Re: Re: beck pulser Armour vs Synthroid

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/1/2006 4:38:47 PM Eastern Standard Time, stephane_lec@... writes:

I am still on synthroid. I hate these drugs. I have been on it for about 3 months.

You may want to google Armor vs Synthroid.

Once hypothyroidism has been properly diagnosed, natural medicine practitioners also feel that patients respond much better to natural rather than to synthetic forms of the hormone. Thus, natural Armour thyroid, which contains both thyroid hormones T3 and T4, is prescribed instead of the synthetic Synthroid. Keeping in mind that T3 accounts for more than 99 percent of the thyroid hormone in the blood, and that Synthroid contains only T4 thyroid hormone, it is easy to see that this therapy works only for those who can convert T4 into the active thyroid hormone, T3. As a result, when T3 hormone levels are low due to synthetic thyroid hormone use, the brain does not work properly. Using the natural Armour thyroid in place of a synthetic hormone is a logical choice. Once natural thyroid hormone therapy is started, hormone blood levels are monitored to avoid giving too much and causing symptoms of hyperthyroidism. In the event that a patient is unable to tolerate Armour thyroid, herbal supplements to support thyroid function are an option. The natural medicine approach to hypothyroidism offers not only a more thorough and informed evaluation of potential patients, but treatment includes a natural form of the hormone that is more effective than its current, popular synthetic counterpart.

More information........

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/thyroiddrugs/l/blletter.htm

Dear Doctor

Why Do You Insist on Synthroid Instead of Armour? -- A Patient's Letter

Thanks to Shirley Grose, a thyroid patient, for sharing with us the following powerful letter she wrote to her doctor, after he insisted on prescribing Synthroid (a brand name synthetic levothyroxine sodium/T4 thyroid hormone replacement drug) instead of the Armour Thyroid (a brand name naturally derived T4/T3 drug) she'd been taking. (See "A Quick Look at Thyroid Hormone Replacement" for more about these different drugs.) Shirley's letter is strong and clearly asks many excellent questions many people want answered. She's generously agreed to allow her letter to be posted for other thyroid patients to read or modify for their use, in the hopes that it might help empower her fellow thyroid sufferers who are having the same problems with their doctors. (Note: Shirley's doctor never responded...)

