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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. |
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