Synthroid / Levothyroxine
The thyroid drug Synthroid (levothyroxine sodium), as the name implies, is anything but natural. It is not bio-equivalent to the natural hormone thyroxine, but is instead a synthetic, hormone-like substance with very different properties.
In conventional medical treatment for hypothyroidism, once blood variables fall into a range deemed "normal" thanks to the introduction of synthetic chemicals, the "treatment" is deemed a success. Unfortunately, the quality of life of the patient may actually worsen as the synthetic chemicals compete with the remaining natural hormones still being produced by their thyroid.
- Synthetic T4
- Narrow therapeutic index
- Contraindicated for adrenal insufficiency; underlying CCVD
- Many drug interactions
- May still have problems with peripheral conversion of T4 to T3
Videos
Dec 2024 New research links Synthroid to bone loss
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Articles/Studies
A number of commonly used drugs interfere with the absorption of levothyroxine. (including proton pump inhibitors)
L-carnitine supplementation for the management of fatigue in patients with hypothyroidism on levothyroxine treatment: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. These results suggest that L-carnitine supplementation may be useful in alleviating fatigue symptoms in hypothyroid patients, especially in those younger than 50 years and those who have hypothyroidism after thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer