Avoid Desiccated Thyroid Hormone Replacement
Avoid Desiccated Thyroid Hormone Replacement
Desiccated
thyroid hormone , Armour thyroid and Thyroid USP is listed as obsolete
by the FDA but continues to be prescribed and used by some people . I
recently saw a video promoting the use of desiccated thyroid which
prompted me to write this note.
Our thyroid gland produces
thyroid hormone in a response to TSH ( thyroid stimulating hormone )
from our pituitary gland. The primary form of thyroid hormone produced
and released into our blood is T4 . This T4 is slowly converted to the active hormone T3 in
our tissues,primarily the liver . The T3 Hormone in correct amounts
helps keep all of the cells of our body running at peak efficiency.
A
deficiency of T4 and T3 results in a slow down of all of the machinery
in our body and an excess of T4 and T3 can have toxic effects especially
for our heart causing arrhythmia , heart failure , angina or even
cardiac arrest. The effect of excess T3 is a concern for anyone with
heart disease.
( many of us have a little silent coronary heart disease ).
So, why is desiccated thyroid hormone not a recommended treatment for hypothyroidism ?
Desiccated
Thyroid Hormone is of animal thyroid tissue origin. This means that it
contains a mixture of T4 and T3. The T3 is almost 100% absorbed rapidly
producing abnormally high levels of T3 in the blood stream and
potentially a toxic effect on that persons heart.
Levothyroxine
( L-thyroxine , levothyroid , synthyroid and others) is T4 and is much
safer to use. The T4 is absorbed and converted slowly to the active T3 ,
similar to the function of a normal thyroid gland. Be safe . If you
need thyroid hormone replacement, use T4.
Dr. Calder
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