Thyroid Disease Prognosis

Thyroid disease occurs when your thyroid gland is not making the proper amount of thyroid hormone. This causes hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid), Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease.

Anti-thyroid Drugs (ATD)

• According to "Living Well with Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism" by Mary J. Shomon, hyperthyroid patients who take anti-thyroid drugs generally see improvement within four weeks; 60 to 70 percent of patients relapse, and 10 to 15 percent become hypothyroid after 15 years.

Radioactive Iodine (RAI)

• It can take four months to see improvement while undergoing radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. "Living Well with Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism" states a 20 percent chance of relapse, and 30 percent of patients become hypothyroid within two years of treatment.

Thyroid Hormone Replacement

• Hypothyroid patients usually respond favorably to thyroid hormone replacement in proper dosages.

Untreated Thyroid Disease

• Long-term effects of untreated hypothyroidism include high cholesterol, coronary artery disease and glucose intolerance. Untreated hyperthyroidism causes cardiac rhythm issues, congestive heart failure and osteoporosis. If left untreated, Hashimoto's thyroiditis can lead to destruction of the thyroid.

Side Effects

• According to "A Simple Guide to Thyroid Disorders" by Drs. Paul Ruggieri and Scott Isaacs, 5 percent of hyperthyroid patients treated with anti-thyroid drugs have an allergic reaction, usually a rash. More serious side effects include liver problems and white blood cell reduction.