Perhaps you are one of the millions of people on thyroid medication and wondering why you still have low thyroid symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, poor memory, and various other hypothyroid symptoms. There can be several reasons why you are not feeling better on your medication, which may include:
However, there can be another reason why you are not benefitting from regular thyroid prescriptions, which is genetics.
There is emerging evidence that some people have genetic variations that prevent the medication they are taking from being converted into its most active form. As I mentioned earlier, the most common prescriptions given by doctors are synthetic levothyroxine, with brand names such as Levoxyl or Synthroid. These medications contain levothyroxine, which is also known as T4. The main function of T4 is to be converted into the more biologically active T3, which the cells use for energy, metabolism, etc. We know that about half of the population have a genetic variation which prevents T4 from being converted into T3 effectively. The gene is known as Thr92Ala-DIO2. Studies have shown that those with a variation in this gene taking levothyroxine (T4) hormone have clinical improvement when given T3 hormone. I commonly prescribe T3 to my patients on thyroid replacement so they are guaranteed the most active thyroid hormone. One can measure the T3 hormone with a blood test known as Free T3. If the blood level of Free T3 is low or not at least mid-range, then T3 therapy can be helpful. Fortunately, T3 comes in a bioidentical form. The best way to use T3 is to have a sustained-release formulation prescribed from a compounding pharmacy, as the regular type of T3 does not stay in the system very long.
If you are on thyroid replacement therapy and not doing well, consider working with a doctor knowledgeable in bioidentical thyroid replacement and the use of T3. Over the years, I have seen hundreds of patients benefit from T3 therapy in the treatment of their hypothyroidism.
Dr. Mark Stengler NMD, MS, is a bestselling author in private practice in Encinitas, California, at the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine. His newsletter, Dr. Stengler’s Health Breakthroughs, is available at www.markstengler.com and his product line at www.drstengler.com
