Tirosint vs Synthroid not sure if I should switch please help

[Sealsharp1952]

I have Hashimoto’s and am 67 and even though my complete test rests at I am in the right range (I check , T3, T4,, Fee T3, Free T4, Antibodies m, TSH) I feel achy, weak, have air hunger. My dr said I could try Tirosint taking Synthroid now. I have read horror stories about Tirosint as well so wondered if anyone could let me know input about Tirosint. I tried dedicated Naturethroid but dr had a hard time regulating me became hyper so we went back to T4 Synthroid. Scared right now not feeling well and not sure which way to go so any suggestions I would appreciate. Thank you

[Clarrisa]

Hi, I am 66 & took Synthroid for ages until it was thought by a Endocrinologist I saw to not be absorbing well. I went on Tirosint & felt it lifted my mood. The problem I have had with Tirosint is I lose weight which I do not want to do. Initially I felt quite weak while on Tirosint. I think my body could not make adjustment to it abruptly. I switched back to Synthroid on my own & regained my weight back immediately.

I read on this site how someone was taking both so I asked this Endocrinologist if I could alternate them in order to improve absorption, hopefully maintain my mood, and avoid weight loss. In-spite of taking both I am realizing now I have still lost weight & lately have been feeling on the weak side at times. Part of the weight loss may be going gluten free to try & improve absorption.

The other day primum posted "Open access for research papers" & although perhaps dated I have been reading "Intestinal Absorption of Thyroid Hormone by N. Kelderman-Bolk. His research found (if I understand what I have read so far right) taking thyroid medication in the evening improved lab values but not quality of life. It is a lot to wade through but you might find it interesting too if absorption is a issue for you.

This morning I completed a home testing thyroid kit to hopefully see where I am at lab wise. I feel in the same boat as you aside from air hunger. I had a complete physical a few months ago & all labs were normal except Lymphocytes were mildly low. I was told to recheck this lab in September (Is this one of the Tirosint horror stories?). I have been thinking of asking Endo to up my Synthroid use & decrease Tirosint to prevent further weight loss. I would like to see if taking thyroid medications in the evening improves absorption as Kelderman-Bolk found. That way I could go back to being on mainly Synthroid if they do.

How is your hemoglobin level? Air hunger makes me think of that having work in a blood bank in the past. A lot of potential donors ran to low on that lab value. Good luck to your search for answers.

[Clarrisa in reply to Clarrisa]

Corrections last paragraph: worked /too low.

[Sealsharp1952 in reply to Clarrisa]

Thank you very much for your input I know we all respond differently to thyroid medication but I do not want to switch to Tirosint and have more issues which may not be irreversible because I have read some horror stories from some people about it. I know it has no harmful fillers and is expensive so I will speak to my Endo again. I have read many times that Hypothyroidism can affect breathing the phrenic nerves etc so boy is it hard to find a balance with this Hashimoto’s.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Clarrisa]

From that paper:

More than half of the patients still preferred the bedtime

intake of levothyroxine one year after the trial was completed.

repub.eur.nl/pub/93923/1512...

Perhaps the quality of life measurements were not sufficiently sensitive?

[danym in reply to Clarrisa]

what home testing thyroid kit are you using?

[Sealsharp1952 in reply to danym]

None I have all tests dine at drs office.

[danym in reply to Sealsharp1952]

ok, I got confused since you said "This morning I completed a home testing thyroid kit to hopefully see where I am at lab wise.

[Sealsharp1952 in reply to danym]

Thank you

[Clarrisa in reply to danym]

A U.S. company, is it OK to be mentioned (?) I am unclear.

[guysgrams]

I take tirosint and T3. I am 68 and was on Synthroid for over 20 years and it finally stopped working for me. I initially went T3 only but have now come back to taking both T4 and T3. It was thought that I had some bad reaction to the fillers in synthroid. I have been taking Tirosint since January with no issues. I take it in the middle of the night and have since I started taking it.

[Sealsharp1952 in reply to guysgrams]

Thank you for your input.

[Frustrated2]

I am new to thyroid issues. I’m on tirosint and cytomel for my thyroid. It’s the first medications I was put on. My doctor absolutely is a believer on how well tirosint is tolerated and works well for thyroid.

My mom has had a heck of a time with thyroid fillers and could only take armor thyroid until now she can take the tirosint.

[Sealsharp1952 in reply to Frustrated2]

Thank you for your input and I may switch to Tirosint soon but am losing weight now and am a bit nervous to switch until I have lost more. At my age 67 I need to lose weight and am afraid of any reaction to Tirosint so thank you again and will consider switching after some more weight loss.

[Frustrated2 in reply to Sealsharp1952]

I’m losing weight as well, I take 2 meds though and I do watch what I eat- went dairy, sugar and gluten free. Most important thing I’ve learned is to find out what is causing your inflammation, environmental toxins, food intolerances, get hormones checked , nutrients needed.

I make these protein balls, it’s nut butter, coconut oil, protein and collagen powder, nuts, honey and little bit of chocolate chips. GF Rolled oats (Sometimes it’s white choc chips or cranberries) sorry I’m not good at measuring I just toss it in my kitchen aid mixer. 🤪

Main thing is you just want it to hold together when you make it into a cookie ball then I freeze them individually on a cookie sheet.

Throw them in a container in freezer and I’ll pull one out when I have a hungry feeling and eat. (You can eat them raw there’s no eggs, my family loves the them.

Not sure if eating these help me out or if I am a just a snacker throughout the day. I eat 3 meals but just not a lot of food at a time.

[Sealsharp1952 in reply to Frustrated2]

Thank you and my husband has been vegan for over 12 years and I have been also but am now eating a little animal products but hate it because we care about animals and the environment so much.

[Frustrated2 in reply to Sealsharp1952]

I found this article that a Functional Medicine Doctor wrote, maybe of interest to you.. He was a vegan and switched to ketotarian. His name Dr. William Cole

mindbodygreen.com/articles/...

[Sealsharp1952 in reply to Frustrated2]

Thank you