Uses & Safety Information
Precautions
As with any prescription medication, talk to your doctor about any existing medical conditions, and let your doctor know immediately if you experience any side effects.
Tell your doctor if:
- You have any food or medicine allergies.
- Youre pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.
- You are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications, or if you start or stop any medications while on WP Thyroid® and Nature-Throid®.
- You suffer from any medical conditions other than hypothyroidism, particularly heart disease, clotting disorders, or adrenal or pituitary gland problems.
- You have diabetes. Monitor your blood and/or urinary glucose levels as directed by your doctor and immediately report any changes.
- Youre taking anticoagulants .
- Let your dentist know you are taking WP Thyroid® and Nature-Throid® before any surgery.
- You experience any of the following symptoms: rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, leg cramps, headache, nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, tremors, change in appetite, weight gain or loss, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, heat intolerance, fever, changes in menstrual periods, hives, skin rash or any other unusual medical event.
Warnings: Dont Take For
WP Thyroidand Nature-ThroidTablets ARE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call .
LINKS
The Solution: Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy
In conventional medicine, hypothyroidism is generally treated with synthetic T4, which can correct your T4 and TSH levels. However, many people cannot efficiently convert T4 to T3. This is a problem because T3 is the more active form of thyroid hormone. Even if your T4 and TSH levels are optimal, if your T3 levels are imbalanced, you may still experience symptoms.Dr. Smith takes a more thorough approach to treating thyroid disorders. Once the diagnosis is made based on history, physical examination and the low basal body temperatures, the next step is a therapeutic trial of thyroid hormone. Dr. Smith prefers to use a natural thyroid extract than the more widely used synthetic thyroid medication. Dosage is started low and gradually increased every month while monitoring symptoms, basal temperature and pulse rate. The individually tailored thyroid replacement therapy regimen is closely monitored by Dr. Smith until the levels are brought into normal ranges.
A Note From Paloma Health
If you’re interested in finding an NDT-friendly thyroid doctor, you can always start right here with Paloma Health. Our thyroid doctors work in partnership with you to determine the right treatment option for you – including natural desiccated thyroid – based on your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and lab results.
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Natural Remedies To Support Thyroid Health
There are three primary ways to treat hypothyroidism. One approach involves using natural remedies for thyroid function. The other method is using prescription medications. As a last resort, sometimes people suffering from hypothyroidism undergo surgery.
Prescription medications often fail to address the underlying cause of hypothyroidism. They mimic healthy thyroid hormone levels without addressing the cause of instability. Also, surgery does not always work in restoring thyroid hormone levels.
Natural cures for hypothyroidism are not only safer, but they often perform better. Several vitamins and herbs can serve as an effective underactive thyroid treatment. Remember, its essential to adhere to a strict diet and exercise regimen. This way, you can heal your thyroid naturally and avoid prescription treatments. For improved health, we also recommend bone broth and turmeric.
Our list below contains the best natural thyroid supplements to treat hypothyroidism. Each vitamin and herb has unique properties. When used together, youll notice a cumulative positive effect on healthy thyroid function.
The 14 natural remedies well cover today are: Iodine, Vitamin B12, Selenium, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Molybdenum, L-Tyrosine, Schisandra Berry Powder, Ashwagandha, Bladderwrack Powder, Kelp Powder, and Cayenne Pepper.
Brand Name Vs Generic Forms Of Replacement Hormones
Most children treated with levothyroxine for hypothyroidism do very well on the generic form, levothyroxine. This is supported by the resolution of hypothyroid symptoms as well as by the normalization of thyroid function tests.
However, there are a handful of patients who experience better control and feel better on the brand name thyroid hormone replacement Synthroid®. These patients may experience an improvement or resolution of symptoms, and/or normalization of thyroid function tests, which were not able to be normalized on generic levothyroxine.
There are several reasons why patients may do better on brand name vs. generic levothyroxine as well as different formulations, including tablet vs. gelcap vs. solution . One of the main reasons for differences between brand vs. generic is based on how the U.S. FDA defines differences in bioequivalence within the same manufacturer compared to between different manufacturers of LT4. Based on the FDA, the concentration of LT4 between different generic versions of the same dose can be up to a 12.5% different between manufactures but must be within 5% different within the same manufacturer. So, it is not that one form is better than the next, but that the consistency of dosing is better within a manufacturer and that when you are prescribed brand name, the pharmacy must give you the specific brand rather than relying on the supply chain that may deliver medication from one of several different manufacturers that produce LT4.
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Peripheral Thyroid Hormone Conversion
Next on the list, and probably most important, is the conversion of thyroid hormone to its active forme.
As a quick primer:
T3 is the ACTIVE thyroid hormone and in order to become activated it must be converted from the substrate T4.
If you take thyroid medications like Levothyroxine or Synthroid this medication MUST be activated before your body can actually use it.
