Treatments

There are many effective treatments readily available for all types of hyperthyroidism. They can be generally classified into 2 parts -- medications and surgical procedures.

Medications

Anti-thyroid medications

Goal: Gradually reduce symptoms by interfering with the thyroid gland's ability to make its hormones.
Results: Some may be able to clear up the problem permanently but others may experience a relapse
Side effects: Serious liver damage, deficiency of white blood cells
Examples of drugs: Propylthiouracil, Methimazole

Radioactive Iodine Treatments 


Goal: Causes thyroid gland to shrink and thereby resulting in symptoms to subside
Mechanism: This treatment makes use of  the fact that thyroid cells are the only cells that have the ability to absorb iodine. When radioactive form of the iodine are absorbed by the thyroid cells, they become damaged or killed.
Side effects: Causes the under activity of thyroid gland (hypothyrodism). May have to eventually take medication every day to replace thyroxine.

Surgical removal of gland or nodules

Surgery is usually not used as frequently as the other treatments. It is used in conditions where patients are unable to tolerate anti-thyroid drugs, radioactive iodine or pregnant.
In surgical procedure, the portion of thyroid gland removed is dependent on the location of the hot nodules.

Side effects: damage to vocal cords and parathyroid glands (tiny glands on the back of the thyroid gland that control the calcium level in blood)


References
http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/thyroid-gland-function
http://www.webmd.com/women/tc/hyperthyroidism-treatment-overview?page=2