Posted on 04/07/2023 11:15:04 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
As many as 90% of those who take levothyroxine [Synthroid] may have been unnecessarily prescribed the hypothyroidism medication.
Providers diagnose hypothyroidism by first measuring TSH levels in the blood. If the level is elevated, they will conduct a second test examining Free T4 levels. If TSH is high and Free T4 is low, the provider diagnoses the patient with hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine works by supplementing low hormone levels with exogenous T4.
Some patients, however, have mildly elevated TSH and normal Free T4. Providers diagnose this as subclinical hypothyroidism, and sometimes this is also treated with levothyroxine to lower TSH. This practice may do more harm than good. "Study after study has shown that there is greater risk when you overtreat with levothyroxine in patients who may not need it," says El-Khoury.
A 2021 study found that out of the 23 million Americans who are taking levothyroxine, approximately 21 million [~90%] likely don't need the prescription. Because levothyroxine can cause side effects including anxiety, heat intolerance, and diarrhea—and in extreme cases, cardiovascular morbidity and death, especially in those over 80—this finding is alarming, says El-Khoury.
According to El-Khoury, a major reason for inappropriate diagnoses is seasonal variation. Typically, TSH is higher in the winter. Because current screening measures do not consider the natural variation, many patients presenting with hypothyroidism-like symptoms are getting tested at a time when their TSH levels are naturally higher and being prescribed levothyroxine.
El-Khoury hopes to raise awareness about the extent of this problem and encourage providers to re-test their patients at least 3 months later before initiating levothyroxine treatment.
The assay used at Yale defines the normal limit for TSH as between 0.27 and 4.2 mIU/L. However, recent research suggests levothyroxine has no benefit in patients who initiate treatment when their levels are naturally under 7.0 mIU/L.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
My doctor ended up putting me on Tirosint (it only has 4 ingredients, no fillers) due to my allergic reactions to the fillers in generic synthroid. I never knew which manufacturer would be the supplier for each month’s pills and it gets real old real fast when your lips swell and your throat starts closing up. Now Tirosint has been replaced by a generic and BCBS only provides that, but thankfully the generic doesn’t have fillers (so far). $15 for a 90 day supply through mail order.
Anyone with thyroid issues should see an ENDOCRINOLOGIST. Long story, but after major medical issues, and no answers from my primary doc who diagnosed me with panic attacks. I saw a psychologist who referred me to a wonderful endocrinologist. He immediately took me off synthroid which I had been on for twenty years. Within a week my body returned to normal.
I’ll take this to the next levet. Most people who take T4 would be far better served with diet and exercise. There’s nothing wrong with their thyroids or their thyroid production.
Normally people’s cells oxidize the food they ingest. In four stages the process removes a phosphate from adenosine triphosphate (ATP). However, the Krebs energy cycle uses the ingested food to reduce a pohosphate back onto the depleted ATP.
Concurrently,. a thyroid hormone cycle works in lock step to facilitate this reduction-oxidation (redox) cycle. The energy for importing T4 into a cell is provided by oxidizing T4 into T3. Then T3 gets transformed to T2 as ATP oxidizes to ADP. The Krebs cycle then works to restore T2 into T3.
In sedentary people and people with metabolic syndrome the Krebs cycle fails to restore ATP substrates back into ATP as it fails to restore T3 substrates back into T3. This lack of metabolic process leaves patients with shortages of circulating T4. And it has nothing to do with the thyroid’s ability to monitor or produce circulating T4.
Again, most people who take T4 would be far better served with diet and exercise. There’s nothing wrong with their thyroids or their thyroid production.
I’ll check it out.
As recommended by my doctor I started getting my synthroid from Northwestpharmacy.com
Last order cost me about $78 for a 6-month supply.
Well, that’s me, exactly. However not taking the drug results in zombieism.
I think that the drug is one if not the most prescribed drugs in America
you both are correct.
There is Thyroid disease
And there are subclinical findings that get treated
Those who need Synthroid or its brothers really need it to sustain any quality of life... and after a while, life itself.
Those who are subclinical may have some aspects that might be helped or they may find other life changes to be enough to change symptoms or test results.
"Do you want the free prostate exam thrown in?"
link did not work.
Do you have another?
There are a lot of women who ask their doctors for levothyroxine because it’s supposed to help with weight loss.
https://www.synthroiddeliversprogram.com/cost?icid=inc_synthroid_dtc_delivers_pricing-information
this is?
That is a really good price
Obviously, you are in the 10% who need it.
I have an aunt who had thyroid cancer.
Just checking TSH, T4 and T3 is the MINIMUM...s/b checking some other levels also. Anyone here have Hashimotos?
p
Pharmacology is toxicology.
IOW - no free lunch.
That said, each person (patient) that has reached the age of consent is responsible for making her/his own decision/s.
Special exceptions apply for certain persons who are certifiably insane.
Yes
Use iodized salt.
Do you have a thyroid problem? :^0
Is Levothyroxine a generic form product, made by Synthroid? Or, is it considered *brand Synthroid?
Levothyroxine is generic to my knowledge , whereas synthroid is brand.
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