I have just been diagnosed with graves disease & have been…

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Graves disease is a hypermetabolic state. The first-line choice in the U.S. is use of radioactive iodoine. There are, however some considerations with respect to pregnancy. Though not generally considered to effect future fertility; pregnancy should be avoided for 4 months after use of radioactive iodine.

Methimazole, while used for Graves Disease, carries what is referred to as an off-label indication for this condition.

What these means though while it has been found to treat this condition, it has not received approval from the FDA for use to treat this condition.

Many drugs have off-label use. If you are being treated by a board certified endocrinologist, I would not be concerned about the off-label use of this medication.

And yes, unfortunately, weight gain is a side-effect associated with this medication.

Also, methimazole carries a category D pregnancy risk because it has been shown to cause fetal abnormalities.

Generally, weight-gain is associated with hypothyroidism and weight-loss is associated with hyperthyroidism.

Due to your profession and considerations, it should also be mentioned that if you elect for the radio active iodine, called radioablation of the thyroid, hypothyroidism will likely result requiring thyroid medication (e.g. levothyroxine) for the rest of your life.

I have done my best to answer your question and provide you information with the condition you are confronting in order for you to decide along with your physician what is best for you. Additional reading may be found at the following link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000358.htm

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