Types of thyroid replacement hormones

• Used to treat hypothyroidism and also goiter (via its ability to lower Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH))
• Ineffective form of thyroid hormone because it contains only T4 – A patient with liver problems cannot convert it to the active form, T3. This is especially prevalent in estrogen-dominant women. The worst effect of Synthroid is its suppression of pituitary TSH, which in turn, suppresses T3 from the thyroid.
• Brand names – include Levothroid, Synthroid, Levoxyl, , Unithroid, Eltroxin, Levaxin, Norton, Eutrosig, Oroxine, Tirosint

• NDT hormones are dessicated (dried) porcine thyroid gland powder combined with tablet fillers – and contain all 4 human thyroid hormones T4, T3, T2, T1 and CALCITONIN (a hormone secreted by the thyroid gland, needed to build or rebuild bone mass). Connective tissue and fat are removed before processing, but in addition to hormones, the result still contains ~98% other thyroid components.
• NDT hormones meet stringent guidelines of the US Pharmacopoeia
• Brand names – include Armour (by Forest Lab), Naturethroid and Westhroid(by RLC Labs), Thyroid (by Erfa), and newly available generic NP Thyroid (by Acella Pharmaceuticals)

Long-term use of these drugs is associated with depletion of thyroid and tissue iodine levels

• Thyroid hormone inhibits the body’s ability to uptake iodine – Synthroid (or other thyroid-destructive therapies) should never be taken without iodine supplementation;
• Warning: Thyroid hormone supplementation significantly increases risk of breast cancer – A woman with hypothyroidism has a 6% risk of developing breast cancer. Once she starts taking thyroid hormone, it doubles her risk. If she has had no children or if she’s been on thyroid hormone replacement for 15 years, the risk more than triples to a 19.6% chance of developing breast cancer.

Abraham GE et al, Orthoiodosupplementation: Iodine sufficiency of the whole human body. 2002;Ghandrakant C et al, Breast Cancer. Relationship to Thyroid Supplements for Hypothyroidism, JAMA 1976

Suppplement iodine in preference to thyroid hormone supplementation

1. Start iodine supplementation
2. If there are symptoms of HYPERthyroidism – you can reduce the thyroid hormones in half. However, do not reduce the thyroid hormones UNTIL symptoms of hyperthyroidism occur.They may occur 3 – 4 weeks after starting iodine supplementation, 3 – 4 months later, a year later, or not at all.