Dear Doctor ______________: I would like for you to clarify several points which came up during our recent discussion. You said Armour Natural Thyroid, my thyroid replacement preference, was impure, not predictably the same strength and old fashioned. I am concerned about this information because I have uncovered some research which indicates flaws in this reasoning. Would you clarify your statements on Armour Natural Thyroid product? If you feel those statements were valid, can you provide documentation to confirm your opinion that Armour Thyroid is an inferior product to Synthroid? Is Synthroid really a "new " product or was it "grandfathered-in" around 1930? I would like to know, why, when I changed to Armour Natural Thyroid, you didn't consider the definite improvement in my health important? I would like to know why you felt I was unqualified to say how my own body felt? Why would you insist upon prescribing a drug that I have tried and does not work well with my body? Why do you prescribe one drug for all patients? According to Dr. E. Langer's book Solved, The Riddle of Illness, "It is possible, because of the liver's role in the T-4 and T-3 conversion, to have an over-or under-conversion as a result of liver function." For some patients, Armour Thyroid, because it contains both T-3 and T-4, may provide the extra energy they need to stay employed, continue relationships, or feel good. Synthroid does not contain both, Synthroid has to convert to T3 from T4. Furthermore, author Dr. Ray Peat states, "Unfortunately, our physicians often fail to understand or explain the benefits of natural (marketed under the name 'Armour') over synthetic thyroid medication." Though the formula has changed somewhat in recent years, Dr. Peat calls the natural {thyroid} "the most generally effective," since "many people whose thyroids are suppressed by stress cannot respond to synthetic thyroxine, T4." Finally, is it possible that those impurities or unknowns you mentioned might possibly be as yet undiscovered substances which assist thyroid function, a substance or substances which cannot possibly exist in a synthetic product? Your first statement during my consultation as a new patient was that the Armour Natural Thyroid should be discarded, it was full of impurities, it was of inconsistent strength and it "went out in the 70s." Synthroid was the drug of choice. Armour was clearly inferior. I explained that I felt better on the Armour Thyroid. You ordered me to throw the Armour Natural Thyroid away and take the Synthroid dosage you prescribed. You said that a TSH test would not be valid if taken while on Armour Natural Thyroid. Can you document this last statement? I understand the TSH is considered one objective measurement for thyroid supplementation; however, I question the inference that a patient's subjective opinion is unimportant. You seem to disregard how your patients feel. Have there been any major published studies indicating which product the health consumer preferred? Customers have apparently had no choice in thyroid medication in most instances. Therefore, sales volume is not indicative of customer preference. Also, does the Synthroid company fund or in any way contribute to organizations which you belong or to the university, itself? If so, does this influence your decision to singularly prescribe Synthroid? At the end of my appointment, when you began to write my prescription for Synthroid, I indicated that would not be necessary. You asked, "Why?" I said I was continuing with the Armour Thyroid at the dosage my family physician had prescribed. Your response was, "You don't need to return do you?" I said, "No, I don't." You further explained you did not use the Armour Natural Thyroid, and you would not treat me if I continued taking it. Do you refuse to treat thyroid cancer patients who refuse to take Synthroid? Should I develop thyroid cancer at some point in the future, would you refuse treatment to me on the basis that I chose not to take Synthroid? Can you legally refuse to treat a patient who has thyroid cancer because the patient takes Armour Natural Thyroid? Why should I or any patient be intimidated into taking what they feel is an inferior product. Why should I or any patient suffer a lesser quality of life because of physician bias for a particular brand name? I called Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. the manufacturer's of Armour Natural Thyroid, and spoke to Neal Sailer, the Product Manager, Thyroid Products. He is sending a packet of documentation supporting the consistency of Armour Natural Thyroid. He took exception that Armour Natural Thyroid is of "unpredictable variability." He explained that desiccated Thyroid powder is a U.S.P. product which means potency content is consistent and he added that the active drug product is constantly assayed during the entire manufacturing process, the FDA insists on this for all products. In addition, Mr. Sailer explained that samples from every batch are retained and periodically assayed for potency. I understand that the limit for T3 and T4 for U.S.P. Thyroid powder is 90% to 110% and natural thyroid is a more stable product than the synthetics. Mr. Sailer would like to know how you came to a determination of Armour being an "impure" or sub-potent drug substance, and would like to see your data. Are you suggesting that Armour Natural Thyroid be recalled? Additionally, Mr. Sailer informed me of a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), entitled Bioequivalence of Generic and Brand-name Levothyroxine Products in the Treatment of Hypothyroidism, by Betty J. Dong, PharmD; et. al. Are you familiar with the study? Why are you prescribing a product that is 50% more expensive than Levoxyl and Levothroid? Are you assured of the potency of Synthroid? I also understand that Synthroid was reformulated in 1982 because the potency of Synthroid was not near its stated content. In fact, in a letter from Dr. Betty Dong, to the editor of The Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, Dr. Dong assayed several 200 mg tablets of levothyroxine from several brands and generic and found Levothroid had 99% of it s stated potency content and Synthroid had only 78%. I understand that it was this information that prompted the reformulation of Synthroid. I also understand that patients were not informed of this change in formulation, which was clearly dangerous. Which now leads me back to the U.S.P. standard and something else I have learned about Synthroid. Mr. Sailer informed me that Synthroid is failing the original U.S.P. standard for dissolution for levothyroxine preparations. It is also my understanding that they requested and were given a separate standard for dissolution by the U.S.P. which Mr. Sailer said was most unusual. If this separate dissolution standard for Synthroid is successfully challenged, Synthroid may have to once again reformulate. Will you or the public be informed if this happens? I understand also that there are several class action lawsuits pending against the makers of Synthroid probably initiated as a result of the several articles that appeared in the Wall Street Journal and news stories that were carried on NBC Nightly News. After all of the above, why did you insist on prescribing Synthroid? Could _________ University provide me with any information regarding support from the makers of Synthroid, whether it is Knoll or Boots or Flint? I would sincerely appreciate an answer with documentation, in writing about the statements you have made about Synthroid and Armour Thyroid. I feel these are important questions, not only for me, but for the future physicians _______________ University educates. These future doctors, including the student who took my thyroid history, have not been given complete information which would allow them and their patients to make educated decisions about their health and their lives. Sincerely, Shirley E. Grose

Synthroid and other Levothyroxine Sodium Preparations Found to Have Significant Stability and Potency Problems When Shirley Grose wrote in this letter to her doctor, "Are you assured of the potency of Synthroid?" she was asking a question whose answer is just now coming to light. On August 14, 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration filed notice in the Federal Register that drugs containing levothyroxine sodium (such as Synthroid and other brand name and generic thyroid hormone preparations) are "new drugs." This means that these drugs will for the first time be required to submit new drug applications that formally document the drug's safety, effectiveness, and consistent potency. This notice is in response to new information found by the government that shows significant stability and potency problems with orally administered levothyroxine sodium products. Also, these products do not remain potent through the expiration date, and tablets of the same dosage strength from the same manufacturer have been shown to vary from lot to lot in the amount of active ingredient present. The government found that this lack of stability and consistent potency has the potential to cause serious health consequences to the public. You can read more about this in an article here at the website.

From: http://www.highbeam.com/library/docfree.asp?DOCID=1G1:85131535 & ctrlInfo=Round20%3AMode20e%3ADocG%3AResult & ao=

The thyroid drug approved by the College and their endocrinologist "experts" is synthetic. The Wall Street Journal reported June 01/01 that Abbott's synthetic Synthroid [levothyroxine] has been under scrutiny by the United States Food and Drug Administration [uS FDA]. This drug never had FDA approval although it has been on the market for 40 years. It is the third most prescribed drug in the US. Subject to numerous product recalls because of dosage problems the FDA is considering ordering it off the market because of a "history of problems connected with its use" and it "cannot be considered safe and effective." This drug is now the subject of several class action suits in the United States. The problem with a synthetic thyroid hormone, such as Synthroid and other brands of levothyroxine, is the wide variation in potency. This became evident in the mid-1990's when the US FDA compiled data on adverse effects associated with these drugs.

Thyroid hormones are produced by the thyroid gland and include mostly thyroxine T4, some T3 and a small amount of T2 plus calcitonin. Even with high levels of T4 a thyroid patient can be starved for T3. This is far more likely to happen with Synthroid than with natural T4 which contains all the thyroid components and is stable in its consistency. However, the T4 to T3 conversion process is very sensitive to many influences. Treatment for a low thyroid is based on a false assumption that all patients can convert T4 to T3 even with the synthetic hormone. Thus, synthetic thyroxine is promoted as the sole treatment for hypothyroidism.

The conversion process requires certain nutritional cofactors of which selenium is an integral component. Liver enzymes involved in the conversion of T4 to T3 can be impaired by powerful poisons such as fluoride and mercury. Fluoride can impair the function of G proteins that switch on or off affecting metabolic functions to the detriment of health. Viral infections, pregnancy, birth control pills and/or hormone replacement therapy (high estrogen levels), and various drug interactions can affect blood thyroxine levels. Surgery, chronic kidney failure, severe weight loss diets, and prescription drugs such as androgens and phenytoin and, strangely enough, even T3 therapy can reduce T4 levels.

Since low thyroid conditions have few symptoms of note and do not show on blood tests, they often go undiagnosed. When a patient's thyroid level is measured, it is compared with what is considered to be within the "normal" range. The problem here is that when an individual is not well they could hardly be considered to be "normal." If symptoms are identified, the synthetic hormone may not work, or in the case of some like Synthroid, may be dangerous.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/1/2006 10:20:17 PM Eastern Standard Time, stephane_lec@... writes:

I want to go on Armor butit's not available in Canada.

There is a link on this site for Top Drs in Canada.

http://tinyurl.com/osvwr

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/1/2006 11:15:28 PM Eastern Standard Time, stephane_lec@... writes:

Do you sufferalso from this?

No......my daughter had a problem and the doctor's were about to place her on medication for life. I also have a friend who switched from Snythroid to Armour and claims that she feels better for the first time in years.

Dotsie

[Guest guest]

Hi Dotsie,

Thanks for the information. I want to go on Armor but

it's not available in Canada. I think we have disected

pig stuff here. I have to find a doctor that will

prescribe this.

Thanks

--- DotsieBoo@... wrote:

> In a message dated 6/1/2006 4:38:47 PM Eastern

> Standard Time,

> stephane_lec@... writes:

> I am still on

> synthroid. I hate these drugs. I have been on it for

> about 3 months.

