|
|
|
Natural vs Synthetic
In contrast to Naturally Desiccated Thyroid (NDT) containing
T3 and T4, most synthetic medications contain T4 (or T3)
only. Synthetic T4 maybe a satisfactory treatment for some
patients with hypothyroidism. However, the numerous other
patients who find relief of only some symptoms — or none at
all — with synthetic T4 alone, there is an alternative.
The theory behind the use of synthetic T4 alone is that
since the thyroid gland converts some T4 to T3, some of the
synthetic T4 will be converted to T3 as well. One of the
main concerns with this theory is that the thyroid gland of
a hypothyroid person is already malfunctioning by not
producing enough or any thyroid hormone, so its ability to
convert T4 to T3 may be hampered too.
In reality, many patients don't start to feel normal again
until they switch from synthetic to NDT (Thyroid USP).
Natural Desiccated Thyroid hormone replacement has been used
since the late 1800s, and it is one of the safest drugs
available. It contains a full spectrum of thyroid hormones,
T4 and T3 and also T2 and T1 as well (although the latter
hormones aren't measured, but they aren't removed either).
The typical indication by the proponents of synthetic T4 is
that NDT is unstable and inconsistent in its dosage.
However, under the full USP monograph of both Thyroid USP as
an ingredient and Thyroid USP Tablet as a finished product
establishing full prescription status, this conventional
argument could not be further from the truth. Unlike Nature-Throid™
and Westhroid™, synthetic medications have often been
recalled due to batch inconsistencies. Yet most doctors are
led to believe that desiccated thyroid is unstable.
To ensure that Nature-Throid™ and Westhroid™ Thyroid USP
tablets are consistently potent from tablet to tablet and
lot to lot, analytical tests are performed on the raw
material (Thyroid USP powder) and on the actual tablets
(finished product) to measure actual T4 and T3 activity. |
|
|
