Drug, antithyroid

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Drug, antithyroid

Drug, antithyroid

A drug directed against the thyroid gland. The antithyroid drugs include carbimazole, methimazole, and propylthiouracil (PTU). These drugs are used to treat hyperthyroidism (overactivity of the thyroid gland) in order to reduce the excessive thyroid activity before surgery and to treat and maintain patients not having surgery. Carbimazole, its active metabolite methimazole, and propylthiouracil all act by inhibiting the enzyme thyroid peroxidase and in that way they block the synthesis (the production) of thyroid hormone. About 30 to 40% of patients treated with an antithyroid drug remain euthyroid (with normal levels of thyroid hormone) 10 years after the discontinuation of antithyroid drug therapy, which means that the Graves disease (the most common cause of hyperthyroidism) is in remission. A common problem with antithyroid drugs is undershooting or overshooting causing persistent hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. A rare complication of antithyroid therapy is agranulocytosis (decrease in white blood cells) which calls for immediate discontinuation of the drug.

RELATED TERMS
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Thyroid
The gland in the throat that synthesizes thyroid hormones that affect metabolism.

Gland
An organ that releases a chemical. Endocrine glands are ductless and secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Exocrine glands secrete externally, either through a tube or duct.

Methimazole
Methimazole is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): methimazole.

Propylthiouracil
Propylthiouracil is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): propylthiouracil.

Hyperthyroidism
Overproduction of thyroid hormone.

Surgery
Treating diseases or other medical conditions by operating on a patient to remove or repair parts of the body.

Metabolite
In the body, a substance that is produced by the body's own chemistries.

Enzyme
A cellular protein whose shape allows it to hold together several other molecules in close proximity to each other. In this way, enzymes are able to induce chemical reactions in other substances with little expenditure of energy and without being changed themselves. Basically, an enzyme acts as a catalyst.

Hormone
A chemical substance formed in the body that is carried in the bloodstream to affect another part of the body; an example is thyroid hormone, produced by the thyroid gland in the neck, which affects growth, temperature regulation, metabolic rate, and other body functions.

Euthyroid
The state of having normal thyroid gland function. As opposed to hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroid (underactive thyroid).

Disease
Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs). Disruption sequence: The events that occur when a fetus that is developing normally is subjected to a destructive agent such as the rubella (German measles) virus.

Remission
Improvement of the symptoms of a disease.

Hypothyroidism
Deficiency of thyroid hormone; the opposite of hyperthyroidism. The thyroid gland is in the throat, near the larynx or Adam's apple.

Complication
In medicine, an additional problem that arises following a procedure, treatment or illness and is secondary to it. A complication complicates the situation.

Agranulocytosis
A marked decrease in the number of granulocytes. Granulocytes are a type of white blood cell filled with microscopic granules that are little sacs containing enzymes that digest microorganisms.

Blood
The life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.

SIMILAR TERMS
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Drug activity
A measure of the physiological response a drug produces. A less active drug produces less response (and visa versa).

Drug caution codes
Abbreviations on medications that indicate caution.

Drug delivery
The method and route used to provide medication.

Drug Rehab Central
Drug Rehab Central is a hospital in Los Angles, California (USA).

Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is an umbrella term for a variety of processes by which a person addicted to a drug stops using that drug. These processes can vary from cold turkey to the use of substitute drugs which do not have the same action upon the state of consciousness as the original drug to which the person was addicted.

Drug resistance
The ability of bacteria and other microorganisms to withstand a drug to which they were once sensitive and were once slowed in growth or killed outright.

Drug treatment
A treatment with one or more drugs to fight a given condition or disease. Also, a treatment against drug addiction.

Drug treatment center
A specific center, clinic or institution where drug addiction patients are treated against their addiction.

Drug, ACE-inhibitor
A drug that inhibits ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) which is important to the formation of angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes arteries in the body to constrict and thereby raises the blood pressure. ACE inhibitors lower the blood pressure by inhibiting the formation of angiotensin II. This relaxes the arteries. Relaxing the arteries not only lowers blood pressure, but also improves the pumping efficiency of a failing heart and improves cardiac output in patients with heart failure. ACE inhibitors are therefore used for blood pressure control and congestive heart failure.

Drug, anti-infective
Something capable of acting against infection, by inhibiting the spread of an infectious agent or by killing the infectious agent outright. Anti-infective is a general term that encompasses antibacterials, antibiotics, antifungals, antiprotozoans and antivirals.

Drug, antibiotic
A drug used to treat bacterial infections.T he original definition of an antibiotic was a substance produced by one microorganism that selectively inhibits the growth of another microorganism. However, wholly synthetic antibiotics (usually chemically related to natural antibiotics) have since been produced that accomplish comparable tasks.