Deficiencies in nutrients that help with thyroid conversion may result in a build up of T4 thyroid hormone in the body and potentiate the symptoms of hypothyroidism even though you are taking thyroid medication.
In addition studies have shown that the ability to convert T4 to T3 varies between people and is dependent upon such factors as age, gender, hormone status and disease status.
Supplements that BOOST T4 to T3 conversion :
- Zinc –> boosts thyroid conversion in deficient patients
Other factors that limit cellular activity of thyroid hormone:
- Industrial seed oils
- Excess estrogen or low progesterone states
- Exposure to xenoestrogens
With these 3 areas in mind we can actually begin to talk about thyroid hormone supplementation.
Does this mean you should run out at go buy a supplement that contains ALL of these ingredients?
No, not necessarily.
In fact one of the reasons that many patients fail to improve using supplements is that they fail to address the other factors that alter thyroid function.
With all this in mind what kind of supplements should you be using if you have thyroid disease?
Do Bioidentical Hormones Cause Weight Gain
Yes, weight gain is a side effect of bioidentical hormones.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Bioidentical hormones are used to help people manage symptoms of menopause or other hormonal imbalances. The FDA does not approve some bioidentical hormones. All hormone replacement therapy comes with risks. Compounded bioidentical hormones may come with more risk because their effects are not well studied. Talk to your healthcare provider about the pros and cons of hormone replacement. Most importantly, know that you do not need to live with unpleasant symptoms of low hormones. Your provider can help safely manage your symptoms.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/15/2022.
References
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Synthroid Levoxyl Unithroid Tirosint Or Other Brand Names
Levothyroxine is available under different brand names, including Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, and Tirosint. The brand-name versions of levothyroxine are FDA approved to treat hypothyroidism and provide TSH suppression for euthyroid goiters, thyroid cancer, and other thyroid problems. These brand-name medications contain the same ingredients as generic levothyroxine, and they are levothyroxine alternatives that are safe and effective when taken as prescribed. Tirosint differs from other brand names of levothyroxine in that it comes as a liquid gel capsule with no color additives or fillers.
The Natural Alternative To Synthroid
The natural alternative to Synthroid and all other synthetic thyroid medications is desiccated thyroid.
Desiccated thyroid is made from pork thyroid glands. This natural source of thyroid hormones has been used to treat hypothyroidism for over 100 years. It is effective, safe, and well-tolerated.
However, during the middle of the last century, doctors began to focus more on laboratory tests than the symptoms of patients. They believed that better control of TSH levels should be the chief goal of hypothyroidism therapy. To meet this goal, levothyroxine and other synthetic thyroid hormones were introduced.
With the marketing muscle of pharmaceutical companies and a total shift towards synthetic drugs in medicine, desiccated thyroid soon fell out of favor with doctors.
One of the main arguments that endocrinologists put up against natural desiccated thyroid extract is that it does not allow for tight control of TSH levels, that it supplies widely varying amounts of thyroid hormones.
This criticism is true. But recent evidence has also shown that Synthroid also supplies varying doses of T4.
In fact, the FDA noted that the manufacturer sold low potency Synthroid between 1990 and 1992. In response to constant FDA complaints about the wide variations in the product, the manufacturer changed the formula of Synthroid on numerous occasions.
In 2001 when Abbot Labs bought Knoll Pharmaceuticals, the new manufacturer submitted yet another formula to the FDA.
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Studying T3 And Natural Desiccated Thyroid
Because NDT is an FDA-regulated but not “FDA-approved” drug , it is subject to severe restrictions on marketing and is often excluded from formularies, which limits sales and makes it less profitable. This means that manufacturers are unable to fund major research studies that could more fully evaluate the effectiveness of the drug.
Still, there has been some research supporting combination T4/T3 therapy, as well as NDT, and it’s largely downplayed by the conventional thyroid world. For example, a major Danish study, published in 2009 in the European Journal of Endocrinology, found that T4/T3 combination therapy was superior to levothyroxine-only treatment, with measurable improvements in quality of life, and reductions in depression and anxiety, in patients taking combination treatment. The most important finding, however, was that 49 percent of the patients studied preferred the combination treatment. Only 15 percent preferred levothyroxine-only treatment.
Noted endocrinologist Dr. Wilmer Wiersinga, in discussing paradigm shifts in hypothyroidism treatment, described research conducted in the 1990s to evaluate thyroid function after surgery to remove the gland. According to Dr. Wiersinga, it’s virtually impossible to achieve normal function on levothyroxine only, and that additional T3 is required.
Dr. Wiersinga believes that some patients have genetic differences that create that need for T3 in some patients. He has said:
Now For The Third Part Of This Blog Im Going To Get You Started On How To Use Natural Remedies To Support Your Hormones In Different Ways:
So how do you support your hormones after a hysterectomy?
