Carbimazole is a medicine used to treat an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). This is when your thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormones.
Carbimazole is associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations, especially when administered in the first trimester of pregnancy and at high doses. Women of childbearing potential should use effective contraception during treatment with carbimazole.
As part of this communication, we must relay the following information to all our patients:
- Women of childbearing potential should use effective contraception during treatment with carbimazole. The Patient Information Leaflet advises patients to tell their doctor straight away if they think they may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby.
- Carbimazole must only be used during pregnancy when clinically indicated and after a strict individual benefit/risk assessment and only at the lowest effective dose without additional administration of thyroid hormones. The use of carbimazole during pregnancy should be preserved for the situations in which a definitive therapy of the underlying disease (thyroidectomy or radioiodine treatment) was not suitable prior to pregnancy and in case of new occurrence or reoccurrence during pregnancy.
- If carbimazole is used during pregnancy, close maternal, foetal and neonatal monitoring is recommended.
This is for your information only, please continue to take this medication however if you would like to discuss this further please contact us to arrange a routine GP appointment via Anima
If you would like to read the alert information, please see link MHRA website information.