What it is
Medicines can reduce the amount of hormone the thyroid makes, and beta blockers can ease symptoms like a fast heartbeat.
Radioiodine treatment or surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid may be offered. Regular blood tests check hormone levels.
Common signs
- Feeling nervous, anxious or irritable
- A fast or irregular heartbeat
- Losing weight
- Feeling hot and sweating
- Shaking hands
- A swelling in the neck (goitre)
- Eye problems in Graves' disease
How it is usually diagnosed
- Thyroid function blood tests (TSH, T4, T3)
- Thyroid antibody tests
- Sometimes a thyroid scan or ultrasound
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- Thyroid function test results over time
- Endocrinology letters
- Scan reports
- Medicine lists and dose changes
Questions to ask your doctor
- What is causing my overactive thyroid?
- Which treatment would you recommend?
- How often will I need blood tests?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- A very fast heartbeat, high fever, confusion or agitation: call 112
- A sore throat or fever while taking carbimazole: stop and get a blood test urgently
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.