No one here means to give bad advise. People are just saying what works for them. Just as people have different ideas so does doctors.You take what you read here and you research it. Even the doctors disagree among themselves which way to go. When I read something here of interest to me I research it then I do what is right for me. Just saying.

I tried the once a day Methmazole and could not get the more stable results I get from splitting the doses up evenly 2 or 3 times per day. When taking methmazole once per day i would get hyper by evening. Our thyroids don't work just once per day and pump out hormone though out the day.

Try it both ways and see what works for you. everyone is different.

You are so right Daisy we are all different.

Hello All,

I have to chime in here. I have had 3 endo's since this GD thing began last October. The first two were not very helpful and none of them were aware of the usefulness of split dosing. That recommendation came my fellow GD sufferers here. Single dosing did not work for me because the effects would wear off and I'd become extremely hyper again. Split dosing works beautifully and none of the docs objected when I told them how I was taking my meds.
I disagree, I think many of our so called experts here do know what they are talking about and have been a life saver for me. I thank God I found this board. What I've learned here, I've taken back to my Dr.
Certainly if you come to the board asking for advice, you will find those who are willing to try to help and you will be offered advice.
Of course, it's your life, your body and your choice to accept that advice or not.

Hi
I'm not trying to be silent just away from the computer a lot these days - that darn work thing...:)) Anyway, I have always split the doses since I started based on research here and other places and it has worked well for me. My endo (s) , the one I started with and the one I see now are both adamant that you don't need to split. I've never tried it any other way and witht he results I'm getting - hey if it ain't broke don't fix it. Had I not had this resourse, I would have followed my dr's direction and taken it once a day....
just saying....:))

Kathy,
On hypo symptoms - is the "hot flashes" also a hypo symptom???
For some reason, I thought that was hyper only but what do I know. Also, my systolic BP being high - I always associated that with being hyper but can it be hypo as well??? Ahh, the joy of it all!!!

Thanks so much for all your input - each one of you is valuable and has much to share and we can always listen and learn from each other.
Have a wonderful rest of the day.
Cindee

I also have to chime in here. We've had this kind of dispute here before. I've first came here in Nov 07 not even knowing what Graves Disease was all about but judging by the name....was sure it was going to kill me. I have seen so many people manage there graves better because of it. I took PTU for my graves not MMI so I dont have a lot of experience with it and cant really comment on it...but...there are many here who do and they found they responded better by multiple dosing.

Atc115...here is a link that gives instructions on MMI dosing...it clearly states to take every 8 hours...or as we suggest...daily dosage divided into 3 equal parts.

http://www.drugs.com/dosage/methimazole.html#Usual_Adult_Dose_for_Hyperthyroidism

Because Endo's are considered THE expert on Graves Disease it does not mean they know what they are doing. I had 2 endo's and both didnt have a clue. My 1st Endo once was the president of the Canadian Thyroid Assoc...my 2nd endo had just finished 17 years of medical school...I was actually very excited to get my 2nd one...who would know more than someone who just graduated and should have learned all the newest techniques...not...he still used the old TSH ranges for crying out loud. Anyway...the people on this board are not doctors but they have years of experience and research knowledge...invaluable in my opinion...I credit my 3 years if remission to the people here as well as Elaine Moore. If both my endos had there way....I wouldnt have a thyroid right now.

We Graves patients have the same disease but each of us respond just a little different which makes us unique in the small picture. In order to beat this disease or manage this disease you have to be willing to experiment a bit just to find out what works best for you. That may mean thinking outside of the medical mainstream box. For those that do...they seem to fair the best. Big Hugs...Kathy

cindee...for me yes...but they were slightly different. To best explain it I would call my hypo hot flashes more like anxiety accompanied with flushing. Although it would behave in the same manner as a hot flash while hyper....they did not give me the night sweats I used to get while hyper. I would feel more like I was cold and clammy instead of super hot and soaking wet. I hope this helps...Big Hugs...Kathy

I copied a reply from Elaine Moore asking about MMI dosing...here is her response

http://elaine-moore.com/QA/tabid/57/forumid/6/postid/5484/scope/posts/Default.aspx

Hi Lori,

For stable blood levels it's better to divide the dose. If Matt is on a 10 mg dose, usually 5 mg is taken in the AM and at 12 hours later. Or 5 mg is taken in the AM followed by 2.5 mg 8 hrs later, and another 2.5 mg 8 hrs after the 2nd dose. With once a day dosing you have the maximum effects and highest methimazole blood levels a few hours later and then the blood levels gradually fall. Best, Elaine

This subject has sure gained alot of firepower. Doctors are playing a guessing game because we all respond different. Take what you need from here and do your research and decide what works for you. The people from here have helped me so very much and for that I thank each and everyone of you. I have learned so much more on this site than ever from the doctor. Doctors are confused themselves.

Hi Cindee, I am too back online so forgive my late response. About the divided dose discussion: You know what floats your boat. If it works better for you, why not? I do not see the issue.

For complaints: Everytime I do a dose change, for a week or so I have weird symptoms. I am not sure about your GD symptoms but for me anxiety is one of them. In general, the systolic BP rises anyway under influence of stress/anxiety. I am not sure if that is a cause, just trying to use my common sense and knowledge same. My experience is the same as the ladies that responded to you first: Easy does it. Wait it out untill you are over the first 2 weeks.

And if you have hotflashes, well, your body just tries to tell you that you swim in a too cold of a pool for normal people. LOL. That is my very medical sound diagnosis.

from my research PTU must be broken up into dosaages over a day, whereas Methimazole can be taken all at once. I was originally taking Methimazole throughout the day but kept forgetting and not taking it religiously at the same time, so prefer to take it all at once. I did notice I was getting more hyper as the day went on. so I changed to taking the meds before bed hoping it would allow me to sleep better and then taking my vitamins with breakfast since most of them required food intake and Methimazole required waiting 30min-1hr before a meal. so also consider: with meal and how close the the exact time you are taking it when you break up dosages...

Let's face it, most endos are pompous asses. Most of us have had one or two at least. They tell us to dose once a day because they think we'll forget, that's why. Most endos over dose us cause they want to keep us hypo and "safe" , they don't always care what our symptoms are. We are not giving false information. Most of us who give advice have been at this for YEARS. Most of the right info comes from patients who have been through the mill with their endos, who have researched and come on boards like these and asked question after question until they learn too.

I've had thyroid disease, both as hypO with undiagnosed Hashimoto's Thyroiditis for 20+ years and then Graves' Disease for 11+ years now. I have thyroid antibodies for both. This makes it 34+ years now with some kind of a thyroid problem. I was 14 years old when my symptoms began.

{{{hugs}}}

Now THIS is someone who knows thyroid..hehe! Love ya hon!

well my dr said with MMI once daily or twice whichever was best for me, as it happens once daily was fine, but had to switch to PTU which has such a short half life it needs to be two to three times a day, I only missed one of my PTU and my hyper symptoms returned the next evening, so I dont think there is any right answer, I dont think any drs experience can make them understand what you are going through unless they have experienced this for themselves :)