How To Treat Graves' Disease

Radioactive Iodine Therapy

An individual affected by Graves' disease may need to undergo radioactive iodine therapy to treat their disorder. Radioactive iodine therapy is a form of treatment that utilizes a compound called radioactive iodine-131 or I-131 to destroy some cells in the thyroid gland that are producing too much thyroid hormone. The radioactive iodine compound can be taken as a capsule or liquid by mouth, and the dosage for these purposes is slightly higher than the dosage utilized for certain imaging tests performed to evaluate the thyroid gland. Higher doses of iodine-131 are effective at gradually destroying the overactive hormone-releasing cells in the thyroid gland to bring the patient's thyroid hormone levels down to a more acceptable level. The radioactive iodine compound used for this therapy does not have adverse effects on other tissues in the body. In rare cases, a Graves' disease patient may need to undergo more than one radioactive iodine therapy treatment to get their thyroid hormone levels down. The majority of patients who undergo radioactive iodine therapy will develop hypothyroidism later because the cells that produce thyroid hormones have been destroyed. Hypothyroidism is easier to treat than Graves' disease because it can be completely controlled with daily medication.

Read more about how to treat Graves' disease now.