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Re: Cytomel vs. Synthroid, any opinions?

Posted by BarbaraCat on July 14, 2004, at 13:57:15

In reply to Cytomel vs. Synthroid, any opinions?, posted by gardenergirl on July 7, 2004, at 8:05:32

Any of you who know me on this board know that I'm on the 'Ms. Natural' end of the spectrum. I see a naturopath, and am very health-conscious. I have had hypothyroidism for most of my life and have been on all of the meds. Have been on a natural T3/T4 for many years. My naturpath insists on a natural product.

Just recently I increased my lithium, which created a need for an increase in my thyroid med. My regular doctor insisted I go back on levothyroid, T4 only, because the increased dose would mean increasing T3 as well if I stayed on the natural. Having an anxiety disorder, it was not wise to increase T3 since T3 can cause spikes in thyroxine and increased adrenaline. If I felt the T4 alone was not doing it and I needed to add T3, he'd do it.

Getting to the point, I feel much better with T4 only! The higher dosage has caused my fibromyalgia pains to decrease, my focus and energy level is good and I don't feel so jittery. In the past, when I had to increase the natural thyroid I would get anxiety, heart palpitations, sweating, etc. just to get my TSH values at an optimal range. I never thought I'd be saying this, but for me, the synthetic is working better. I'm no longer convinced (and some recent research supports this) that all depressed people categorically need T3. My pdoc has tried T3 therapy as an AD augmentor and said he has found it to be without value.

Some of us have an inability to convert T4 to T3 and in that case T3 is necessary, but when T3 is not necessary it can cause it's own set of uncomfortable problems. My suggestion is to start with T4 and see how it goes. Take your temperature 3 times a day for 3 days at same time of day (on waking, before lunch, before dinner). Average should be greater than 98. Tests should always include TSH as well as free T3, T4, and thyroid antibodies. If your doctor is really hip, he/she will order a reverse T3 test as well. - BarbaraCat


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