Carbimazole - is this a side effect..?

1. FifeCat 15 May 2012 at 16:16PM
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   Hi, I've been taking 20mg Carbimazole once a day for about 4 months now. It doesn't mention this aanywhere in the patient info, so wondered if anyone else taking this medication has noticed their finger nails are absolutely wrecked..?!

   Basically they have all broken off down to the quick, and continue to peel, flake and break at an alarming rate - they are even coming away from the nail bed in places.

   Anyone else had this at all? Or is it just a coincidence..?

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2. Bess 18 May 2012 at 18:46PM

   Hello, I took Carbimazole for 18 months but had no problems with finger nails, but dry skin and hair thinning a bit. I wonder if your problem is due to your overactive thyroid rather than the medication or perhaps a fungal infection of the nails ? Your local pharmacist would probably be willing to take a look and advise, hope you get sorted soon.

   Bess.

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3. madgebris 16 June 2012 at 17:56PM

   Hi Fifecat

   Yes, I too am having problems with my nails which have become brittle since taking Carbimazole, so you are not alone. I have also noticed that my skin and eyes have become very dry. You are not alone.

   II hate this medication and have gained well over a stone in weight. I feel tired all of the time and it makes me look haggered; I'm waiting for an appointment to see if I can have part of my thyroid removed rather than to take this medication. The radioactive treatment is not an option as I'm a cancer patient who has previously had radiotherapy.... but don't like complaining, just happy to be aloive. Madgebris

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4. FifeCat 18 June 2012 at 03:22AM

   Hi, thanks so much for your replies, really appreciate it!

   I finally got an appointment with the endocrinologist after posting this message, and she said it's really common to have nail, hair and skin problems whenever there's a problem with the thyroid, also the dry eyes etc. So it seems its more the thyroid itself to blame, rather than the Carbimazole (I have extreme hyperthyroidism, came on very suddenly after the birth of my 2nd child last year).

   The doctor did say my skin nails and hair would get better once we'd got my thyroid under control, but it would take quite a long time.

   So now I know what the problem is, I'm just relying heavily on the most intensive moisturisers I can find - a really rich facial cream, and a really intensive cuticle cream, which used daily does seem to be helping the nails a lot - they had become very tender and hurt a lot because they had broken so far so quickly, but that seems to be getting better now. I'm also using a really intensive hair conditioner every couple of days, which is helping reduce the breakage and hair loss. And I've also been advised by a nutritionist to try taking an Omega 3, 6 & 9 supplement, which I'm told will do a lot to help the skin and nail problems from the inside.

   Other than that, seems there's not much I can do for now. I'll be on the Carbimazole for the forseeable until we find the right control dose; radioactive iodine not an option when you have small children apparently, and I don't much fancy surgery just yet.. i'm just glad to know what the problem is and to be feeling better than I was. Thanks for getting back to me, its reassuring to know it's part and parcel of the condition and I'm not on my own with it! Hope some of these ideas will help you too.

   FC x

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