Treatment of Hyperthyroidism with a Single Daily Dose of Propylthiouracil

Abstract

SINCE the introduction of antithyroid-drug therapy for the treatment of hyperthyroidism by Astwood¹ in 1943 a variety of therapeutic programs and specific drugs have been proposed. However, in the United States, therapy is generally limited to one of two thionamide derivatives, propylthiouracil and methimazole. Both these compounds are relatively nontoxic and are used as a definitive form of medical management, in the preparation of thyrotoxic patients for thyroidectomy or, occasionally, to ensure some control of the disease in the period after therapy with radioactive iodine while one is waiting for the radiation effect to become manifest.Although the efficacy of . . .