My cat has HYPERthyroidism. How is this treated?

Question

My vet has prescribed Tapazole 5 mg by mouth every day. I have never heard of HYPER thyroid being treated with medicine. What, if anything does this med do? Thanks

Answer 1

Treatment

There are three main options for the treatment of hyperthyroidism, each with advantages and disadvantages:



Medical management (drug therapy)

Anti-thyroid drugs are available in tablet form and these act by reducing the production and release of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland. They do not provide a cure for the condition, but they do allow either short-term or long-term control of hyperthyroidism. Methimazole (trade name Felimazole) is given at a starting dose of 2.5 mg twice daily. Thyroid hormone concentrations usually fall to within the reference range within 3 weeks. For long term management the dose of Felimazole is then adjusted according to response. To maintain control of hyperthyroidism, Felimazole needs to be given daily for the rest of the cat's life. Felimazole is the only licensed treatment for feline hyperthyroidism.

For most cats methimazole (or a related drug, carbimazole) is a safe and effective treatment for hyperthyroidism. Side effects are uncommon and if they do occur they are usually mild and reversible. Poor appetite, vomiting and lethargy are the most likely side effects and often resolve after the first few weeks of treatment and/or by temporarily reducing the dose of treatment and administering the tablets with food. More serious problems, including reduced white blood cell counts, reduced platelet counts (which help the blood to clot), liver disorders, or skin irritation are rare, but if they do occur then an alternative treatment must be used.

Anti-thyroid drug treatment has the advantage of being readily available and economical, but it is not curative. Life long treatment, usually involving twice daily oral dosage, will be required and for some owners, and some cats, this may be difficult to achieve. Routine blood tests should be checked periodically during treatment to monitor the effectiveness of therapy, to monitor kidney function (see above) and to look for potential side effects.

Answer 2

I also had a cat treated with the radioactive iodine which eliminated the problem. Usually the cat is stabilized on the drug and kidney function is checked before the cat can be considered for that treatment.

Depending on the age of the cat it can be the most economical way to go. Use of the medication can cost $400-800 a year and the iodine treatment is now down to around $800 now. There can be side effects to the medication long-term, plus the fact that the cat must have it twice a day to keep hormone levels constant.

The radio-iodine treatment completely eliminates the problem (my cat was with me for seven years after until age 22 and 1/2). So it is something you should investigate if there is a facility reasonably close to you.

Answer 3

One option you should consider is Radioactive iodine therapy. We have a cat that had hyperthyroidism over 10 years ago. We were given the options of medication or radiation treatment. We chose radiation therapy because the thought of having to medicate the cat for the rest of her life was not a pleasant option. The treatment worked great and aside from glowing in the dark (just kidding...), she is a happy and healthy 18 years old cat with a couple of years still left in her.

The only thing to consider about the radiation therapy is that you cannot have the cat in your lap for 1-2 weeks due to the fact that they are residually radioactive. The other thing to consider is the cost. The therapy is ~$1,000+ but you need to weigh that against the cost of medication over the cats expected life span.

Good luck!

Answer 4

That is the standard method of treatment for HYPERthyroidism. Thyroid levels are too high and the medication is needed to LOWER the level and reduce the symptoms.

Cats tend to become HYPERthyroid, dog HYPOthyroid.

STANDARD treatment. Been used for YEARS and YEARS!!!!

methimazole is just generic tapazole.

Answer 5

Making dietary changes is your first line of defense in treating hypothyroidism. Learn here https://tr.im/uexTo

Many people with hypothyroidism experience crippling fatigue and brain fog, which prompts reaching for non-nutritional forms of energy like sugar and caffeine. I’ve dubbed these rascals the terrible twosome, as they can burn out your thyroid (and destabilize blood sugar).

1. Just say no to the dietary bungee cord. Greatly reduce or eliminate caffeine and sugar, including refined carbohydrates like flour, which the body treats like sugar. Make grain-based carbohydrates lesser of a focus, eating non-starchy vegetables to your heart’s content.

2. Up the protein. Protein transports thyroid hormone to all your tissues and enjoying it at each meal can help normalize thyroid function. Proteins include nuts and nut butters; quinoa; hormone- and antibiotic-free animal products (organic, grass-fed meats, eggs, and sustainably-farmed fish); and legumes.

Answer 6

cats usually have HYPER thryodism and this is how it is treated. I would suggest caling our vet for further info. They should have been able to answer your quesions when they prescribed the medication