Discharge Instructions for Hyperthyroidism

You have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, which means you have an overactive thyroid gland that produces too much thyroid hormone. The thyroid hormone is important to body growth and metabolism. If you have too much, though, many body processes speed up or overwork, causing various symptoms. Your doctor may have recommended medications, radiation, or surgery to treat your hyperthyroidism.

Medication

Take your medication exactly as directed.

• Take your medication at the same times every day.

• Keep your pills in a container that is labeled with the days of the week. This will help you remember whether you’ve taken your medication each day.

• Try to take your medication with the same food or drink each day. This will help you control the amount of thyroid hormone in your system.

• Never stop treatment on your own. If you do, your symptoms will return.

   

Monitoring

• Make and keep appointments to see your doctor and get laboratory work. You will need to be monitored for the rest of your life.

• Keep a card in your wallet that lists:

  • Your name and contact information

  • Your doctor’s name and contact information

  • The name of your disease

  • The brand names and the doses of your medications

• During your routine visits, tell your doctor about any signs of hyperthyroidism, such as these:

  • Restlessness

  • Rapid weight loss

  • Sweating

• During your routine visits, tell your doctor about any signs of hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone), which can be a side effect of treatment, such as these:

  • Fatigue or sluggishness

  • Puffy hands, face, or feet

  • Hoarseness

  • Muscle pain

  • Slow pulse (less than 60 beats per minute)

To Learn More

The resources below can help you learn more:

• American Thyroid Association 703-998-8890 www.thyroid.org

• Hormone Health Network 800-467-6663 www.hormone.org

Follow-Up

Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.