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Is Natural Thyroid Medication Safe To Use After Failed T4 Procedure?

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Posted on Mon, 28 Nov 2016
Question: is it safe to use any natural thyroid med after t4 fail ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
No

Detailed Answer:
All hormone expert organizations such as

ATA (American Thyroid Association)
The Endocrine Society, USA
AACE (American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists)

have denounced the use of so-called natural thyroid medications in general.

Moreover, T4 does not 'fail'. It is exactly what the normal human thyroid makes in the body. Yes it is possible some patients do not feel that all their symptoms have improved after starting treatment with T4. But first one has to wait till TSH and Free T4 are in the target range in a stable way, to make a judgement about whether or not symptoms have improved.

Natural T4 products are not well regulated and have varying amounts of T4 and sometimes even T3. This can have harmful and dangerous effects in the body, especially the heart and bones
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (43 hours later)
Hi
I ve been feeling tired , can t talorate cold and other symptoms for years . all my blood work came "normal" and my doctor suggested that I m little depressed . I knew I was not but I went his route . we tried every antidepressant but nothing worked ... those medicines just made me worst . I started doing research on my own to see why I always feel tired and cold intolerant. all symptoms suggested that have hypothyroidism .I went to see an endo , Did blood work my tsh was 5.09 but what was surprising is that my testosterone was 268 . he put me on clomid and run another blood test to see tsh . after few months my ash came 4.5 and testosterone 391 . I still wasn't feeling well but he suggested that I stay on clomid . for almost 2 years did not feel any better and my blood work was up to 900 testo . I explained to my primary that I m not feeling well still and I think I should try medication for hypo , he was ok with and I finally convinced my endo to prescribe me hypo meds . he put me on tyrosint . At first I was feeling like the norm me then the meds kind of lost its efficiency !!! my TSH was .45 but I feel like my symptoms are back on.I stopped clomid when I started tyrosint , my testo is 491 now . last time I saw my endo and explained to him that I m not feeling well may be we should try t3 , he was against n suggested that we are probably treating the wrong thing !!!!! TSH is .91 t4 1.1 and t3 3.6.
I know some patients have tried t3 with t4 and had good results . what you think ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Although there are some anecdotal reports of treatment with T3 helping some patients, in general T3 as a treatment for hypothyroidism has fallen out of favour owing to the reasons explained above.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

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

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 1663 Questions

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Is Natural Thyroid Medication Safe To Use After Failed T4 Procedure?

Brief Answer: No Detailed Answer: All hormone expert organizations such as ATA (American Thyroid Association) The Endocrine Society, USA AACE (American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists) have denounced the use of so-called natural thyroid medications in general. Moreover, T4 does not 'fail'. It is exactly what the normal human thyroid makes in the body. Yes it is possible some patients do not feel that all their symptoms have improved after starting treatment with T4. But first one has to wait till TSH and Free T4 are in the target range in a stable way, to make a judgement about whether or not symptoms have improved. Natural T4 products are not well regulated and have varying amounts of T4 and sometimes even T3. This can have harmful and dangerous effects in the body, especially the heart and bones