The users guide
to prescription drugs
and supplements

Finding the right
medication is important
Let RateADrug help.

Evaluate your current medication
Compare conventional and alternative therapies
Get information without drug company bias

PreMed PREP FAQs About Us Contact Us

|Compare Treatments

|Evaluate Your Treatment

Search for a Treatment

Find Treatments by Condition

Browse by name:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ba-Bd | Be-Bh | Bi-Bo | Bp-Br | Bs-Bz

Da-Dd | De | Df-Di |Dj-Do | Dp-Dz

Ea-El | Em-Ep | Eq-Es | Et | Eu-Ez

Ha-He | Hf-Hz

Ia-Il | Im-In | Io-Ip | Iq-Iz

La-Ld | Le| Lf-Ln| Lo | Lp-Lz

Na | Nb-Nh | Ni | Nj-Nz

Oa-Op | Oq-Ow | Ox-Oz

Ra-Rd | Re | Rf-Rz

Propylthiouracil

View / Add User Comments (7)

User Ratings

Out of 10

Satisfaction

4 Effectiveness

7.5 Side Effects

3.8 Holistic Benefits

RateADrug users have reported 8 Propylthiouracil side effects and 1 Propylthiouracil benefit.

Be better informed. Are you taking Propylthiouracil?

Yes |No

Get Help

Evaluate Your Treatment

Treatment Information

Description | Uses & Side Effects | Warnings

There is currently no information to display in this section. RateADrug provides information about drugs and supplements though a wiki format provided by researchers, health care providers and others. We encourage you to add to this description by clicking on the button below.

Common Uses:

Propylthiouracil is indicated in the medical treatment of hyperthyroidism. Long-term therapy may lead to remission of the disease. Propylthiouracil may also be used to ameliorate hyperthyroidism in preparation for subtotal thyroidectomy or radioactive iodine therapy. Propylthiouracil is also used when thyroidectomy is contraindicated or not advisable.

Off Label Uses:

Currently there are no off label uses for Propylthiouracil.

Side Effects:
The most common side effects of Propylthiouracil are Abnormal skin sensations; change in taste; drowsiness; enlarged salivary glands; feeling of whirling motion; hair loss; headache; itching; muscle pain; nausea; skin color changes; stomach upset; swelling; swollen or painful lymph nodes.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blood cell changes; fever; sore throat; unusual bleeding or bruising; vomiting; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Cautions / Warnings:

Agranulocytosis is potentially the most serious side effect of Propylthiouracil therapy. Patients should be instructed to report any symptoms of agranulocytosis, such as fever or sore throat. Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and aplastic anemia (pancytopenia) may also occur. The drug should be discontinued in the presence of agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia (pancytopenia), ANCA-positive vasculitis, hepatitis, interstitial pneumonitis, fever or exfoliative dermatitis. The patient’s bone marrow function should be monitored.

Propylthiouracil can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Because the drug readily crosses placental membranes and can induce goiter and even cretinism in the developing fetus, it is important that a sufficient, but not excessive, dose be given. In many pregnant women, the thyroid dysfunction diminishes as the pregnancy proceeds; consequently, a reduction of dosage may be possible. In some instances, Propylthiouracil can be withdrawn 2 or 3 weeks before delivery.

If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be warned of the potential hazard to the fetus.

Postpartum patients receiving Propylthiouracil should not nurse their babies.

Rare reports exist of severe hepatic reactions including encephalopathy, fulminant hepatic necrosis and death in patients receiving Propylthiouracil. Symptoms suggestive of hepatic dysfunction (anorexia, pruritus, right upper quadrant pain, etc.) should prompt evaluation of liver function. Treatment with Propylthiouracil should be discontinued promptly in the event of clinically significant evidence of liver abnormality, including hepatic transaminases in excess of 3 times the upper limit of normal.

Drug Interactions:
Drug Interactions
Anticoagulants (Oral): The activity of anticoagulants may be potentiated by anti-vitamin-K activity attributed to Propylthiouracil.

β-Adrenergic Blocking Agents: Hyperthyroidism may cause an increased clearance of beta blockers with a high extraction ratio. A dose reduction of beta-adrenergic blockers may be needed when a hyperthyroid patient becomes euthyroid.