Drug, antifungal
A drug used to treat fungal infections. Examples of antifungal drugs include miconazole and clotrimazole.

Drug, antihypertensive
As the name clearly implies, a drug aimed at reducing high blood pressure (hypertension).

Drug, antimicrobial
A drug used to treat a microbial infection. The term "antimicrobial" is a general one that refers to a group of drugs that includes antibiotics, antifungals, antiprotozoals, and antivirals.

Drug, antiprotozoal
Something that destroys protozoa or inhibits their growth and ability to reproduce. A few of the protozoa of medical importance include Plasmodium (the cause of malaria); Entamoeba histolytica (the cause of amebiasis, amebic dysentery) and Trichomonas vaginalis (a cause of vaginal infection); and Pneumocystis carinii (a common cause of pneumonia [PCP] in immunodeficient persons). Some antiprotozoal drugs include the antimalarials Aralen (chloroquine), Daraprim (pyrimethamine), Lariam (mefloquine) and Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine); Flagyl (metronidazole) which is active against Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis; and Mepron (atovaquone) for Pneumocystis carinii.

Drug, antiviral
An agent that kills viruses or suppresses their replication and, hence, inhibits their capability to multiply and reproduce.

Drug, over-the-counter (OTC)
A drug for which a prescription is not needed.

Drug, prescription
A drug requiring a prescription, as opposed to an over-the-counter drug, which can be purchased without one.

Drug, sulfa
One of the sulfonamides, the sulfa-related antibiotics which are used to treat bacterial and some fungal infections.

Drug, tocolytic
A medication that can inhibit labor, slow down or halt the contractions of the uterus. Tocolytic agents are widely used today to treat premature labor and permit pregnancy to proceed and so permit the fetus to gain in size and maturity before being born.

Drugs during pregnancy, dangerous
A teratogen is an agent that can disturb the development of the embryo or fetus. Teratogens halt the pregnancy or produce a congenital malformation (a birth defect). Classes of teratogens include radiation, maternal infections, chemicals, and drugs.

Drugs, anti-angiogenesis
These drugs, which include angiostatin and Endostatin, halt the process of developing new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Angiostatin is a piece of a larger and very common protein, plasminogen, that the body uses in blood clotting. Endostatin is a piece of a different protein, collagen 18, that is in all blood vessels. Both angiostatin and Endostatin are normally secreted by tumors. It is hoped that they will provide the basis for a new class of agents to treat cancer.

Drugs, statin
A class of drugs that lower cholesterol.

Drugs, teratogenic
A teratogen is an agent that can disturb the development of the embryo or fetus. Teratogens halt the pregnancy or produce a congenital malformation (a birth defect). Classes of teratogens include radiation, maternal infections, chemicals, and drugs.

PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS
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Drug, antibiotic
A drug used to treat bacterial infections.T he original definition of an antibiotic was a substance produced by one microorganism that selectively inhibits the growth of another microorganism. However, wholly synthetic antibiotics (usually chemically related to natural antibiotics) have since been produced that accomplish comparable tasks.

Drug, antifungal
A drug used to treat fungal infections. Examples of antifungal drugs include miconazole and clotrimazole.

Drug, antihypertensive
As the name clearly implies, a drug aimed at reducing high blood pressure (hypertension).

Drug, antimicrobial
A drug used to treat a microbial infection. The term "antimicrobial" is a general one that refers to a group of drugs that includes antibiotics, antifungals, antiprotozoals, and antivirals.

Drug, antiprotozoal
Something that destroys protozoa or inhibits their growth and ability to reproduce. A few of the protozoa of medical importance include Plasmodium (the cause of malaria); Entamoeba histolytica (the cause of amebiasis, amebic dysentery) and Trichomonas vaginalis (a cause of vaginal infection); and Pneumocystis carinii (a common cause of pneumonia [PCP] in immunodeficient persons). Some antiprotozoal drugs include the antimalarials Aralen (chloroquine), Daraprim (pyrimethamine), Lariam (mefloquine) and Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine); Flagyl (metronidazole) which is active against Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis; and Mepron (atovaquone) for Pneumocystis carinii.

Drug, antithyroid

Drug, antiviral
An agent that kills viruses or suppresses their replication and, hence, inhibits their capability to multiply and reproduce.

Drug, over-the-counter (OTC)
A drug for which a prescription is not needed.

Drug, prescription
A drug requiring a prescription, as opposed to an over-the-counter drug, which can be purchased without one.

Drug, sulfa
One of the sulfonamides, the sulfa-related antibiotics which are used to treat bacterial and some fungal infections.

Drug, tocolytic
A medication that can inhibit labor, slow down or halt the contractions of the uterus. Tocolytic agents are widely used today to treat premature labor and permit pregnancy to proceed and so permit the fetus to gain in size and maturity before being born.

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