Intrathyroidal iodide binding rates and plasma methimazole concentrations in hyperthyroid patients on small doses of carbimazole.

1 The effect of small doses of carbimazole on the binding rate constant of intrathyroidal iodide, plasma methimazole concentrations and circulating thyroid hormone concentrations in five hyperthyroid patients is presented. 2 In all patients there was a marked reduction in iodide binding with carbimazole doses as low as 5 to 10 mg daily. 3 In three patients little further reduction in the observed binding rate occurred with daily doses in excess of 10 mg despite progressive increases in plasma methimazole concentrations. 4 At the end of 4 weeks' treatment with 10 mg carbimazole daily, the reduction in thyroid hormone concentrations and clinical improvement were such as to suggest that this dose may be an effective starting dose in many patients.