Cheeky use of research to deny Thyronine.

[leoopard]

We so often see our 'regulators' using research using 5mcg of Liothyronine to justify denying it as a treatment.

I followed a link from Rod's post however and ended up here:

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/liothy...

I note that they use 60mcg daily in their own guidelines. Am I the only one thinking this is more than a bit two faced?

[Clutter]

Leoopald,

What's two faced about BNF recommending up to 60mcg? I've never seen any research using 5mcg or anything else to justify denying T3 as a treatment.

[leoopard in reply to Clutter]

I found a dialogue on the they Thyroid UK website (I think) in which Doctor Tofts was dealing with the ongoing Myth that T3 treatment is un-necessary. He responded to research studies cited by the British Thyroid Association using 5 or 10mcg of T3. I have found quite a number of studies that show 'no improvement' with these tiny doses in 'euthyroid' patients with hypothyroid symptoms.

My local NHS also offers typically only 5 or 10mcg doses of T3. While I have seen some posts from people here that cannot tolerate that dose, I and others have needed 50mcg or more to feel normal.

I would be interestd to see any reserach you have seen using those doses other than in Myxedema Coma.

I find citing studies with tiny doses while the BNF uses that recommendation to be rather disingenuous

[Clutter in reply to leoopard]

Leoopard,

I've never seen research stating any dose of Levothyroxine or Liothyronine is a recommended norm. I believe the 60mcg quoted in the BNF indicates the upper limit GPs should prescribe without specialist input. I was prescribed 60mcg daily x 3 months after thyroidectomy until I had RAI.

I assumed people were dosed according to their blood levels as they are with Levothyroxine. 5mcg or 10mcg T3 wouldn't be sufficient for as I take 30mcg in addition to Levothyroxine. I have no trouble believeing 5mcg or 10mcg is insufficient for many people.

The BTA doesn't support T4+T3 combination therapy and probably have used some discredited research to support their position. A number of research articles which found T3 ineffective arrived at that conclusion because they they estimated potency ratios of T3:T4 at 15:1, 10:1, 5:1 instead of 3:1 so patients were often grossly undermedicated as a consequence.