A hormone-friendly diet
A hormone-friendly diet means including the basic hormonal building blocks and most important hormonal detox nutrients in your diet every day. Were talking the right percentage of vegetables, healthy fats, protein, and menopause superfoods. You can get the details of this basic hormone-friendly diet by or by watching this blog post video.
A hormone-friendly lifestyle
A hormone friendly lifestyle means your managing your stress hormone levels, blood sugar hormone levels, and avoiding the worst of the hormone-disrupting chemicals were often exposed to in our environment in our food, water, personal care, and cleaning products. Browse my blogs on a hormone-friendly lifestyle here.
Hormone-supportive supplements
Ready to learn more?
I dont recommend just grabbing an herb off the shelf and giving it a try. Its worth it to get customized herbs that are updated every few months as your body and your hormones are change. Thats how the herbs work best. Learn all about it in the free mini-course below.
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Thyroid And Adrenal Fatigue Screening
Should I Take Thyroid Hormone While I Am Pregnant
Since thyroid hormone is a hormone normally present in your body, it is absolutely safe to take while pregnant. In fact, it is especially important for pregnant women, or women who are planning a pregnancy, to have normal thyroid function for the health of their baby. If you are on thyroid hormone, you will likely need an increased dose of thyroid hormone during pregnancy. As soon as you know you are pregnant you should immediately increase your dose by 20-30% and contact your doctor. An easy way to increase the dose is to take double your usual dose two days a week. You should discuss the timing of thyroid blood tests with your physician, but often thyroid function is checked at least every trimester, and more frequently in the first half of pregnancy.
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Adverse Reactions And Medication Ineffectiveness Due To Fillers
I have found that some of my clients experience sensitivities and adverse reactions to the many inactive ingredients or fillers found in their T4 medications. These are added as bulking agents used to stabilize the tablets, as coloring agents, as preservatives, or to aid in the manufacturing process in some way. Many have been shown to potentially cause adverse reactions, as well as affect the absorption rate and effectiveness of the very medication meant to help the thyroid.
Most generic levothyroxine products contain lactose and not all are gluten-free .
Can small amounts of these types of fillers really be problematic? Yes! Many people with Hashimotos have sensitivities to these ingredients no matter how small the exposure. In my 2015 survey of 2,232 readers, 57 percent of respondents said they reacted to or avoided all dairy, and over 75 percent avoided gluten due to sensitivities and reactions. Other fillers that are commonly found in T4 medications may include confectioners sugar , sucrose, talc, and dyes. Why would we want these inactive filler ingredients in our thyroid medication?
- You can look up the latest and greatest on medication fillers at glutenfreedrugs.com to ensure that your medications are gluten-free and free of fillers that may be reactive for you.
- Alternately, consider switching to Tirosint and Tirosint SOL these formulations have minimal fillers.
Desiccated Porcine Thyroid Medication
Desiccated animal thyroid extract was an early way to treat hypothyroidism.
This is a powder for medical use. It is also a combination of T3 and T4 hormones.
Common brands of this NDT include:
- Acella NP Thyroid
This type of levothyroxine alternative contains a higher concentration of the T3 to T4 ratio. Therefore, taking too much can lead to excessive thyroid hormone production.
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Whats The Best Thyroid Medication
One of the most common questions I hear from Hashimotos and hypothyroid patients is, Which thyroid medication is best?
The truth is theres no one right answer because each patient is unique and responds differently to different medications.
The key is to find the medication, or combination of medications, that works best for you and then work with your doctor to make adjustments based on your lab results and progress.
So to help you determine which option is the best for you, lets look at the three main types of thyroid medications and weigh their pros and cons.
Final Thoughts On Natural Thyroid Supplements
The vitamins, herbs and natural remedies above can be useful for treating hypothyroidism. They work wonders for energy, metabolism, improving mood, and much more. These are the best thyroid supplements on the market. Lifestyle recommendations such as exercise and stress reduction are also helpful.
Natural treatments and traditional approaches can combine to achieve more significant benefits. Improving thyroid health will only lead to a happier and healthier life. Consult with a qualified health care professional if youre not sure where to start. Its best to take proper precautions when using home remedies for thyroid problems.
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Liothyronine And Levothyroxine Combination
This is a thyroid medication combination of the hormones T3 and T4.
T4 is an inactive hormone that helps convert the active T3 hormone into a usable form for the body. Thyrolar is a familiar T3-T4 combination thyroid prescription brand.
There is also a generic version of this medication.
This kind of natural thyroid medication treatment may benefit patients who do not respond well to T4 only thyroid medication.
Need Thyroid Or Hormone Support Take Our Quiz Today
A womans body is constantly changing. Every decade, every year, even within each month, women experience hormone ebbs and flows, and changing bodies. While this may seem unsettling, it doesnt have to be. In fact, it can be a great opportunity to learn to nourish your body with thyroid and/or hormone support as needed.
You may be at the point in your life where some extra nutrients are needed. Your body may no longer be in balance. Here are 12 signs you can benefit from thyroid or hormone support .
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