>

> You may want to google Armor vs Synthroid.

> Once hypothyroidism has been properly diagnosed,

> natural medicine

> practitioners also feel that patients respond much

> better to natural rather than to

> synthetic forms of the hormone. Thus, natural Armour

> thyroid, which contains both

> thyroid hormones T3 and T4, is prescribed instead of

> the synthetic Synthroid.

> Keeping in mind that T3 accounts for more than 99

> percent of the thyroid

> hormone in the blood, and that Synthroid contains

> only T4 thyroid hormone, it is

> easy to see that this therapy works only for those

> who can convert T4 into the

> active thyroid hormone, T3. As a result, when T3

> hormone levels are low due to

> synthetic thyroid hormone use, the brain does not

> work properly. Using the

> natural Armour thyroid in place of a synthetic

> hormone is a logical choice. Once

> natural thyroid hormone therapy is started, hormone

> blood levels are monitored

> to avoid giving too much and causing symptoms of

> hyperthyroidism. In the event

> that a patient is unable to tolerate Armour thyroid,

> herbal supplements to

> support thyroid function are an option. The natural

> medicine approach to

> hypothyroidism offers not only a more thorough and

> informed evaluation of potential

> patients, but treatment includes a natural form of

> the hormone that is more

> effective than its current, popular synthetic

> counterpart.

> More information........

>

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/thyroiddrugs/l/blletter.htm

> Dear Doctor

> Why Do You Insist on Synthroid Instead of Armour? --

> A Patient's Letter

> Thanks to Shirley Grose, a thyroid patient, for

> sharing with us the following

> powerful letter she wrote to her doctor, after he

> insisted on prescribing

> Synthroid (a brand name synthetic levothyroxine

> sodium/T4 thyroid hormone

> replacement drug) instead of the Armour Thyroid (a

> brand name naturally derived T4/T3

> drug) she'd been taking. (See " A Quick Look at

> Thyroid Hormone Replacement "

> for more about these different drugs.) Shirley's

> letter is strong and clearly

> asks many excellent questions many people want

> answered. She's generously

> agreed to allow her letter to be posted for other

> thyroid patients to read or

> modify for their use, in the hopes that it might

> help empower her fellow thyroid

> sufferers who are having the same problems with

> their doctors. (Note: Shirley's

> doctor never responded...)

>

> Dear Doctor ______________:

> I would like for you to clarify several points which

> came up during our

> recent discussion. You said Armour Natural Thyroid,

> my thyroid replacement

> preference, was impure, not predictably the same

> strength and old fashioned. I am

> concerned about this information because I have

> uncovered some research which

> indicates flaws in this reasoning.

> Would you clarify your statements on Armour Natural

> Thyroid product? If you

> feel those statements were valid, can you provide

> documentation to confirm your

> opinion that Armour Thyroid is an inferior product

> to Synthroid? Is Synthroid

> really a " new " product or was it " grandfathered-in "

> around 1930? I would

> like to know, why, when I changed to Armour Natural

> Thyroid, you didn't consider

> the definite improvement in my health important? I

> would like to know why you

> felt I was unqualified to say how my own body felt?

> Why would you insist upon

> prescribing a drug that I have tried and does not

> work well with my body?

> Why do you prescribe one drug for all patients?

> According to Dr. E.

> Langer's book Solved, The Riddle of Illness, " It is

> possible, because of the

> liver's role in the T-4 and T-3 conversion, to have

> an over-or under-conversion

> as a result of liver function. " For some patients,

> Armour Thyroid, because it

> contains both T-3 and T-4, may provide the extra

> energy they need to stay

> employed, continue relationships, or feel good.

> Synthroid does not contain both,

> Synthroid has to convert to T3 from T4. Furthermore,

> author Dr. Ray Peat

> states, " Unfortunately, our physicians often fail to

> understand or explain the

> benefits of natural (marketed under the name

> 'Armour') over synthetic thyroid

> medication. " Though the formula has changed somewhat

> in recent years, Dr. Peat

> calls the natural {thyroid} " the most generally

> effective, " since " many people

> whose thyroids are suppressed by stress cannot

> respond to synthetic thyroxine,

> T4. " Finally, is it possible that those impurities

> or unknowns you mentioned

> might possibly be as yet undiscovered substances

> which assist thyroid function, a

> substance or substances which cannot possibly exist

> in a synthetic product?

