The objective of this study was to determine whether transdermal
methimazole was as safe and effective as oral
methimazole for the control of
hyperthyroidism in cats. Forty-seven cats with newly diagnosed
hyperthyroidism were randomized to receive either transdermal
methimazole in
pluronic lecithin organogel (PLO; applied to the inner pinna), or oral
methimazole (2.5 mg q12h for either route). Cats were evaluated at weeks 0, 2, and 4 with a physical exam,
body weight determination, CBC, biochemical panel, urinalysis, measurement of total
levothyroxine (T4) concentration, indirect Doppler blood pressure determinaiton, and completion of an owner questionnaire. Data between the 2 groups and over time were compared by nonparametric methods. Forty-four cats followed the protocol (17 oral and 27 transdermal). Significantly more cats treated with oral
methimazole had serum T4 concentrations within the reference range after 2 weeks (14 of 16 cats) compared to those treated by the transdermal route (14 of 25; P = .027). This difference was no longer significant by 4 weeks of treatment (9 of 11 for oral versus 14 of 21 for transdermal), possibly because of inadequate numbers evaluated by 4 weeks. Cats treated with oral
methimazole had a higher incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects (4 of 17 cats) compared to the cats treated with transdermal
methimazole (1 of 27; P = .04), but no differences were found between groups in the incidence of
neutropenia, hepatotoxicity, or facial excoriations. Although the overall efficacy of transdermal
methimazole is not as high as that of oral
methimazole at 2 weeks of treatment, it is associated with fewer GI adverse effects compared to the oral route.