Carbimazole

 Carbimazole is a prescription antithyroid medicine used to treat an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). It works by reducing the amount of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) produced by the thyroid gland.

Common uses

Hyperthyroidism

Graves' disease

To prepare patients for thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine treatment

How it works

Carbimazole blocks the thyroid gland from making thyroid hormones. As hormone levels gradually decrease, symptoms of hyperthyroidism improve.

Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism

Fast heartbeat

Weight loss despite a good appetite

Tremors (shaking hands)

Anxiety or nervousness

Sweating

Heat intolerance

Difficulty sleeping

How to take Carbimazole

Take it exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

It can be taken with or without food.

Take it at the same time each day.

Do not stop taking it without medical advice.

Common side effects

Nausea

Headache

Skin rash or itching

Mild joint pain

Upset stomach

Serious side effects (seek medical attention immediately)

A rare but serious side effect is agranulocytosis, a severe reduction in white blood cells that makes it difficult to fight infections.

Stop the medicine and seek urgent medical care if you develop:

Fever

Severe sore throat

Mouth ulcers

Signs of infection

Other serious side effects include:

Yellowing of the skin or eyes (possible liver problems)

Severe skin rash

Unusual bruising or bleeding

Monitoring

People taking carbimazole usually need regular blood tests to check:

Thyroid hormone levels (T3, T4)

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Full blood count (FBC), especially if infection symptoms occur

Liver function, if indicated

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Carbimazole can affect an unborn baby, particularly in early pregnancy. If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding, discuss treatment with your doctor, as a different antithyroid medicine may sometimes be preferred.

In Sinhala

Carbimazole යනු අධික තයිරොයිඩ් හෝමෝන නිපදවීම (Hyperthyroidism) පාලනය කිරීමට භාවිතා කරන ප්‍රති-තයිරොයිඩ් ඖෂධයකි. මෙය තයිරොයිඩ් ග්‍රන්ථියෙන් හෝමෝන නිපදවීම අඩු කරයි.

When taken correctly and monitored by a healthcare professional, carbimazole is an effective treatment for controlling an overactive thyroid and relieving its symptoms.