can take thyroid hormone pills to treat it. I don't mind taking pills for a few years to see if that will fix my thyroid problem. I want to get my thyroid problem taken care of quickly. I worry more about putting something radioactive into my body than about side effects of antithyroid medicine. I worry more about side effects of antithyroid medicine than about putting something radioactive into my body. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Taking antithyroid medicine Taking radioactive iodine Check the facts Decide what's next Certainty 1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. If your hyperthyroidism is not caused by Graves' disease, this information may not apply to you. When you have hyperthyroidism, your thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones control your metabolism—how your body turns food into energy—and they influence your heart rate, digestion, muscle and bone strength, and cholesterol levels. When you have too much thyroid hormone, all of your body's functions speed up. Without treatment, hyperthyroidism can lead to: Your doctor may recommend radioactive iodine if: Your doctor may recommend antithyroid medicine if: These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "Who would have thought that the symptoms I was having were caused by my thyroid gland? I thought that they were just part of growing older. But after I decided to pay attention and wrote down how I felt and told my nurse practitioner, she did blood tests that showed that I had an overactive thyroid gland. Then she referred me to a doctor for treatment. I have never been a guy who liked to take medicine, so I opted to take radioactive iodine. I like the idea that I only had to take it once and then it was over and done with. Now I take thyroid hormone every day. But it's easy to take, and I just see my doctor once or twice a year for monitoring." — Harry, age 63 "Some people tell me that taking radioactive iodine is the best treatment for my thyroid condition. But I don't like the idea of taking something that's radioactive. Maybe I am too cautious. My doctor tells me that the amount of radioactive iodine is so small that it doesn't cause problems. I just can't get past that word "radioactive." I have decided to take antithyroid pills. I don't think I'll have a problem with them. I have a pretty regular kind of life and take vitamins every day, so remembering to take another pill won't make a big difference to me." — Jesse, age 52 "I took antithyroid medicine for my overactive thyroid about 2 years ago. I had trouble remembering to take the pills every day, and sometimes when I would go out of town to visit my family, I would forget to take my pills with me. Now, my thyroid is acting up again. I don't want to mess with pills. I worry that I might get some of those side effects from taking medicine. I have decided to take radioactive iodine. I know that I have a risk of hypothyroidism because of this treatment, but I am willing to take thyroid hormone pills if that happens." — Emilia, age 45 "My neighbor Geraldo took radioactive iodine for his overactive thyroid gland, and his thyroid gland became underactive. So now he has to take thyroid hormones. I guess I'll just skip the radioactive iodine and take pills. Besides, my doctor tells me that because of my age I might even be able to stop taking the pills and never have to take them again. That sounds good to me." — Penny, age 35 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to take antithyroid medicine Reasons to take radioactive iodine I'm worried that radioactive iodine will damage my thyroid and I'll have to take thyroid hormone pills for the rest of my life. I can live with the damage to my thyroid, because I know I can take thyroid hormone pills to treat it. I don't mind taking pills for a few years to see if that will fix my thyroid problem. I want to get my thyroid problem taken care of quickly. I worry more about putting something radioactive into my body than about side effects of antithyroid medicine. I worry more about side effects of antithyroid medicine than about putting something radioactive into my body. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Taking antithyroid medicine Taking radioactive iodine 1.
Which treatment is more likely to cure hyperthyroidism? 2.
When does antithyroid treatment work best? 3.
Which treatment eventually leads to hypothyroidism (having too little thyroid hormone) in most people? 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Current as of: October 2, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardHyperthyroidism: Should I Use Antithyroid Medicine or Radioactive Iodine?
Hyperthyroidism: Should I Use Antithyroid Medicine or Radioactive Iodine?
1
Facts2
Options3
Feelings4
Decision5
Yourself6
Get the facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is hyperthyroidism?
What are the risks of hyperthyroidism?
Why might your doctor recommend one treatment over the other?
Compare your options
Personal stories about treatment for hyperthyroidism
What matters most to you?
Where are you leaning now?
What else do you need to make your decision?
Your Summary
Your decision
Next steps
Which way you're leaning
How sure you are
Your comments
Your knowledge of the facts
Key concepts that you understood
Key concepts that may need review
Getting ready to act
Patient choices
Credits and References
Author Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.Hyperthyroidism: Should I Use Antithyroid Medicine or Radioactive Iodine?
1. Get the Facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is hyperthyroidism?
What are the risks of hyperthyroidism?
Why might your doctor recommend one treatment over the other?
2. Compare your options
Radioactive iodine Antithyroid medicine What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? Personal stories
Personal stories about treatment for hyperthyroidism
3. What matters most to you?
4. Where are you leaning now?
5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
By Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
FAQs
Radioactive iodine Radioactive iodine
Antithyroid medicine Antithyroid medicine
More important
Equally important
More important
More important
Equally important
More important
More important
Equally important
More important
More important
Equally important
More important
Leaning toward
Undecided
Leaning toward
Not sure at all
Somewhat sure
Very sure
Credits
References
Citations
You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
FAQs
More important
Equally important
More important
More important
Equally important
More important
More important
Equally important
More important
More important
Equally important
More important
Leaning toward
Undecided
Leaning toward
You are right. Most people will be cured after one dose of radioactive iodine. But this treatment isn't for everyone.
You're right. Antithyroid medicine works best if you have only mild hyperthyroidism.
You are right. This treatment works by killing most or all of the tissue in the thyroid gland. Over time, this leads to hypothyroidism in most people, so they need to take thyroid hormone medicine.
Not sure at all
Somewhat sure
Very sure
Credits
References
Citations