Pharmacotherapeutics of a calcium antagonist [verapamil] in simple goitre

The present work was carried out to study the possible beneficial effect of verapamil in cases of simple goiter. Verapamil was administered orally in doses of 240 mg daily [80 mg t.d.s] for three months. The body weight, T3, T4 and TSH levels were measured before and after the drug intake. Verapamil had a significant inhibitory effect on TSH release and serum T3 levels, whereas no significant effect on serum T4 level could be detected. It might be suggested that verapamil may be of some value in cases of simple goiter dependent on increased serum TSH level and probably also in cases of post thyroidectomy thyrotoxicosis due to increased TSH level