Thyroid disorders, tests, how to treat
Thyroid Replacement Hormones
Thyroid Replacement Hormones
Types of Thyroid replacement hormones
Synthetic thyroid hormone (levothyroxine
sodium) - a synthetic form of thyroxine (t4) normally secreted by the thyroid
gland's follicular cells.
- Used to treat hypothyroidism and also goiter (via its ability to lower Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH))
-
Ineffective
form of thyroid hormone because it contains only T4 - A patient with liver
problems cannot convert it to the active form, T3 . This is especially
prevalent in estrogen -dominant
women. The worst effect of Synthroid is its suppression of pituitary TSH, which
in turn, suppresses T3 from the thyroid .
- Brand names -
include Levothroid, Synthroid, Levoxyl, ,
Unithroid, Eltroxin, Levaxin, Norton, Eutrosig, Oroxine, Tirosint
Natural Dessicated Thyroid hormones (NDT) - because of the problems seen
with T4-only (storage form) hormone replacement medication and the inability of
some people to make the conversion to active T3, some doctors are now again
choosing to prescribe NDT, a medication used safely for over 100 years
- NDT hormones are dessicated
(dried)
porcine thyroid gland powder combined with tablet fillers
- and contain all 4
human thyroid hormones T4, T3, T2, T1 and CALCITONIN (a hormone secreted by the
thyroid gland, needed to build or rebuild
bone mass). Connective tissue and fat are removed before processing, but in
addition to hormones, the result still contains ~98% other thyroid components.
- NDT hormones meet
stringent guidelines of the US Pharmacopoeia
- Brand names - include
Armour(by Forest Lab),
Naturethroid and Westhroid(by RLC
Labs), Thyroid (by Erfa), and
newly available
generic
NP Thyroid(by Acella
Pharmaceuticals)
Long-term use of these drugs is
associated with depletion of thyroid and tissue iodine levels
Supplementing TH's may tend to make the thyroid
lazy;
- Thyroid hormone inhibits
the body's ability to uptake iodine -
Synthroid (or other thyroid-destructive
therapies) should never be taken without iodine supplementation;
- Thyroid Hormone Supplementation significantly increases Breast Cancer Risk - A woman with hypothyroidism has a 6% risk of developing
breast cancer. Once she starts taking thyroid hormone, it doubles her risk. If
she has had no children or if she's been on thyroid hormone replacement for 15
years, the risk more than triples to a 19.6% chance of developing breast cancer.
Abraham GE et al, Orthoiodosupplementation: Iodine sufficiency of the whole
human body. 2002;Ghandrakant C et al, Breast Cancer. Relationship to Thyroid
Supplements for Hypothyroidism, JAMA 1976
Suppplement iodine in preference to thyroid
hormone supplementation
Guidance for Getting Off Thyroid Hormones (advice given by endocrinologist Dr. Jorge
Flechas, MD):
(1) Start
iodine
supplementation
(2) If there are symptoms of
HYPERthyroidism -
you can reduce the thyroid hormones in
half. However, do not reduce the thyroid hormones UNTIL symptoms of
hyperthyroidism occur.They may occur 3 - 4 weeks after starting
iodine supplementation, 3 - 4 months later, a
year later, or not at all.
Symptoms of HYPERthyroidism
Typical Symptoms
Include:
• Weight loss -despite increased
appetite
• Nervousness, Anxiety, irritability
• Heat intolerance
• Tremors in hands/fingers
• Muscle weakness/aches
• Fatigue
• Excessive production/excretion of
urine (Polyuria) / Excessive thirst
• Hyperactivity
• Apathy
• Hypoglycemia
• Non-pitting edema over the shin
(Pretibial myxedema)
• Sweating
Can also include:
• Palpitations/ increased heart rate /
arrhythmia
• Memory loss
• Diarrhea
• Insomnia
• Loss of libido
• Pain in thyroid gland (at front of
neck)
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Light/absent menses
• Nausea/Vomiting
Iodine will increase the sensitivity of the
thyroid RECEPTORS to thyroid hormone - thus, less thyroid
hormone is needed.