Combination of T4 and T3 More Benefits than T4 alone.

[Guest guest]

Hypothyroid? Will You Benefit From T3 (Cytomel)?

by Pepper, M.D., Director, Metabolism.com

http://metabolism.com/programs/nutrition/news/2003-12-15/

Over 20 years ago endocrinologists had experience with hormone compound

pills containing both T4 and T3. Those physicians who had the opportunity to

use these compounds know that patients frequently seem to do better with

them than with the more traditional T4 (Synthroid, L-thyroxine, Levoxyl etc

). For various reasons most companies stopped producing combination thyroid

hormone pills two decades ago.

Why does combination therapy with T4 and T3 appear to provide more benefits

than either hormone alone? The reason was clarified in an article published

in The New England Journal of Medicine summarized in this news report;

NEW YORK, Feb 10 (Reuters Health) -- Patients with hypothyroidism show

greater improvements in mood and brain function if they receive treatment

with two types of thyroid hormones instead of one, according to a report in

the February 11th issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Hypothyroidism, where the gland has ceased to function or has been removed,

is usually treated with daily doses of thyroxine hormone. But the

researchers found that substituting another thyroid hormone,

triiodothyronine, for some of the thyroxine dose led to improvements in mood

and in neuropsychological functioning.

" There are two thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine, " Dr.

as Bunevicius, of Kaunas Medical University in Lithuania, and

colleagues explain in their paper.

" Not all tissues that need thyroid hormone are equally able to convert

thyroxine to triiodothyronine, the active form of the hormone, " the

researchers write. " Nevertheless, most patients with hypothyroidism (reduced

thyroid function) are treated only with thyroxine. "

To determine whether patients would benefit from receiving triiodothyronine

as well, Bunevicius' team studied 31 women and 2 men who lacked a

functioning thyroid and were dependent on thyroxine.

The research team divided the study into two 5-week sessions. During one

session, each patient took his or her usual dose of thyroxine. During the

other session, the researchers replaced 50 micrograms (mcg) of the thyroxine

dose with 12.5 mcg of triiodothyronine.

On 6 of 17 measures of mood and cognition -- a catchall term that refers to

language, learning and memory -- the patients scored better after receiving

thyroxine plus triiodothyronine than after receiving thyroxine monotherapy.

No score was better after monotherapy than after combination treatment, the

study group determined. The authors also detected biochemical evidence that

thyroid hormone action was greater after treatment with thyroxine plus

triiodothyronine. " But in an editorial, Dr. D. Toft, of the Royal

Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland, recommends that physicians should not use

thyroxine and triiodothyronine in combination until the study findings are

confirmed by additional research.

Toft notes that " most, if not all, of the currently available combined

preparations of thyroid hormones contain an excess of triiodothyronine as

compared with thyroxine. " Besides, he argues, the majority of patients

taking thyroxine " have no complaints about their medication. "

SOURCE: The New England Journal of Medicine 1999;340:424-429, 469-470.

I have used Cytomel (T3) in treating hypothyroidism for over 18 years and I

am still surprised and gratified at just how well it works. For those

complaining of persistent fatigue, muscle pain, constipation, or weight gain

despite blood tests showing normal levels of thyroid hormone, combining T3

with T4 therapy appears to boost the thyroid hormone action. Combining the

two hormones can actually avoid the sometimes frankly negative aspects of

simply increasing the level of T4. If you or someone you know has similar

problems with thyroid hormone replacement I suggest consulting with an

expert health care professional such as an endocrinologist about adding T3

supplementation.

http://metabolism.com/programs/nutrition/news/2003-12-15/

Thyroid-Adrenal Connection: Information and Resources

http://www.bestweb.net/~om/thyroid

[Guest guest]

Bev,

While we could conclude from this article that Armour is better because

it contians both T4 & T3, neither Armour nor even " natural thyroid " is

mentioned in this article. So it doesn't prove Armour is better, only

that both T4 & T3 used together is better. So it probably wasn't the

best thing to take to my doc. Oh well. Now if only someone would do a

scientific study comparing Armour specifically!

Thanks,

Debbie

Combination of T4 and T3 More Benefits

than T4 alone.

