Mushtaq Ahmad Marwat, Mohammad Rauf, Gul Nawab.
Clinical and biochemical efficacy of diltiazem in hyperthyroidism.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;47(4):89-91.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of diltiazem on the adrenergic manifestations of hyperthyroidism and thyroid function tests. Patients and Methods: This prospective, interventional study included 19 newly diagnosed patients (16 females, 3 males with mean age of 35.31+10.36 years) of hyperthyroidism attending the out patient department of Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Peshawar. All patients took diltiazem 30 mg three times a day for 6 weeks. Clinical assessment was done before starting therapy and then serially after 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks (+3days) using standardized and modified hyperthyroid symptom score. Serum free T4 measurements were done before starting diltiazem and then serially after 2, 4 and 6 weeks (+3 days) of therapy. Results: Following therapy with diltiazem the hyperthyroid system score decreased significantly at 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks of therapy. With individual values dropping from 14.42 to 12.89 pmol/L after 1week (P<0.05), to 11.21, 10.78 and 10.26 pmol/L after 2, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively (P<0.001). Serum free T4 decreased from 33.29 pmol/L to 32.77, 31.86 and 31.50 pmol/L after 2, 4 and 6 weeks (P>0.05). Conclusion: Diltiazem effectively controls the clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism. It also causes some decline in free thyroxine levels.

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