The second group is mild symptoms you may experience secondary to the medication. #3. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. The researchers found no differences in how well the RIT worked six months later. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Even while taking methimazole you can take advantage of natural therapies such as improving your diet, avoiding gluten, reducing your stress, and taking supplements to help put your hyperthyroidism into remission. She was on medication for about 2 weeks and then started vomiting a few times a day and also had a red spot below her nose and experienced facial itching. Aplasia cutis congenita has been reported as a possible teratogenic effect of methimazole therapy in multiple case reports. Its really rough waiting for the thyroid meds to leave their system. You were on a very low dose of methimazole before you discontinued it 1.5 months ago. This strategy requires a much smaller dose of methimazole but patients may have to take it for 60 to 120 months (3) (5 to 10 years). Does a break in antithyroid drug treatment of hyperthyroidism lead to an increased risk of agranulocytosis? Home Patients Portal Clinical Thyroidology for the Public September 2019 Vol 12 Issue 9 p.11-12, CLINICAL THYROIDOLOGY FOR THE PUBLIC The redness has lessened and she seems to be scratching less. She's finally starting to feel better but man, it's been rough! Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism, especially when it is caused by Graves' disease. Before starting Felimazole, your veterinarian should run blood tests on your cat, including a complete blood count to check the levels of red and white blood cells, a chemistry panel to check liver and kidney values, and tests to measure the level of thyroid hormones. It sucks that 85% of cats supposedly do well with this med and my baby was in the small percentage that didn't. How long does letrozole stay in your system after you stop taking it? I took him off the meds. I remember my doctor mentioned it when we moved to the maintenance dose that he wasn't sure the reason for my T3 being high still. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. Do not share this medication with others. Try withholding food for a few hours, then feeding something gentle on the tummy. That way, the researchers could be sure the success of the RIT held. If you are taking methimazole then you should be aware that this medication is NOT intended to be used long-term. The side effects associated with methimazole are not as clear-cut as you might think. Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Most cases of agranulocytosis occur within 3 months of beginning therapy with these drugs. Was the dose changed during that time? Does Methimazole interact with other drugs you are taking? I was told that I had an allergic reaction to penicillin when I was a child. Take your doses at regular intervals to keep a steady amount of the drug in your body at all times. Treatment of toxic multinodular goiter: comparison of radioiodine and long-term methimazole treatment. It took our cat a week and a half before she even started to feel better. Im not a fan of this approach and I will provide some reasons why it may not be the best option below. Maintenance dose: 5 to 15 mg orally per day. Metronidazole (brand name Flagyl) is an antibiotic and antiprotozoal agent that is used for a variety of indications including pneumonia, respiratory infections,intra-abdominal infections, and bacterial vaginosis. The Depo-Provera shot is one form of birth control that can take a while to exit the system, sometimes months after the last injection. This study suggests that long-term treatment with methimazole was safe and effective for normalizing the thyroid function in patients with a toxic nodular goiter with relatively few side effects. What should I know regarding pregnancy, nursing and administering Methimazole to children or the elderly. Less common is a toxic nodular goiter, where one or more thyroid nodules are overactive and the rest of the gland is turned off. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to try and lose weight while you are taking methimazole. It works by stopping the thyroid gland from making too much thyroid hormone. There are many therapies you can use depending on the type of hyperthyroidism that you have (Graves disease versus other conditions). Then later when I added supplements and my lab tests were improving very quickly, my new Endo would decrease my dose by no more than 2.5 mg at a time. Staff. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. Hashimotos vs Graves Disease: Differences & Similarities, What is Graves Disease? Also, its not usually the most effective treatment but since your cat cant tolerate the meds, did your vet talk to you about the special diet they can eat? Because of this, methimazole is often the drug of choice to treat pretty much any hyperthyroid condition(1). Graves' patients can be assured, Dr. Wexler says, that they would not get enough iodine from a typical, regular diet to interfere with RIT treatment. I attached 2 pics of her reaction. Hyperthyroidism (Overactive): https://www.thyroid.org/hyperthyroidism/, Radioactive Iodine: https://www.thyroid.org/radioactive-iodine/, Thyroid Nodules: https://www.thyroid.org/thyroid-nodules/. She had the facial itching, sores/hives, nausea, lethargy, vomiting and loss of appetite. Methimazole For Cats Dosage. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval. The methimazole is stopped before the RIT, ideally at a ''sweet spot"the medication-free interval that will help the treatment work best but not make the hyperthyroidism even worse. Keep all medical and lab appointments. Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal. Its the most common endocrine disease of cats older than 8-years-old. Once we have antibodies, we have them for life, although TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin), the antibody associated with Graves', often goes into remission. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Have they cleared up? Antithyroid medications, such as Methimazole, are used to treat a toxic nodular goiter short-term to get a patient ready for either surgery or radioactive iodine therapy. For medicines, it can possibly take months. On closer inspection, several of the latter patients were excluded because they did not fit the criteria for the study, leaving 14 patients with interrupted treatment. Methimazole is an anti-thyroid drug that is designed specifically to slow down thyroid function. It turns out that your body needs thyroid hormone (surprise, surprise) and that reducing it below normal levels can have consequences on many organ systems in your body. It should be used only when clearly needed during the last 6 months of pregnancy. The researchers conclude that "Shorter discontinuation of methimazole before RIT may be preferable in most patients.". Are there any warnings for people who handle Felimazole? They fight bacteria and other harmful substances. One way to treat a cat with hyperthyroidism is with an oral medication that contains methimazole. You can also connect with Dr. Brian Staiger on LinkedIn. Avoid Alcohol With Metronidazole T3 total: 332; FT3 11.1; FT4 387, TSH <.005. Just a few times today. Propylthiouracil is used to treat hyperthyroidism, especially in women during pregnancy. This medication passes into breast milk. I attached two photos of her skin reaction. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States. If relapse happens after stopping Methimazole, how soon does it happen? feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings, general feeling of discomfort, illness, or weakness, sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth, swelling of the face, feet, or lower legs, swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin, pain or discomfort in the chest, upper stomach, or throat. Metronidazole takes around 2 to 3 days after your last dose to be completely metabolized and eliminated from your system. Still, when patients begin to reduce the usage of Methimazole with time, their weight may decrease. You may report them to the FDA. I have been going through this same thing with my 15 year old cat.I had him on Methimazole 5mg twice a day for one month. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. Kobayashi S et al. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Because methimazole BLOCKS thyroid function you can expect it to have consequences that impact your thyroid. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to . You can probably already see where I am going with this. When clicking a link here and buying, we may be able to make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Other common signs include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, drinking and urinating more than normal, and an unkempt hair coat. Methimazole: an antithyroid medication that blocks the thyroid from making thyroid hormone. The vet told us to take her off immediately. The patient in the methimazole-treated group were more likely to have normal thyroid function tests after 2 years (96 %) as compared to radioactive iodine therapy (54%). Methimazole, the active ingredient in Felimazole, can cause birth defects in people. Do not confuse THESE side effects/symptoms with the side effects of the medication itself. We had to take her in for anti nausea injection meds. Can You Get Everything Your Thyroid Needs From Food? This content does not have an Arabic version. However, just because the chemical . That study is published online September 25 in Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Some side effects may not be reported. Restart Medical LLC. All rights reserved. Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism, especially when it is caused by Graves disease. Characteristics of Agranulocytosis as an Adverse Effect of Antithyroid Drugs in the Second or Later Course of Treatment. BACKGROUND Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company. Take this medication exactly as directed. 2. But what you should know is that its incredibly difficult for your doctor to take you from the hyperthyroid state to the normal thyroid state with methimazole. Staff, Alternatives To Valtrex For The Treatment Of Herpes, Spearmint - Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate (prescription Drug), Cassia Auriculata - Botulinum Toxin Type A, Securinega Suffruticosa - Docusate Sodium, Phenolphthalein, Sonoma Diet - Capsaicin (prescription Drug), Yoga - Acetaminophen, Phenylpropanolamine, Rice Protein - Hydrochlorothiazide, Labetalol. This is the second day after ending the full dose I have been administered. Kathleen Doheny is a Los Angeles-based journalist specializing in health, behavior, and fitness topics. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Methimazole is used to treat overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch. The entire gland is overactive in Graves disease. When the thyroid gland produces an excessive amount of thyroid hormones, it causes the cats engine to run at an abnormally high speed. In some cats, the blood pressure becomes so high that the retina detaches from the back wall of the eye, resulting in sudden blindness. How to Report Animal Drug and Device Side Effects and Product Problems. These types of therapies are often overlooked by conventional doctors even though they are highly effective. I describe this in more detail in the sections below. One large in left lobe of 2.2. cm with vascularity. This is commonly associated with a fever and/or a sore throat. Fortunately, there are a number of lifestyle changes that you can make which may have a positive impact on your thyroid. However, the causal relationship between the therapy and the skin defect is controversial, and anomalies related to methimazole have low birth prevalence. Thyroid. Graves disease: the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States. In cats with hyperthyroidism, the high level of thyroid hormonesincreasesthe blood flow to the kidneys, which helps their kidneys and may even hide kidney disease. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Common facet consequences of metformin are : digestive issues, which includes diarrhea, vomiting, and flatulence. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. I am not sure of lifespan if the thyroid is left untreated. They are, however, often recommended before and during treatment for thyroid cancer, Dr. Wexler says. A general rule of thumb is that it takes about 5 half-lives for a drug to be considered completely metabolized. See Animal Drugs @ FDA for more information about Felimazole. SUMMARY OF THE STUDY Your veterinarian will likely confirm the diagnosis by doing blood tests that measurethe level of your cat's thyroid hormones. The first group is symptoms you may experience from slowing down your thyroid. Because the disease develops gradually, signs are often easy to miss at first. This resource is dedicated to helping people with thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss problems get the help that they need. ChildrenDose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The first time my Endo told me to decrease my dose from 10 mg to 5 mg, about 2 weeks after I did that I got a rebound effect of symptoms so I raised it by 2.5 mg and told her. At birth the lesions were friable and bled easily, however, over time they became scar-like and thicker. unusual bleeding or bruising. You know, I'm an idiot. If you are planning pregnancy, become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor right away. While it is great at managing the symptoms of hyperthyroidism (and consequences of this disease) it is not without side effects itself. and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 6 years. About TheCatSite.com. If you lack thyroid hormone for a long period of time, you face the risk of a very dangerous condition called myxedema coma, which can ultimately be fatal. And these natural therapies are incredibly safe and they are things that you are able to do on your own. However, the intrathyroidal residence of methimazole is roughly 20 hours, and the duration of action 40 hours, which allows once-daily dosing some patients. "What happens after the year would be important to look at,'' he says. I don't have the exact number, but yes, my T3 has always been high, and it didn't change that much. SUMMARY OF THE STUDY In almost 99 percent of the cases, hyperthyroidism is caused by a benign (non-cancerous) tumor of the thyroid gland. For the Depo shot, the half-life is 200-250 days . increased ALT (alanine transferase, a liver value). I'm very upset because I figure he's the doctor and shouldn't have left that choice up to me. This medication is not recommended for use during the first 3 months of pregnancy. If you accidentally ingest Felimazole, call your healthcare provider immediately and show the drugs label to the provider. She may have irritated her tummy vomiting and that is causing more vomiting. Side effects from methimazole tend to come from its effects on thyroid function or directly from the medication itself. Conversely, if your thyroid is slowed down then your metabolism will be decreased and you will GAIN weight (a side effect of hypothyroidism). So, the only way to compare numbers with different ranges is to convert them to a percentage of range. After excluding patients with other possible causes, 67 patients were identified as having MMI or PTU-induced agranulocytosis. Radioactive iodine: this plays a valuable role in diagnosing and treating thyroid problems since it is taken up only by the thyroid gland. The researchers assessed the responses to RIT a month later, then again three months, six months and a year later. They assigned 67 patients with Grave's disease into two groups before they had RIT. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. In RIT, the thyroid gland tissue is shrunk or destroyed. If the hyperthyroidism returns, the antithyroid drugs are re-started. A publication of the American Thyroid Association, Summaries for the Public from recent articles in Clinical Thyroidology, Table of Contents | PDF File for Saving and Printing, HYPERTHYROIDISM Your thyroid is one of the main things in charge of maintaining your weight. Available at http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/thy.2013.0476. You must log in or register to reply here. However, it can cause side effects, and some people may want to look at other options. Do not store in the bathroom. They were randomized into 2 groups for continuous antithyroid and radioiodine treatment. Good news, meds worked very well Bad news, he's allergic to it! If you experience ANY of the side effects then you need to talk to your doctor immediately. She was absolutely miserable. Untreated hyperthyroidism is almost 100 percent fatal. Hyperthyroid Symptoms Checklist Do you Have an Overactive Thyroid? The .gov means its official.Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Blood tests should be repeated 3 weeks and 6 weeks after starting Felimazole and then every 3 months for as long as your cat is on the drug. My cat tolerated it just fine. For years, there's been no clear agreement on the best time for Graves' Disease patients to stop taking methimazole (Tapazole) before they undergo radioactive iodine therapy or RIT. If these occur they should notify their physician and have a white blood cell count measured before resuming MMI or PTU. Hello! Thats what we had to do with our cat when she couldnt keep the oral nausea meds down. The shot. Long-term methimazole is an effective treatment for toxic nodular goiters. The usual recommended duration of therapy is somewhere around 18 to 24 months. unusual weight gain. The researchers, from Imam Reza Hospital and other facilities in Mashhad, Iran, evaluated 151 patients with Graves' disease, ranging from 18 to 65 years old. Therefore, it should take about 2 to 3 days for metronidazole to be completely eliminated from the body. The list includes optimal ranges, normal ranges, and the complete list of tests you need to diagnose and manage thyroid disease correctly! Low-iodine diets are not generally advised for Graves' patients before RIT, agree Drs. Do cats on Felimazole need to be monitored? This medication may rarely cause very serious blood disorders (such as a low number of red cells, white cells, and platelets), especially during the first few months of treatment. If you have questions regarding your health you should seek qualified information from a medical professional or your doctor. One ate a low- iodine diet for a week or two. Instead, most hyperthyroid patients who take methimazole end up in a LOW thyroid state (known as hypothyroidism). #4. severely low level of neutrophils in the bloodneutrophils, a type of white blood cell, are part of the bodys immune system. Reference ranges vary lab to lab. But lets go back to the goal of methimazole for a minute to help you understand. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Some of the more frequently reported adverse reactions have included skin rash, urticaria, nausea, loss of taste, and abnormal loss of hair. Got dosage down to 5mgs. A publication of the American Thyroid Association, Change In Thyroid Nodule Volume Calculator, Find an Endocrinology Thyroid Specialist, https://www.thyroid.org/radioactive-iodine/, Clinical Thyroidology for the Public (CTFP). Have they cleared up? Maybe that could be an option? Its not impossible to lose weight while taking methimazole but it is very difficult. If so, there are some things you should know about this medication. In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses how long Flagyl (metronidazole) lasts in the body. In this way, methimazole is really just used as a way to blunt the serious side effects of hyperthyroidism while giving your body time to fix whatever caused the hyperthyroid state to begin with. This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department. itchy skin, especially the face, head, and neck. #1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16584027/, #2. https://www.mdedge.com/clinicianreviews/article/150048/pituitary-thyroid-adrenal-disorders/long-term-methimazole-therapy, #3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31310160/, #4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4197171/, #5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28759749/. The onset of aplastic anemia (pancytopenia) or agranulocytosis may occur in hours to days. How long does methimazole stay in a cats system? Do not break or crush the tablets. So we FINALLY got to try the transdermal gel for my boy's thyroid..and EXACTLY 10 days later, like auth the pills, the vomiting started so now day 2 of that and my poor kitty is again miserableand of course I gave him the anti nausea meds which he threw up a few minutes laterso we try to wait out the meds leaving his system, but I don't know how much longer we can do thissooo, I'm off to write a post on "What now?". "The study gets at a question that we have often wondered about," says Jason Wexler, MD, an endocrinologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and an assistant professor of medicine at Georgetown University. These side effects are separate from the symptoms you may feel as you slow down your thyroid. These side effects come from organ damage. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. A few patients in both groups developed side effects from the treatments. Methimazole is the active ingredient in Felimazole, a pet-specific antithyroid drug that blocks and slows down the production of thyroid hormones. An official website of the United States government, : Growth of thyroid nodules, increasing goiter size. Helpful - 0 Comment leilajax Gimel is right, it only has a 6 hour half life. Blood tests should be repeated 3 weeks and 6 weeks after starting Felimazole and then every 3 months for as long as your cat is on the drug. Your condition will not improve faster, and your risk of side effects will increase. A low-iodine diet is often recommended for those with thyroid cancer, but its role in benign disease like Graves' is unclear, according to the researchers from the Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo and other facilities. Thanks for the response! Before their RIT, the patients were assigned to one of three groups. You dont need permission from your doctor to eat more fruits and vegetables, avoid grains such as gluten, and make sure you sleep 8 hours per day. How to use Methimazole. About 90% of radiolabeled letrozole is recovered in urine. Youd have to discuss that with your vet. She has not had any in about a day and a half but she is still vomiting. Follow me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for up-to-date thyroid tips, tricks, videos, and more. Hyperthyroidism may be treated with antithyroid meds (Methimazole, Propylthiouracil), radioactive iodine or surgery. yellow eyes or skin. Felimazole is available only with a veterinarians prescription. HYPERTHYROIDISM Does a break in antithyroid drug treatment of hyperthyroidism lead to an increased risk of agranulocytosis? tightness in the chest. Copyright 2023 IBM Watson Health. This high metabolic rate negatively affects almost all of the cats organs. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. Before taking methimazole, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. Blood tests should be done more often in cats receiving high doses of Felimazole (more than 10 milligrams per day). Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Remember to keep Felimazole in a secure location out of reach of children, dogs, cats, and other animals to prevent accidental ingestion or overdose. Thanks again for your question and reach back out anytime! Will stopping Methimazole cause the relapse to be stronger? Its entire goal is to SLOW down thyroid function and to take you from the hyperthyroid state to the normal thyroid state. One thing to note when you apply the medication in the transdermal preparation is to wear gloves. I'm Westin Childs D.O. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). The site is secure. 2022 Dr. Westin Childs | Thyroid & Health Supplements That Work Built withGeneratePress and powered by Kinsta. Initial dose: Mild hyperthyroidism: 15 mg orally per day. The elimination half-life is approximately 59 hours. The high blood pressure is due to the increased pumping pressure of the heart. Less frequently reported, but serious side effects of Felimazole include: Veterinarians should monitor cats on Felimazole for any sign of illness, including fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and anemia. It plays an important role in regulating the bodys engine, or metabolic rate. The rate of relapse at 48 months after stopping methimazole was 51% among patients in the short-term therapy group but just 16% among patients in the long-term therapy group (P less than or equal to .001). Wash your hands with soap and water after giving your cat Felimazole to avoid accidental exposure to the drug. What other health conditions did you have? Shouldnt hyperthyroid patients LOSE weight? To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. (former Osteopathic Physician). CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. Simply so, how long does methimazole stay in a cat's system? "In our practice, we usually discontinue methimazole for 48 hours before radioiodine use with good results," he says. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: blood disorders (such as agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia), liver disease, pancreatitis. We called our vet and he said to take her off the meds. It may seem weird that someone with hyperthyroidism can experience hypothyroid symptoms but believe me when I tell you that it happens all of the time. When taken with food, the rate of absorption decreases but not the overall extent of absorption. The other group followed their regular diet. Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS STUDY? Further studies are needed to look at other outcomes such as impact on the quality of life and the cost of therapies. With commentary by Jason Wexler, MD, endocrinologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, D.C., and Spyros Mezitis, MD, PhD, endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York. Select a condition to view a list of medication options. Of these, 35 developed it while on a continuous course of the drug, while 22 had gaps in therapy that ranged from 5 months to 22 years. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. The half-life for all formats of Prednisone (immediate-release and delayed-release) ranges from 2 to 3 hours after conversion to "prednisolone." How to choose the right food for your cat. Methimazole is an antithyroid medicine. Almost three weeks ago here were my labs: TSH [L] <0.01 uIU/mL [0.30-4.70] Free T4 1.89 ng/dL [0.75-2.00] FT3 [H] 5.5 pg/mL [2.3-4.2] I'm on 10mg of methimazole which I take as 5mg twice a day. This medicine is available only with your doctor's . The antithyroid drugs methimazole (MMI) and propylthiouracil (PTU) are used as one option to treat patients with hyperthyroidism, especially those with Graves disease. The antithyroid drugs methimazole (MMI) and propylthiouracil (PTU) are used as one option to treat patients with hyperthyroidism, especially those with Graves' disease. We gave our cat anti nausea pills for a couple days, but it seemed to take him a few days or more to get the meds out of his system and eat normally again. There was no significant difference in the time to onset of agranulocytosis between the continuous or the interrupted groups. mild weight reduction. The main results of either surgery or radioactive iodine therapy is the development of hypothyroidism, which will require life-long treatment with levothyroxine. Consult your doctor for more details. Metronidazole can alter the metabolism of alcohol and increase the amount of a toxic metabolite, acetaldehyde. What are the signs of hyperthyroidism in cats? To compensate for this increased workload, the muscles of the heart thicken, causing the heart to enlarge and eventually fail. The problem here is that slowing down thyroid function isnt a perfect science so its easy to slow down thyroid function too much. Could You Have Subclinical Hypothyroidism? Can You Take A Z-Pak If You Have A Penicillin Allergy? The most common sign of hyperthyroidism in cats is weight loss despite an increased appetite. I-123 is the non-destructive form that does not damage the thyroid and is used in scans to take pictures of the thyroid (Thyroid Scan) or to take pictures of the whole body to look for thyroid cancer (Whole Body Scan). This product is available in the following dosage forms: Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2023. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Check out my thyroid supplements. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345. Studies have suggested that the risk of agranulocytosis is greater in older patients and that they have a higher rate of death. The maintenance dose is 5 to 15 mg per day. Methimazole leaves the system within about 20 hours. I also have Graves and hope that it will go into remission after treatment with MMI.