Hypothyroid? Will You Benefit From T3 (Cytomel)?

by Pepper, M.D., Director, Metabolism.com

http://metabolism.com/programs/nutrition/news/2003-12-15/

Over 20 years ago endocrinologists had experience with hormone compound

pills containing both T4 and T3. Those physicians who had the

opportunity to

use these compounds know that patients frequently seem to do better with

them than with the more traditional T4 (Synthroid, L-thyroxine, Levoxyl

etc

). For various reasons most companies stopped producing combination

thyroid

hormone pills two decades ago.

Why does combination therapy with T4 and T3 appear to provide more

benefits

than either hormone alone? The reason was clarified in an article

published

in The New England Journal of Medicine summarized in this news report;

NEW YORK, Feb 10 (Reuters Health) -- Patients with hypothyroidism show

greater improvements in mood and brain function if they receive

treatment

with two types of thyroid hormones instead of one, according to a report

in

the February 11th issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Hypothyroidism, where the gland has ceased to function or has been

removed,

is usually treated with daily doses of thyroxine hormone. But the

researchers found that substituting another thyroid hormone,

triiodothyronine, for some of the thyroxine dose led to improvements in

mood

and in neuropsychological functioning.

" There are two thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine, " Dr.

as Bunevicius, of Kaunas Medical University in Lithuania, and

colleagues explain in their paper.

" Not all tissues that need thyroid hormone are equally able to convert

thyroxine to triiodothyronine, the active form of the hormone, " the

researchers write. " Nevertheless, most patients with hypothyroidism

(reduced

thyroid function) are treated only with thyroxine. "

To determine whether patients would benefit from receiving

triiodothyronine

as well, Bunevicius' team studied 31 women and 2 men who lacked a

functioning thyroid and were dependent on thyroxine.

The research team divided the study into two 5-week sessions. During one

session, each patient took his or her usual dose of thyroxine. During

the

other session, the researchers replaced 50 micrograms (mcg) of the

thyroxine

dose with 12.5 mcg of triiodothyronine.

On 6 of 17 measures of mood and cognition -- a catchall term that refers

to

language, learning and memory -- the patients scored better after

receiving

thyroxine plus triiodothyronine than after receiving thyroxine

monotherapy.

No score was better after monotherapy than after combination treatment,

the

study group determined. The authors also detected biochemical evidence

that

thyroid hormone action was greater after treatment with thyroxine plus

triiodothyronine. " But in an editorial, Dr. D. Toft, of the

Royal

Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland, recommends that physicians should not

use

thyroxine and triiodothyronine in combination until the study findings

are

confirmed by additional research.

Toft notes that " most, if not all, of the currently available combined

preparations of thyroid hormones contain an excess of triiodothyronine

as

compared with thyroxine. " Besides, he argues, the majority of patients

taking thyroxine " have no complaints about their medication. "

SOURCE: The New England Journal of Medicine 1999;340:424-429, 469-470.

I have used Cytomel (T3) in treating hypothyroidism for over 18 years

and I

am still surprised and gratified at just how well it works. For those

complaining of persistent fatigue, muscle pain, constipation, or weight

gain

despite blood tests showing normal levels of thyroid hormone, combining

T3

with T4 therapy appears to boost the thyroid hormone action. Combining

the

two hormones can actually avoid the sometimes frankly negative aspects

of

simply increasing the level of T4. If you or someone you know has

similar

problems with thyroid hormone replacement I suggest consulting with an

expert health care professional such as an endocrinologist about adding

T3

supplementation.

http://metabolism.com/programs/nutrition/news/2003-12-15/

Thyroid-Adrenal Connection: Information and Resources

http://www.bestweb.net/~om/thyroid

[Guest guest]

Why do I always feel like I am 10 light years ahead of doctors when

it comes to knowledge about WHAT WORKS when treating

hypothyroid????????????

Geez.

First they will come around to understanding that treatment with T3

really works.

Then, maybe when our great grandchildren are adults, they will come

around to understanding that Armour is even better????

Janie

> Hypothyroid? Will You Benefit From T3 (Cytomel)?

> by Pepper, M.D., Director, Metabolism.com