methimazole side effects?

[jlh0330]

Last fall I was having symptoms (very hyped up, hard heart beat, sweating, hot, wieght loss, nervousness) that finally led to testing and found out I have hyperthyroid -Graves Disease.
I have been taking Methimazole since right before Christmas - about 6 months. I have done well on it, and not had to deal with too many side effects.
Throughout all of this, I am typically very warm, and night time is the worst with VERY bad night sweats. I have had muscle 'cramping' off and on, but the term 'cramping' is quite an undestatement. These are more like a very severe charley horse that is immobilizing and the tenderness and achiness from it can last for a couple days afterwards. This happens all over my body - soemtimes my upper arms, soemtimes, back side, sometimes from my hip up my side and into underarm, my feet...pretty random, and not related to moving usually.
I am trying to understand why this is happening and what I can do.
I am going for more bloodwork tomorrow and have an appointment with my endo the following week.
Is this a side effect of meds or possibly eletrolytes being whacked out from all the loos of fluids? (yes the sweating is that bad - it would be similar to playing raquetball on a hot summer day)
ANY help would be appreciated!!!

[jlh0330]

wow, thanks so much for the info - it is just good to know that someone else has gone through this too... I appreciate it and will check with the pharmacy on the meds for the cramping.... my regular MD thought this was related to fibromyalgia, but the more I have read and researched, realized it may not related to that at all.
thanks again!

[cbread]

I have been on methimazole for over a year and my symptoms of hyper come/go. It's a crazy disease. For the most part my sweating is gone (although my hands stay warm all the time) but the night is when I get most of my 'recurring' symptoms which are night sweats and anxiety attacks.  Hopefully your endo can set you straight!  For the cramps, my 'charly horse' stuff was worst when I was hypo and a ridiculously annoying. Just reaching for a sweater meant 15 minutes of hell. So I feel your pain...I starting taking a over the counter pill called 'leg cramps' from the pharmacy. It has a low dose of quinine which is suppose to help balance your hydration and prevent leg cramps. I also drink way more water than most people which is weird. Good luck!