Tweet
QUESTION:
I have been on thyroid medicine for about 4-5 years now. Every time I see my doctor, he increases my dose and I am now on Synthroid.88mg daily. Sometimes I skip my dose and I have more energy without the medicine; I am thinking more clearly and don't feel run down, as I do when I take my pill. What are the consequences to stopping the medicine? How is not taking the pill for 3 days or more affect my body?
JIM'S ANSWER:
If a patient is not converting the Synthroid (which is T4) to the active T3 hormone in their body, then they produce reverse T3 from the T4. Reverse T3 actually blocks the effects of the active hormone T3 at the T3 receptor. So in essence the T4 the patient is taking is not helping and may be worsening the situation. Rather than produce the active hormone T3 in the proper amount from their medication, patients actually produce too much of an antagonist of T3.
However, I would not recommend stopping your medication cold turkey. And although there are a number of nutritional factors that affect thyroid function, there is no alternative to thyroid hormone if you truly need it. I suggest you find a functional medicine doctor that understands thyroid production, binding, conversion and nutritional needs and have them reassess your thyroid function before you make any drastic changes in therapy.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I have heard different opinions concerning the use of iodine in autoimmune thyroid disorders. What is your advice? Also, is there a concern with suppressed TSH level if free T3 and free T4 are normal and the patient is feeling well. Concern about bones?
ReplyDeleteTo anomynous on iodine and autoimmune disorders: yer, there is contraversy. Some claim iodine can raise the TPO(Thyroid Peroxidase enzyme). I use iodine cautiously in thos type patient. The literature suggests that lack of antioxidant activity is linked to the rise in TPO. I first get the patient 100% gluten free, and add Alpha Lipoic Acid 600mg daily along with Vitamins C and E as antioxidants. After that time, of the patient needs iodine, I add very slowly, starting at 1 mg daily, and work up, and keep a close eye on TOP. Jim
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletecan I take Iodoral amd thyroid medication (T4) at the same time?
ReplyDeleteYes, you can take iodine and thyroid medication at the same time. But you should not assume you need either. ZRT is soon releasing the first good iodine test, so your level can now be accurately monitored. Also, most people on thyroid medication are on too high a dose, and should be evaluated for such
ReplyDeleteJim
Disease like hypothyroidism could be efficiently cured by porcine thyroid supplement. It's safer to choose porcine thyroid as hypothyroidism treatment to reduce any harmful side effects.
ReplyDeleteDanica
ReplyDeleteWhile porcine thyroid may be more appropriate for pateints not converting T4 to T3 optimally, it does not offer any safety advantage over other thyroid forms. The T3 and T4 in it are exactly the same as in other forms of thyroid replacement. In fact, the majority of porcine thyroid is unknown pork thyroid gland constituents, which no one knows how well they match up or do not match up with the human body.
Jim