Methods Of Treating Bulging Eyes

Radioactive Iodine

Radioactive iodine is sometimes used in cases of hyperthyroidism, especially if antithyroid medications aren't effective enough. Iodine is important to the health of the thyroid in general. The body uses iodine to create thyroid hormone, and not having enough iodine can lead to an underactive thyroid. Meanwhile, too much iodine can overwork the thyroid gland. Radioactive iodine is a special type of iodine specifically used for managing overactive thyroids. Individuals take the medication by mouth. It attacks and destroys excess thyroid cells, reducing the amount of thyroid hormone created. Some patients might find radioactive iodine destroys so many thyroid cells that they then have an underactive thyroid. In these cases, they'd need to take supplemental thyroid hormone. Because radioactive iodine can cause permanent damage to the thyroid, it's typically used only after more conservative treatment methods have failed.