Consider the types of drugs that would be prescribed to patients to treat symptoms
associated with thyroid disease.
- Select one of the following factors: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior. Reflect on
how this factor might impact the effects of prescribed drugs, as well as any measures you
might take to help reduce negative side effects.
Write a description of thyroid disease including types of drugs (use generic name) that
would be prescribed to patients to treat associated symptoms. Then, explain how the factor
you selected might impact the effects of prescribed drugs, as well as any measures you
might take to help reduce negative side effects.
Use current resources of not older than 5 years old. Use generic name of drug.
Use this additional resource if available. Arcangelo, V. P., & Peterson, A. M. (Eds.). (2013).
Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (3rd ed.). Ambler, PA:
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Chapter 46, “Thyroid Disorders” (pp. 715-729)
Pharmacotherapy for Endocrine and Musculoskeletal Disorders
Underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism, refers to a condition in which
enough hormones are not produced by the thyroid gland. There are numerous causes and effects
of hypothyroidism and hence, it is supposed to be treated as soon as possible (Arcangelo &
Peterson, 2013). In order to treat hypothyroidism, the following types of drugs would be
prescribed to patients so as to treat symptoms associated with thyroid disease. Antithyroid
medicines are used to cure hyperthyroid- overactive thyroid- also referred to as thyrotoxicosis.
There are different types of antithyroid medicines carbimazole is the most commonly used
antithyroid drug in UK, followed by propylthiouracil (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2013).
Propylthiouracil and carbimazole belong to a group of medicines known as thionamides.
Thionamides have same actions on the thyroid gland.
Even though antithyroid drugs such as carbimazole are the best types of drugs
recommended for people suffering from hyperthyroidism, gender has major impact on the effects
of carbimazole. Hypothyroidism is high in women than in men. As a matter of fact, cases of
hypothyroidism are 10 times higher in women than in men. However, it has been identified that
ENDOCRINE AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS 2
effects of carbimazole are affected in many as they develop antibodies which fight carbimazole
(Aronson, 2009). In addition, carbimazole are said to be not functioning well in pregnant women
as it goes to up to placenta. Carbimazole is not effective in pregnant women compared to women
without pregnant.
Since gender has impact on the effects of antithyroids, we are supposed to manufacture
gender-based drugs. Men should have their own antithyroid drugs and women theirs as well.
Furthermore, preganant women and those planning to have children should have their specific
drugs because while some develop resistence to the drugs, some drugs end up damaging fetus as
it has ability to penetrate into placenta (Aronson, 2009). Hence, manufacture of gender-based
will help in solving these challenges.
ENDOCRINE AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS 3
References
Arcangelo, V. P., & Peterson, A. M. (Eds.), (2013). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced
practice: A practical approach (3rd ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Aronson, J. K. (2009). Meyler’s side effects of endocrine and metabolic drugs. Amsterdam, NL:
Elsevier.