Graves' Disease Treatment

The main goals of treating Graves’ disease are inhibiting the production of thyroid hormones and blocking their effects on the body.

Some treatments²² for Graves’ disease include:

• Radioactive iodine therapy: This therapy requires you to take radioactive iodine (called radioiodine) orally. Radioiodine goes into thyroid cells and destroys overactive cells over time, causing the thyroid to shrink. Symptoms of Graves’ disease generally lessen gradually over the course of several weeks to months. Because this treatment decreases normal thyroid activity, you’ll likely need later treatment to supply your body with normal amounts of thyroid hormones.
• Antithyroid medications: Antithyroid medications interfere with the gland’s use of iodine in hormone production, causing it to produce less thyroid hormone. In some cases, these drugs are used before or after radioiodine as a supplemental treatment. Antithyroid medications usually don’t permanently cure Graves’ disease. The total average treatment generally lasts 12–18 months but may continue longer for people who don’t want to use radioiodine or surgery to treat their Graves’ disease.
• Beta blockers: Beta blockers don’t inhibit the production of thyroid hormones; rather, they block the effect of hormones on the body. They can help provide fairly rapid relief (in some cases, within hours) from the symptoms of hyperthyroidism—namely, trembling, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, and irritability.
• Surgery: One option for treating Graves’ disease is surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid (thyroidectomy or subtotal thyroidectomy). Treatment to supply the body with normal amounts of thyroid hormones is usually required after these procedures. Complications are rare under the care of a surgeon experienced in thyroid surgery.

Graves' disease medicine

Your provider may prescribe the following medications for Graves’ disease:

Thyroid eye disease treatment

The signs and symptoms of TED don’t always improve with treatment for Graves’ disease. TED often improves on its own, although your healthcare provider may recommend treatment²³ for some of your signs and symptoms.

In some cases, it’s possible to manage mild symptoms of TED without a prescription. Some approaches to treating mild cases of TED include:

• Eye drops: Over-the-counter eye drops can help relieve dry, irritated eyes, the most common of TED’s milder symptoms.
• Glasses: Wearing sunglasses can help you deal with the light sensitivity common to people with TED. Some special lenses may also help reduce double vision (diplopia).
• Dealing with swollen eyelids: If your eyelids are puffy and swollen, your provider may recommend that you sleep with your head raised at night (for instance, propped up with a pillow) to help reduce swelling. If your eyelids do not fully close, he or she may also recommend taping them shut at night to help prevent dry eyes.

If your TED symptoms are more severe, your provider may recommend:

• Corticosteroids: Treatment with prescription steroids like prednisone may help reduce the swelling behind your eyes.
• Orbital decompression surgery: In this surgery, the bone between the eye socket (orbit) and sinuses is removed. This makes room for the eyes to move back to their original position. This treatment is usually used when pressure on the optic nerve threatens a loss of vision.
• Orbital radiotherapy: Orbital radiotherapy was once a common treatment for Graves’ ophthalmopathy; however, the benefits of the procedure aren’t clear. This procedure uses targeted X-rays over the course of several days to destroy some of the tissue behind your eyes. Orbital radiotherapy may be recommended if your eye problems are worsening and prescription corticosteroids alone aren’t sufficient (or aren’t well-tolerated). In some cases, eyelid surgery is also used to return retracted eyelids to their normal position.

Rarely, Graves’ disease is treated with radiation therapy to the muscles and tissues around the eyes.

The symptoms of TED may worsen for 3–6 months. After that, the signs and symptoms of TED generally stabilize for a year or so before improving—often on their own.

Graves' disease diet

People with Graves’ disease may be sensitive²⁴ to the harmful side effects of iodine. Taking iodine supplements or eating foods with large amounts of iodine, such as kelp or other kinds of seaweed, may cause or worsen hyperthyroidism.

If you have Graves’ disease, you should discuss your diet with your healthcare provider. They can advise you on what foods you should limit or avoid. You should take special care to let them know if you take any iodine supplements, as well as cough syrups or multivitamins—these may contain iodine.