> Your first statement during my consultation as a new

> patient was that the

> Armour Natural Thyroid should be discarded, it was

> full of impurities, it was of

> inconsistent strength and it " went out in the 70s. "

> Synthroid was the drug of

> choice. Armour was clearly inferior. I explained

> that I felt better on the

> Armour Thyroid. You ordered me to throw the Armour

> Natural Thyroid away and take

> the Synthroid dosage you prescribed. You said that a

> TSH test would not be

> valid if taken while on Armour Natural Thyroid. Can

> you document this last

> statement? I understand the TSH is considered one

> objective measurement for thyroid

> supplementation; however, I question the inference

> that a patient's subjective

> opinion is unimportant. You seem to disregard how

> your patients feel. Have

> there been any major published studies indicating

> which product the health

> consumer preferred? Customers have apparently had no

> choice in thyroid medication

> in most instances. Therefore, sales volume is not

> indicative of customer

> preference. Also, does the Synthroid company fund or

> in any way contribute to

> organizations which you belong or to the university,

> itself? If so, does this

> influence your decision to singularly prescribe

> Synthroid?

> At the end of my appointment, when you began to

> write my prescription for

> Synthroid, I indicated that would not be necessary.

> You asked, " Why? " I said I

> was continuing with the Armour Thyroid at the dosage

> my family physician had

> prescribed. Your response was, " You don't need to

> return do you? " I said, " No, I

> don't. " You further explained you did not use the

> Armour Natural Thyroid, and

> you would not treat me if I continued taking it.

> Do you refuse to treat thyroid cancer patients who

> refuse to take Synthroid?

> Should I develop thyroid cancer at some point in the

> future, would you refuse

> treatment to me on the basis that I chose not to

> take Synthroid? Can you

> legally refuse to treat a patient who has thyroid

> cancer because the patient takes

> Armour Natural Thyroid? Why should I or any patient

> be intimidated into taking

> what they feel is an inferior product. Why should I

> or any patient suffer a

> lesser quality of life because of physician bias for

> a particular brand name?

> I called Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. the

> manufacturer's of Armour Natural

> Thyroid, and spoke to Neal Sailer, the Product

> Manager, Thyroid Products. He is

> sending a packet of documentation supporting the

> consistency of Armour Natural

> Thyroid.

> He took exception that Armour Natural Thyroid is of

> " unpredictable

> variability. " He explained that desiccated Thyroid

> powder is a U.S.P. product which

> means potency content is consistent and he added

> that the active drug product is

> constantly assayed during the entire manufacturing

> process, the FDA insists on

> this for all products. In addition, Mr. Sailer

> explained that samples from

> every batch are retained and periodically assayed

> for potency. I understand that

>

=== message truncated ===

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Dotsie,

I actually have an appointment with Dr. Ragan

on June 14th. I had found a link on another page to

him. I hope everything will go good. Do you suffer

also from this? As you able to use the Beck silver

pulser with no problems? How about the Magnetic pulser

did that help you?

Thanks for your help.

--- DotsieBoo@... wrote:

> In a message dated 6/1/2006 10:20:17 PM Eastern

> Standard Time,

> stephane_lec@... writes:

> I want to go on Armor but

> it's not available in Canada.

> There is a link on this site for Top Drs in Canada.

>

> http://tinyurl.com/osvwr

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

,

I've been using thyrolar 2 for about 5 years now. It's a synthetic t4 + t3 pill. It's more expensive than Armour in the US, but is available from Mexico under the name Cynoplus at a very reasonable price. Buying that way gets me out from under the tyranny of the medical profession, as no prescription is needed.

I had the I31 treatment years ago, and it took me over 5 years to find a Naturapath who was willing to prescribe something besides Synthroid. I gained about 30 pounds in the interim, and had trouble staying awake through an 8 hour work day. Now my weight is back down where it should be, and I feel good.

If they insist on putting you on Synthroid, insist right back that they also give you Cytomel (T3) to go with it, or just buy from Mexico without them.

