COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CLINICAL EFFICACY OF DILTIAZEM AND PROPRANOLOL IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTHYROIDISM

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of diltiazem and propranolol in controlling the adrenergic manifestations of hyperthyroidism. Material and Methods: This prospective, interventional study included 44 newly diagnosed, untreated patients with hyperthyroidism attending the out patient department of Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Peshawar. Patients were randomized to two matched groups. Group I (n = 23, mean age 37.91 + 10.48 years) took diltiazem 30 mg three times a day for 6 weeks. Group II (n = 21, mean age 37.57 + 14.27 years) took propranolol 20 mg three times a day for a period of 6 weeks. Clinical assessment was done before starting therapy and then after 6 weeks (+ 3 days) using standardized and modified hyperthyroid symptom score (HSS). Results: HSS decreased from 16.35 + 2.31 to 11.26 + 2.56 in group I after 6 weeks of therapy with diltiazem (P < 0.001). HSS declined from 15.62 + 2.25 to 11.38 + 2.13 in group II after 6 weeks of therapy with propranolol (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Diltiazem, like propranolol, effectively controls the clinical manifestations of hyperthyro idism.