Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism

Join

cytomel questions

Ktbug613
Ktbug613 Posts: 33 Member
in Social Groups
My doctor wants to try me on cytomel since Synthroid is not working well. I of course ran right home to research the drug. Almost everyone Ive seen write about it talks about it being taken WITH synthroid not INSTEAD of, but my doc is having me use it alone. I can't seem to figure out why so many people are put on both though? Any know?

Is anyone on cytomel or had a better experience with it than synthroid?

Replies

  • tecallahan
    tecallahan Posts: 732 Member
    Synthroid is T4 - it is an inactive hormone that your body is supposed to convert to T3 which is the active hormone.
    So if your body has enough T3 from Cytomel, you don't need any T4. I think there probably are some people that take just T3.

    We talk a lot about Armour because it is natural -- and it contains T1, T2, T3 and T4 -- in ratios that are supposed to simulate normal thyroid function.

    We really need T3, so Cytomel is better than Synthroid -- but it's still synthetic -- still, I do hear people say they feel better on Cytomel.

    If you happen to have Reverse T3, taking just Cytomel will make it go away... so that's another good point.
  • Ktbug613
    Ktbug613 Posts: 33 Member
    My doctor seems to be really against Armour. She does have one patient on it but she said although its more "natural" its not a natural thing for the human body and many people actually build up an antibody to it and it doesn't work well long time. She said a few years ago it went of the market for a time and she switched all of her Armour patients to cytomel and only one went back to Armour when it came back out. The information out there is so contradicting though.
  • tecallahan
    tecallahan Posts: 732 Member
    My doctor seems to be really against Armour. She does have one patient on it but she said although its more "natural" its not a natural thing for the human body and many people actually build up an antibody to it and it doesn't work well long time. She said a few years ago it went of the market for a time and she switched all of her Armour patients to cytomel and only one went back to Armour when it came back out. The information out there is so contradicting though.

    That's too much, really -- I guess that's why there are 7,000 people on the Stop The Thyroid Madness Facebook group that are nearly all using Armour or some other natural thyroid... even on our own tiny little forum there are dozens of people using it and feeling great.

    True, Cytomel is a huge improvement over Synthroid/T4 -- so you are going in the right direction!! But she is wrong about Armour.
  • nspink
    nspink Posts: 65
    I take both T3 (Cytomel) and T4 (Levothroid) combonation. I can definityly say Cytomel has helped a whole bunch! I don't have my thyroids anymore (TTD surgery in 02/2011) and was put on only T4 and felt horrible for months until T3 was added.

    I still struggle with fatigue but it is not nearly as bad as before. The T3 has given me more energy......therefore, I'm able to get moving and working out again. But I still have my days.

    I really want to try Armour, especially hearing all the wonderful reviews on it and how it has changed hypothyroid patients life ever since they swicted.... but my endo is against it. I just made a request to switch to a new endo. We'll see what happens.

    So, you should feel more energy with the T3! I hope it works for you!!!

Categories