Natural Desiccated Thyroid Medicine vs. Synthetics
Friday, May 14, 2010 at 8:54AM Lizzy Its easy to think all medicine is the same but when it comes to thyroid treatment, there is controversy about the effectiveness of the synthetic medicines like Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothyrozine, Oroxine, and Norton. If you are taking a synthetic prescription like these keep reading, its possible the treatment is only doing part of the job, and possibly more harm than good.
When it comes to treating Hypothyroidism, its important to understand the relationship between two important thyroid hormones; T3 and T4. According to Stop the Thyroid Madness (STTM), T3 is the active thyroid hormone which gives your body overall health, stamina and energy. While, T4 is the thyroid storage hormone which converts T3 in the body.
Synthetic medicines like Synthroid only provide T4. However, and this is the critical point, STTM claims a growing number of patients and doctors are realizing T4-only medicines do not help with the conversion of T3 in the body. Most patients taking T4 only (synthetic medicine) are left with hypothyroid symptoms and related conditions, like high cholesterol, which could affect our overall health.
While synthetics medicines might be doing part of the job in treating Hypothyroid symptoms, according to STTM they may also be doing harm because lingering hypothyroidism puts stress on the adrenals which can lead to low cortisol. To make matters worse, you think you are getting treatment with T4-only medicine but still have hypothyroid symptoms like chronic low grade depression, high cholesterol, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, bi-polar, anxiety, trouble sleeping, hair loss, but don't know why.
According to STTM, natural desiccated thyroid hormones have been around for over 100 years. They are available by prescription and give patients the T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin our bodies need (not just T4). The most common brands are Naturthroid, Westhroid, and Erfa (in Canada). Natural desiccated thyroid hormones are made from pig glandular (gross I know!) but they meet the stringent guidelines of the US Pharmacopeia, and have a long proven track record.
On the recommendation of the patients at STTM, I have been taking Naturthroid for a year (and Armour prior to that) and almost all my lingering hypothyroid symptoms have disappeared including allergies, asthma, sinus problems and sleep issues (among many others).
Yet I continue to meet women who say they are "getting treated" on T4-only medicines but still experience many hypothyroid symptoms like depression, terrible PMS, weight gain, arthritis, or are going bald. Its so scary! And they have no idea the medicine may not be working for them. If you know someone like this who is taking T4-only medicine and still having problems please share this blog post.
Read all about T4-only medicine on Stop the Thyroid Madness.
xxoo
Lizzy
Reader Comments (3)
Dear Miss LIzzy,
Great info! Accurate and spot on. Your blog is highly informative and interesting....all with a great sense of humor.
Well done!
Thanks Dr. B! You are my hero.
Hey everyone, say hello to Dr. B.
xxoo
Lizzy
So I have been taking levothroxin 88 for about 6 months or so, prior to that several strengths. I have been testing my levels about every other month. I feel like something is off, but all the levels are in normal range. I have been hard core dieting, eating right and exercising and have stayed at a consistent weight. Not even losing a pound. I still have a tendency to drag around with little energy. My question to you is if I start taking desiccated thyroid will the symptoms that are still there go away? I am tired of being tired and all the extra weight is weighing me down. I have recently had a bad bout of acne on my face, back and chest. I have been reading on this but needed the inside scoop. Thank you for your time and help!