Bernie

-----Original Message-----From: [mailto: ]On Behalf Of stephane leclairSent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 7:50 PM Subject: Re: Re: beck pulser Armour vs SynthroidHi Dotsie,I actually have an appointment with Dr. Raganon June 14th. I had found a link on another page tohim. I hope everything will go good. Do you sufferalso from this? As you able to use the Beck silverpulser with no problems? How about the Magnetic pulserdid that help you?Thanks for your help.--- DotsieBoo@... wrote:> In a message dated 6/1/2006 10:20:17 PM Eastern> Standard Time, > stephane_lec@... writes:> I want to go on Armor but> it's not available in Canada. > There is a link on this site for Top Drs in Canada.> > http://tinyurl.com/osvwr> __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi, not living in the US, I

don’t really understand “If they

insist on putting you on Synthroid”. Since when do

doctors dictate what you must take. I tell my doctor what I want or fire

him and make sure he understands that I know that most doctors are just

textbook jockeys educated by the drug companies.

Thanks

Rush

From:

[mailto: ]

On Behalf Of Bernie Heere

Sent: 02 June 2006 09:20

Subject: RE:

Re: beck pulser Armour vs Synthroid

,

I've been using thyrolar 2 for about 5

years now. It's a synthetic t4 + t3 pill. It's more expensive than Armour in

the US, but is available

from Mexico under

the name Cynoplus at a very reasonable price. Buying that way gets me

out from under the tyranny of the medical profession, as no prescription is

needed.

I had the I31 treatment years ago, and it

took me over 5 years to find a Naturapath who was willing to prescribe

something besides Synthroid. I gained about 30 pounds in the interim,

and had trouble staying awake through an 8 hour work day. Now my

weight is back down where it should be, and I feel good.

If they insist on putting you on

Synthroid, insist right back that they also give you Cytomel (T3) to go with

it, or just buy from Mexico

without them.

Bernie

Re:

Re: beck pulser Armour vs Synthroid

Hi Dotsie,

I actually have an appointment with Dr. Ragan

on June 14th. I had found a link on another page to

him. I hope everything will go good. Do you suffer

also from this? As you able to use the Beck silver

pulser with no problems? How about the Magnetic pulser

did that help you?

Thanks for your help.

--- DotsieBoo@... wrote:

> In a message dated 6/1/2006 10:20:17 PM Eastern

> Standard Time,

> stephane_lec@... writes:

> I want to go on Armor but

> it's not available in Canada.

> There is a link on this site for Top Drs in Canada.

>

> http://tinyurl.com/osvwr

>

[Guest guest]

Bernie,

Do you have a link where I can purchase this?

S

-- RE: Re: beck pulser Armour vs

Synthroid

,

I've been using thyrolar 2 for about 5 years now. It's a synthetic t4 + t3

pill. It's more expensive than Armour in the US, but is available from

Mexico under the name Cynoplus at a very reasonable price. Buying that way

gets me out from under the tyranny of the medical profession, as no

prescription is needed.

I had the I31 treatment years ago, and it took me over 5 years to find a

Naturapath who was willing to prescribe something besides Synthroid. I

gained about 30 pounds in the interim, and had trouble staying awake through

an 8 hour work day. Now my weight is back down where it should be, and I

feel good.

If they insist on putting you on Synthroid, insist right back that they also

give you Cytomel (T3) to go with it, or just buy from Mexico without them.

Bernie

[Guest guest]

Pharmamx.com is supposed to have it coming avalable around June 9th. They currently list it, but show it as "out of stock"

On your original question - I expect that the Beck devices or even simpler devices (see the group on ) would be effective against goiter. Small electrical currents are known to shrink tumors and aid in healing, so I see no reason why they might not be just as effective for the thyroid gland.

Bernie

RE: Re: beck pulser Armour vsSynthroid , I've been using thyrolar 2 for about 5 years now. It's a synthetic t4 + t3pill. It's more expensive than Armour in the US, but is available fromMexico under the name Cynoplus at a very reasonable price. Buying that waygets me out from under the tyranny of the medical profession, as noprescription is needed. I had the I31 treatment years ago, and it took me over 5 years to find aNaturapath who was willing to prescribe something besides Synthroid. Igained about 30 pounds in the interim, and had trouble staying awake throughan 8 hour work day. Now my weight is back down where it should be, and Ifeel good. If they insist on putting you on Synthroid, insist right back that they alsogive you Cytomel (T3) to go with it, or just buy from Mexico without them. Bernie