Methimazole and Rash: What Users Say

• Aut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2019

For Hyperthyroidism "I was on this methimazole medication for 3 weeks before I broke out into hives/rash on my feet, knees, hips, arms, wrists, and back. I have sensitive skin, so I'm used to being itchy, but this was the worst I've ever been - scratched my skin until it bled. It's been 3 weeks since I stopped taking it, and my skin is STILL reacting with itching and red patches. Benadryl did nothing, but thankfully I was prescribed Atarax, which saved my life. I have zero interest in trying this medication again, even though my doctors want me to. Not sure what to do next as all my symptoms (tremors, insomnia, sweating, constant hunger, brain fog) have returned."

• Aut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2019

For Hyperthyroidism "I was on this methimazole medication for 3 weeks before I broke out into hives/rash on my feet, knees, hips, arms, wrists, and back. I have sensitive skin, so I'm used to being itchy, but this was the worst I've ever been - scratched my skin until it bled. It's been 3 weeks since I stopped taking it, and my skin is STILL reacting with itching and red patches. Benadryl did nothing, but thankfully I was prescribed Atarax, which saved my life. I have zero interest in trying this medication again, even though my doctors want me to. Not sure what to do next as all my symptoms (tremors, insomnia, sweating, constant hunger, brain fog) have returned."

• ORL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2018

For Hyperthyroidism "I took Methimazole for less than a week. Almost immediately, I had itchy all over my body, including my scalp, and pain on the right side of my teeth. Upper and lower all hurt-worse than the only toothache I ever had in my life. The pain was unbearable. I was told to take Benadryl and go to the dentist. I knew I couldn't have 10 toothaches! I figured it was Methimazole. Benadryl did very little for the itch. Then a rash broke out, and I was told to stop it and try the other drug. I was off it for 1 1/2 days, and my teeth quit hurting. Hmmm. The pharmacist told me I could take the Methimazole and my blood pressure medicine at the same time. I wonder if that is why all this happened? Maybe you can't take it all at once? Plus, I was on 40 mg of Methimazole. Maybe it was too high of a dose. I just wish there were more proper instructions on how, when, and with what to take this drug!"

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2018

For Hyperthyroidism "I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease 2 months ago. I started 20 mg of methimazole a day and saw an improvement in my symptoms almost immediately. I had had severe shaking, sweating, night sweats, and rapid heart rate. The medicine improved my symptoms by 80%. At about the one-month mark, I broke out in a rash and hives all over my neck and chest. It stopped as soon as I stopped the medicine. I took a break from it for a week and just restarted again with 10 mg now. Hopefully, the hives don’t come back because other than that, this medicine has helped me a lot, and I would like to continue taking it!"

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2018

For Hyperthyroidism "I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease 2 months ago. I started 20 mg of methimazole a day and saw an improvement in my symptoms almost immediately. I had had severe shaking, sweating, night sweats, and rapid heart rate. The medicine improved my symptoms by 80%. At about the one-month mark, I broke out in a rash and hives all over my neck and chest. It stopped as soon as I stopped the medicine. I took a break from it for a week and just restarted again with 10 mg now. Hopefully, the hives don’t come back because other than that, this medicine has helped me a lot, and I would like to continue taking it!"

• LL0...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2022

For Hyperthyroidism "Methimazole caused an extremely severe allergic reaction on day 15, putting me in the emergency room for 11 hours. The doctor did not believe my medication caused it, so I was given 2 Benadryl. Symptoms were huge hives/welts over 90% of my body. A goose egg literally formed on the back of my skull, 3' by 1.5' wide. Intense itching, ripping at skin and bone. He sent me home with just a stronger antihistamine. When I woke up, my motor skills were gone, I could not walk and was almost blind, my eyes were swollen shut, and my husband called my endocrinologist. He saw me immediately and put me on Prednisone: 8 tabs for 2 days, 6 tabs for 2 days, 4 tabs for 2 days, and 2 tabs for 2 days. It is helping immensely. I am on day 3. I needed cortisone steroid treatment, this reaction was so severe. I was ordered off methimazole immediately and am not a candidate for beta blockers, so radioactive iodine and ultrasound are upcoming soon."

