Not sure how great this could be, but judging by description - I would love to try it! Who knows how long it takes to get this to the market, if this even happens, of course
This idea has always seemed to me to be the most obvious solution to our problems. I wonder why they are focussing on T3 only though, rather than T4 as well. After all, our thyroid does not pump out a single once daily dose of T4. So why not go the 'whole hog' and try to replicate the working thyroid, rather than just one of the hormones.
Focussing only on T3 might mean it never gets to market, because so many medics are determined to stick with the outdated theory that adding T3 as a daily thyroid hormone replacement, is not remotely necessary.
I also think we should have both, t4 and t3, in this format, bypassing the stomach - celiac issues, low stomach acid etc etc my question is - how can you test a dose, would they give us a test implant for 6-8 weeks or how would this work?
Yes, interesting point. Maybe start on oral administration until a reasonable dose is achieved (e.g. to get TSH,T4 and T3 to approximately the right place for the individual patient). Then switch over to comparable dose implant. Comparable dose may not mean the same doses if the implant dosing was more efficient. It would take some time to get to the right place, but that's the case anyway even with tablets.
Absolutely, I can't wait for the day we have an alternative treatment to pills. I am also curious if anyone thoughts of a transdermal t3/t4? Or is it different to other female hormones? Would be happy to carry a sticker
I think the molecules are too large to penetrate transdermally - or something like that anyway. I'm not good at chemistry - helvella might be able to explain.
As I understood it (but that is a bit hopeful in itself!), levothyroxine alone does not absorb into skin anywhere near well enough. If they manage to adjust things so that the levothyroxine can be absorbed, it then gets stuck in the skin cells it transfers into, and does not then enter the bloodstream and get circulated.
In the unlikely event you were trying to treat a patch of hypothyroid skin, it might work. If you are trying to treat a whole person, not a chance. At present.
Thanks helvella, interesting! Maybe there has to be a better carrier for levothyroxine, I really don't know anything about it though I'm just excited at any perspective of alternative treatment to pills!
I'd guess the answer is because it's easy enough to take one tablet per day, as we can do with T4, but actually quite tricky to manage the T3, if, like me, you need 4 small doses a day (I go way over the top on fewer doses) and need to take magnesium and/or iron 4 hours away as many people need. As a Yoga teacher I also need to leave 1 hour before classes without eating and used to drink coffee to get through the long hours without food which isn't easy as a vegan (supposed to graze all day) but we can't have coffee within an hour of the T3 either. 4 a day sounds easy but when you try to do it practically it's impossible some days.
It is far more predictable and easily assimilated than T4 so perhaps that is why? My other thought is perhaps heart disease rather than hypothyroidism is the end game?
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