# ADHD overdiagnosed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 13, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhd-overdiagnosed/348217 "2006-03-13T19:46:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhd-overdiagnosed/348217/21 "2006-03-15T17:07:45Z")
**An Arky** - sorry to hijack, radioiodine is one of three treatment modalities for [hyperthyroidism](http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068880/). The other two are drugs ([Propylthiouracil](http://www.medicinenet.com/propylthiouracil/article.htm) and [Carbimazole](http://home.intekom.com/pharm/lagamed/nmercaz.html)) and surgery. The drugs need to be taken long term by the majority of patients and have some very serious possible side effects (bone marrow suppression). Surgery to thyroid has associated risks of bleeding, infection, anaesthesia and damage to the nerves to the larynx, which can lead to permanant damage to the quality of the voice. Radioiodine, in contrast is non invasive (one drink or capsule, no surgery, no needles, no side effects) which either renders the patient euthyroid and no further treatment is required, or it causes the patient to become hypothyroid, and [synthetic thyroid hormone](http://www.medicinenet.com/levothyroxine_sodium/article.htm) is prescribed. The synthetic thyroxine is much safer and better tolerated than either of the drugs for hyperthyroidism, as it simply replaces what the body is missing. While you may feel that radioiodine is invasive and not a good option, the reality is that there are other options, but they’re probably less acceptable to the majority of patients. [Radioiodine](http://www.thyroid.ca/Articles/EngE12A.html) is very effective, safe (as long as it isn’t done on a woman of child-bearing age) and is considered the definitive treatment of choice. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhd-overdiagnosed/348217/22 "2006-03-15T17:18:41Z")
Yeah, I know all that; that’s why I decided to go forward with it. I was taking PTU, and it was working, but that’s not a sustainable solution. Yes, RAI is the best solution we have right now, but I think that’s not good enough. They have something that works, so they can’t be arsed to try to find anything better, that’s what I was getting at. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhd-overdiagnosed/348217/23 "2006-03-15T18:31:07Z")
I’m still not sure why they would try to find something better when you’ve got a low-risk, highly effective, non-invasive solution- other than a “magic pill” that cures hyperthyroidism in one dose, I can’t see a better alternative. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhd-overdiagnosed/348217/24 "2006-03-15T18:36:57Z")
One that doesn’t kill the thyroid, I believe, would be a worthy goal to pursue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adhd-overdiagnosed/348217.md?page=1)