Digitalis Glycosides: Serum digitalis levels may be increased when hyperthyroid patients on a stable digitalis glycoside regimen become euthyroid; a reduced dosage of digitalis glycosides may be required.

Theophylline: Theophylline clearance may decrease when hyperthyroid patients on a stable theophylline regimen become euthyroid; a reduced dose of theophylline may be needed.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Laboratory animals treated with Propylthiouracil for > 1 year have demonstrated thyroid hyperplasia and carcinoma formation.1 Such animal findings are seen with continuous suppression of thyroid function by sufficient doses of a variety of antithyroid agents, as well as in dietary iodine deficiency, subtotal thyroidectomy, and implantation of autonomous thyrotropic hormone-secreting pituitary tumors. Pituitary adenomas have also been described.

This medication is not indicated for use in pregnant women. The drug appears in human milk and is contraindicated in nursing mothers.

View / Add User Comments (7)

Evaluate This Treatment

User Ratings

Comments(7)

More About This Treatment

How does your Treatment Compare?

Choose a Condition:

Show results for:

Brands	Effectiveness	Holistic Benefits	Side Effects	Number of Ratings
Tapazole	5.5	3.3	2.94	4
Propylthiouracil	5	3.68	5.12	3
Methimazole	4.5	5.09	4.51	4
Carbimazole	3.35	3.91	5.7	72
Liothyronine Sodium	0	0	0	0

View All	About these Scores
	Choose a condition to compare treatments based on user feedback. You can sort by Effectiveness, Holistic Benefits or Side Effects RateADrug user scores, or the number of Ratings. Scores gain significance with the number of ratings, so please share your experiences - rate your drug! Close

Effectiveness of Propylthiouracil by Condition

Click on a condition to view RateADrug.com users ratings

Hyperthyroidism

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Effectiveness on "Hyperthyroidism"

About these Results
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the distribution in percentages of how users rate the effectiveness of their medication. Click on the various conditions to see how the effectiveness ratings change. Close

Not at all

Mildly

Moderately

Very

Extremely

How effective is Propylthiouracil?

Reported Changes in Health and Well-Being

Since taking Propylthiouracil, RateADrug survey participants noticed these changes in their health:

Effect on:	Much Worse	Worse	No Change	Better	Much Better
Appetite	5.6%	27.8%	55.6%	5.6%	5.6%
Balance/Equilibrium	0%	11.1%	88.9%	0%	0%
Blood Pressure	5.6%	5.6%	83.3%	0%	5.6%
Breathing	0%	11.1%	83.3%	5.6%	0%
Confidence	0%	16.7%	77.8%	5.6%	0%
Coordination/Motor Skills	0%	16.7%	72.2%	11.1%	0%
Digestion	0%	0%	94.4%	5.6%	0%
Emotional Well-being	0%	22.2%	66.7%	5.6%	5.6%
Energy	5.6%	50%	33.3%	5.6%	5.6%
Eyesight	0%	50%	38.9%	11.1%	0%
Memory	0%	16.7%	72.2%	5.6%	5.6%
Mental Clarity	0%	22.2%	66.7%	5.6%	5.6%
Pain	0%	11.1%	83.3%	5.6%	0%
Patience	0%	33.3%	61.1%	5.6%	0%
Sexual Health	0%	5.6%	83.3%	5.6%	5.6%
Skin Complexion	22.2%	27.8%	44.4%	5.6%	0%
Sleep	11.1%	33.3%	50%	5.6%	0%
Stress Level	0%	33.3%	61.1%	0%	5.6%

About these Scores
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the distribution in percentages of negative or positive changes in health and well-being experienced by users for all of the categories listed. Close

Commonly Reported Propylthiouracil Side Effects

RateADrug survey participants experienced these commonly reported side effects:

Effect on:	None	Mild	Moderate	Strong	Severe
Anxiety	85.7%	0%	14.3%	0%	0%
Blurred Vision	71.4%	14.3%	14.3%	0%	0%
Breathing Difficulties	85.7%	14.3%	0%	0%	0%
Cold Symptoms	85.7%	14.3%	0%	0%	0%
Depression	85.7%	0%	14.3%	0%	0%
Dizziness	72.2%	22.2%	5.6%	0%	0%
Drowsiness	50%	11.1%	5.6%	33.3%	0%
Fatigue	57.1%	14.3%	0%	28.6%	0%
Headache	38.9%	22.2%	16.7%	22.2%	0%
Insomnia	85.7%	14.3%	0%	0%	0%
Irregular Heartbeat	85.7%	0%	0%	14.3%	0%
Itching	50%	33.3%	5.6%	11.1%	0%
Joint Swelling	83.3%	16.7%	0%	0%	0%
Muscle / Joint Pain	72.2%	22.2%	0%	5.6%	0%
Sensitivity to Light	85.7%	14.3%	0%	0%	0%
Sexual Dysfunction	85.7%	0%	0%	14.3%	0%
Skin Rash	45.5%	18.2%	9.1%	27.3%	0%
Stomach Ache	71.4%	14.3%	14.3%	0%	0%

About these Scores
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the distribution in percentages of the severity of side effects experienced by users. Scores gain significance with the number of ratings, so please share your experiences - rate your drug! Close

Less Commonly Reported Propylthiouracil Side Effects

RateADrug survey participants experienced less commonly reported side effects:

Effect on:	None	Mild	Moderate	Strong	Severe
Burning Sensation	94.4%	0%	0%	5.6%	0%
Hair Loss	55.6%	5.6%	11.1%	27.8%	0%
Numbing Sensation	83.3%	5.6%	11.1%	0%	0%

About these Scores
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the distribution in percentages of the severity of side effects experienced by users. Scores gain significance with the number of ratings, so please share your experiences - rate your drug! Close

Episodes since taking Propylthiouracil

Since taking Propylthiouracil Rate a Drug survey participants reported these episodes:

Hospitalization

5.3%

About these Results
Out of 100% of people surveyed, these results show the percentage of users who have experienced any of these episodes while taking their medication. Close

How does your experience compare with other Propylthiouracil users?

Online Health Care Dispute Resolution

Need help resolving complaints against a doctor, insurance company or other health care provider

User Comments about Propylthiouracil

29 Feb 2012

Started taking meds PTU.. 3 times a day. Having some headaches, bitter taste in my mouth after taking pill. Have only been taking only for 1 week. Hopefully this helps my low 0.02 tsh. Any recommendations ? Please.. This is a terrible disease ... Feel horrible for anyone that has this!

—Posted by Julia

Respond

01 Mar 2012

Things do get better, I have taken PTU for 6 months now, the bitter taste is just one of those things you get used to but I would rather have that than opt for surgery. You need to have a look at the Elaine Moore Q&A site which isdedicated to graves disease, a very informative website where you can also ask questions about this disease too. I had a lot less side effects from this than the carbimazole, dont get hung up on your TSH levels this might not budge until you are near remission you need to go off your FT4 levels, mine TSH increased when I went hypo due to the Propylthiouracil, you acn also get a lot of support from dailystrength website and join the graves disease group, we have a thyroid uk website but not many graves disease sufferers on there, if you need any more help keep in touch

—Posted by vicki

01 Feb 2012

Did not like this medicine! My hair thinned out terribly and the skin rash and headaches were not good either!

—Posted by Bee

Respond

04 Feb 2012

I had itchy skin but this did disappear, as for the hair falling out mine is still doing this, I spoke to the consultant this week and he says its part of the condition not the tablets, its a hypo side effect so make sure your levels arent too low, mine are still low end of normal, there is only the MMI as your next option which I couldnt take , RAI or surgery and I would much rather take these tablets, good luck vicki :)

—Posted by vicki

01 Feb 2012

Did not like this medicine! My hair thinned out terribly and the skin rash and headaches were not good either!

—Posted by Anonymous

Respond

01 Feb 2012

I hated taking PTU because it could not properly stabalize my thyroid levels, so the doctor kept increasing my dosages. I ended up taking 16 pills per day!

—Posted by Bee

Respond

01 Feb 2012

I hated taking PTU because it could not properly stabalize my thyroid levels, so the doctor kept increasing my dosages. I ended up taking 16 pills per day!

—Posted by Bee

Respond