How Methimazole Works (Patient-Friendly Explanation)
Methimazole is a medication that stops your thyroid gland from making too much thyroid hormone by blocking the chemical process your body uses to build these hormones. 1
What Methimazole Does in Your Body
Think of your thyroid gland like a factory that produces thyroid hormones. Methimazole works by:
- Blocking the production line: It stops your thyroid from making new thyroid hormones, which helps when your thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism) 1
- Not affecting hormones already made: It doesn't destroy or remove thyroid hormones that are already circulating in your bloodstream or stored in your thyroid gland 1
- Working only on new production: This means it takes time to see the full effect, as your body needs to use up the existing hormones first 1
How Your Body Handles the Medication
- Easy absorption: When you swallow methimazole, it's quickly absorbed from your digestive system into your bloodstream 1
- Liver processing: Your liver breaks down the medication 1
- Kidney elimination: Your kidneys remove it from your body through urine 1
Important Points to Understand
The medication doesn't interfere with thyroid hormone pills if you need to take them later - methimazole only blocks your own thyroid's production, not thyroid hormones given as medication 1
It takes time to work because the medication only stops new hormone production, and your body still has stored hormones that need to be used up first 1
This is why your doctor monitors your thyroid levels regularly - to see when the existing hormones have decreased enough and adjust your dose accordingly 1