• Bab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 15, 2019

For Hyperthyroidism "I took this medication and immediately felt a difference. Unfortunately, after only 4 doses, I had severe reactions. Pain in neck, chest, and left arm with numbness and tingling in fingertips. Rash on face with itching and burning. I discontinued medication and was placed on another. I do believe if I didn't have such a bad reaction, it would have worked. I just have to have use of my arm."

• Meg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2020

For Hyperthyroidism "I started this drug, methimazole, a week ago on a dose of 60 mg/day (the highest prescribed), and today I broke out in a crazy rash all over my body; terrible red bumps that itch like crazy. At first, I thought it was hives, but my doctor said it was a “classic” methimazole reaction. I’m supposed to take a lower dose, but now I’m nervous to take it at all, which is unfortunate because it was actually doing a good job regulating my heart rate..."

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2022

For Hyperthyroidism "I'm struggling to stay on the methimazole, the headaches, dry skin, rashes, and aches are my reality every day. I'm currently taking 20 mg per day, they say they cannot decrease it. My levels must normalize before doing the radiation treatment. I've been reading your reviews about the radiation treatment, hence I will start researching it more intensively, as it sounds like it can be devastating to the body. I'm taking a gamble at the moment by stopping the meds just to feel okay again. I'm really not sure which is the right way forward."

• sur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2021

Methimazole for Hyperthyroidism "Third update, been on Tapazole for 6 months, initially 3 pills, then the last 2 months 1 pill. A week ago I got a skin rash on my arm, the doctor told me to stop the med for 1 week until the rash gets better and he will prescribe me something else. Today I got called by the endo and told to do a blood test to check levels again. I got a call from the hospital and they told me my T4 went from 25 to 100 and my T3 from 7 to 30. They asked me if I had any palpitations or any other bad effects, I said no. They told me if I feel anything, go to the ER right away. Of course, with this news, my heart went up to 135 palpitations, so I went to the ER. The doc at the ER called another endo and I got prescribed propylthiouracil and back to propranolol. I can't believe 1 week of this will take me from 25 to 100, not even when I got diagnosed with hyper it was 33 only. Appointment tomorrow with my endo, I think I'll go radioactive iodine. Too many side effects."

• Cyn...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 13, 2024

For Hyperthyroidism "I was started on methimazole about six years ago, at 7.5 mg daily -- which I was told is a low dose. I am being treated for hyperthyroidism caused by thyroid nodules. While this drug keeps my thyroid labs within normal range, I find that I am always tired during the day and have developed sensitive skin/rashes that I didn't have before starting it. While methimazole does control other hyperthyroid symptoms, it won't 'cure' the thyroid nodules. I just don't feel like myself on this drug, but I don't want to go through radioactive iodine treatments, either, which I've read can cause other cancers. Sadly, the endocrinologists I've seen only seem to care about the 'numbers' in your lab work and don't care about how you actually feel. I am also worried about the liver damage that methimazole can cause -- and don't think it's good to be on this drug for the long term. Scary."

• sur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2021

For Hyperthyroidism "This is my 4th update. I went to the endo, and he told me to do RAI because if tapazole gave me a rash, other meds probably will do the same. So, on Feb 2, I'll take iodine and the 3rd scan to see how much iodine my thyroid absorbed. So, on the 4th of Feb, I will take the RAI. My endo said it will take a small amount that he doesn't need to get rid of the entire thyroid, just enough to keep normal levels and that probably I won't need synthroid. I think this is for the best. I stopped tapazole on January 15th because of the rash on one arm, but my legs were itchy too. The sensation of itchiness on my legs finally stopped, but my left arm started itching too. I scratched a bit, so now I have a bit of a rash too. The first 4 months of tapazole were okay, but after that... dizziness, stomach pain, and rash started. They lower the thyroid levels fine, but the side effects are too much."

• Nes...
• October 25, 2022

For Hyperthyroidism "I got a rash all over my body and cannot take this medication. PTU is best for me."