Liver Damage Associated With Anti-Thyroid Drug Propylthiouracil
People taking propylthiouracil (PTU) should be aware that the Food and Drug Administration issued a PTU warning about possible liver damage as a side effect of using the drug. PTU is an anti-thyroid medication used primarily for the treatment of Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder that leads to hyperthyroidism. The condition can cause increased heartbeat, muscle weakness, disturbed sleep, and eye problems. While methimazole, which has fewer side effects, is generally the preferred drug for treating Graves’, PTU is often used for patients that are allergic to methimazole or are in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Between 1969, when the FDA first established its Adverse Event Reporting System, and October 2008, there have been 32 reported cases of serious liver injury in patients taking PTU. Of those, 13 patients died and 11 required liver transplants. The FDA PTU warning recommends that doctors prescribing patients PTU closely monitor the patients for signs of liver damage, particularly during the first six months of treatment. Read more about drug side effects and complications or dangerous drugs.
Tags: FDA warning, liver damage, PTU