by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD
According to new research presented at the recent Endocrine Society's 90th Annual National Meeting, T3 (cytomel) can be substituted for Synthroid (T4) and be equally effective.
Marina Zemskova, MD, of the National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, Md., presented the findings.
The researchers conducted a randomized, double blind, crossover study using a three times per day replacement regimen of T3 or T4. The target was thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) between .5 and 1.5 following at least 30 days on a stable dose.
"The results suggest there is proof of the concept of effective therapeutic substitution of T3 for T4 therapy," Zemskova said during the presentation.
It would have been helpful if how the patients felt on each treatment also was considered significant, but perhaps that will have to wait for future research.
References:
Zemskova M, Linderman JD, Babar NI, et al. OR11-3. Levothyroxine and liothyronine pharmacodynamic equivalence. A randomized, double blind, cross-over study. Presented at: The Endocrine Society's 90th Annual Meeting; June 15-18; San Francisco.
Additional articles by this author:
Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, board certified internist and best-selling author of From Fatigued to Fantastic!, is also the author of landmark published research on effective treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia. For more information on CFS, FM and other health topics, please visit his website at www.endfatigue.com.