Methimazole and Serum Thyroid Hormone Concentrations in Hyperthyroid Patients: Effects of Single and Multiple Daily Doses
Authors: Elio Roti
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1989)

Brief Reports15 July 1989Methimazole and Serum Thyroid Hormone Concentrations in Hyperthyroid Patients: Effects of Single and Multiple Daily DosesElio Roti, MD, Eliana Gardini, MD, Roberta Minelli, MD, Mario Salvi, MD, Giuseppe Robuschi, MD, Lewis E. Braverman, MDElio Roti, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Eliana Gardini, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Roberta Minelli, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Mario Salvi, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Giuseppe Robuschi, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Lewis E. Braverman, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-111-2-181 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThionamide drugs are traditionally administered in divided doses, a treatment schedule recommended in many textbooks of endocrinology and thyroidology. The reason for administering antithyroid drugs in divided doses is that they have a relatively short half-life in serum (1). More recent studies, however, have shown that the antithyroid effect of the thionamides is related to their half-life in the thyroid gland rather than in the serum. It has been reported that methimazole (Tapazole, Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, Indiana) administered to hyperthyroid patients has a half-life in serum of 6.8 hours (2), stays in the thyroid for 20 hours (3),...References1. AlexanderEvansMacAulayGallagherLondono WVATJ. Metabolism of 35S-labeled antithyroid drugs in man. Br Med J. 1969;2:290-1. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. CooperBodeNathSaxeMaloofRidgway DHBVFE. Methimazole pharmacology in man: studies using a newly developed radioimmunoassay for methimazole. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1984;58:473-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. JanssonDahlbergJohanssonLindstrom RPHB. Intrathyroid concentrations of methimazole in patients with Graves' disease. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1983;57:129-32. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. WartofskyIngbar LS. A method for assessing the latency, potency and duration of action of antithyroid agents in man. In: Fellinger K, Hofer R, eds. Further Advances in Thyroid Research. Vienna: Verlag der Wiener Medizinischen Akademie; 1971:121-35. Google Scholar5. ShiroozuOkamuraIkenoue AKH. Treatment of hyperthyroidism with a small single daily dose of methimazole. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1986;63:125-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Cooper D. Which anti-thyroidal drug? Am J Med. 1986;80:1165-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. GreerMeihoffStuder MWH. Treatment of hyperthyroidism with a single daily dose of propylthiouracil. N Engl J Med. 1965;272:888-91. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Gwinup G. Prospective randomized comparison of propylthiouracil. JAMA. 1978;239:2457-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. McCrudenHilditchConnellMcLellanRobertsonAlexander DTJAJW. Duration of antithyroid action of methimazole estimated with an intravenous Perchlorate discharge test. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1987;26:33-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Universita degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy; and the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts. For current author addresses, see end of text. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByEfficacy of Once Daily versus Divided Daily Administration of Low Daily Dosage (15 mg/Day) of Methimazole in the Induction of Euthyroidism in Graves’ Hyperthyroidism: A Randomized Controlled StudyComparison of single daily dose of methimazole and propylthiouracil in the treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidismThionamide Drug TherapyANTITHYROID DRUGS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTHYROIDISM CAUSED BY GRAVES' DISEASEAntithyroid Drugs: Their Mechanism of Action and Clinical UseManagement of Thyroid DisordersClinical Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism of Benzimidazole Anthelmintics in RuminantsMethimazole-mediated modulation of netobimin biotransformation in sheep: a pharmacokinetic assessmentThyroid Disorders 15 July 1989Volume 111, Issue 2Page: 181-182KeywordsAttentionDrugsEndocrinologyHalf lifeThyroidThyroid hormones Issue Published: 15 July 1989 PDF DownloadLoading ...