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Is It Safe To Have Cytomel Along With Synthroid?

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Posted on Thu, 15 Jan 2015
Twitter Thu, 15 Jan 2015 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 2 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on
Question : Hi, I am on 75mg of synthroid and still experiencing alot of symptoms. can I add cytemel to the synthroid. and would that help. tsh-4.20,t4free 1.2,t4 total 7.5 t3 free 2.6, ck total 41. Thankyou, XXXXXXX
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Rovena (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
detailed below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome to Healthcare Magic.

Considering the test results, the levels of thyroid hormones in your blood are in normal range.This means that the dose of 75 mg Synthroid is the correct dose for now.
Your doctor will monitor closely with blood tests the level of thyroid hormones every 2-3 months and according to the results ,modify the dose of the treatment.
For now this dose is correct for you.
Once that the level of your thyroid hormones is normal in blood, the symptoms caused from hypothyroidism will improve .I don't know exactly how long have you been on 75 mg but if the change of dose was made recently you may need to give it some more time for the symptoms to improve.

Since the level of TSH ,FT4,FT3 is in normal range you don't need to add Cytomel to your treatment.
Cytomel is a synthetic version of T3 and Synthroid is a synthetic version of T4 .
T4 is converted in blood in C3 so you don't need to add T3 in medication.This combination has no advantages over Synthroid alone and it is not recommended.
Synthroid is the treatment of choice for Hypothyroidism .

Don't change the dose of your treatment or add another treatment without consulting it with your endocrinologist.
If your symptoms will persist ,despite the normal level of your thyroid hormones ,your doctor will do a complete evaluation to exclude another possible causes for your symptoms apart Hypothyroidism like anemia, Vitamin deficiency,Adrenal insufficiency,Obstructive sleep apnea etc.
After excluding every other possible cause for your symptoms your doctor may decide to put you an a combination of Synthroid/Cytomel and see if your symptoms will improve.This will help if your persistent symptoms are result of a polymorphism of the deiodinase 2 enzyme, which converts T4 to T3 in the brain.

Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have any other question or doubt to clarify.

Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena Murati


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Rovena

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2013

Answered : 1243 Questions

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Is It Safe To Have Cytomel Along With Synthroid?

Brief Answer: detailed below. Detailed Answer: Hello! Welcome to Healthcare Magic. Considering the test results, the levels of thyroid hormones in your blood are in normal range.This means that the dose of 75 mg Synthroid is the correct dose for now. Your doctor will monitor closely with blood tests the level of thyroid hormones every 2-3 months and according to the results ,modify the dose of the treatment. For now this dose is correct for you. Once that the level of your thyroid hormones is normal in blood, the symptoms caused from hypothyroidism will improve .I don't know exactly how long have you been on 75 mg but if the change of dose was made recently you may need to give it some more time for the symptoms to improve. Since the level of TSH ,FT4,FT3 is in normal range you don't need to add Cytomel to your treatment. Cytomel is a synthetic version of T3 and Synthroid is a synthetic version of T4 . T4 is converted in blood in C3 so you don't need to add T3 in medication.This combination has no advantages over Synthroid alone and it is not recommended. Synthroid is the treatment of choice for Hypothyroidism . Don't change the dose of your treatment or add another treatment without consulting it with your endocrinologist. If your symptoms will persist ,despite the normal level of your thyroid hormones ,your doctor will do a complete evaluation to exclude another possible causes for your symptoms apart Hypothyroidism like anemia, Vitamin deficiency,Adrenal insufficiency,Obstructive sleep apnea etc. After excluding every other possible cause for your symptoms your doctor may decide to put you an a combination of Synthroid/Cytomel and see if your symptoms will improve.This will help if your persistent symptoms are result of a polymorphism of the deiodinase 2 enzyme, which converts T4 to T3 in the brain. Hope it helps. Let me know if you have any other question or doubt to clarify. Kind regards, Dr.Rovena Murati