Not Feeling Better on Your Thyroid Meds? You Might Try This.

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Not Feeling Better on Your Thyroid Meds? You Might Try This.

Do you struggle with hypothyroidism? Are you currently taking thyroid hormone to manage your thyroid symptoms but aren’t seeing results? Many people go on thyroid hormone and don’t feel better. There are multiple reasons this happens, but part of the reason may be that you’re not adequately absorbing your thyroid hormone medication.

If you need help managing hypothyroidism, click here

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Not Feeling Better on Your Thyroid Meds? You Might Try This.

Do you struggle with hypothyroidism? Are you currently taking thyroid hormone to manage your thyroid symptoms? If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, then you were probably given a medication to help manage it.

The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism are depression, fatigue, constipation, dry hair, skin, and nails. This is a fairly common condition, but many people go on thyroid hormone and don’t feel better. There are multiple reasons this happens, but part of the reason may be that you’re not adequately absorbing your thyroid hormone medication.

This is why it’s recommended that patients take thyroid hormone on an empty stomach, away from food or drink. It’s been shown that certain vitamins and minerals can block the absorption of thyroid hormone.

There’s actually a different type of thyroid hormone that’s been shown to be better absorbed than others. This is the liquid form of thyroid hormone. Liquid T4 (levothyroxine) comes in a gel capsule by the name of Tirosint. Studies have shown that this form of thyroid hormone is better absorbed than other forms.

One study evaluated 77 patients taking liquid T4. Half of the patients took the medication on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before breakfast, and the other half took it with breakfast. Each patient completed two six-week treatment periods, with different timing of active LT4 administration: placebo before breakfast and active LT4 at breakfast, or vice versa. At the end of each period, thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), and free triiodothyronine (fT3) were measured. The primary endpoint was to verify any difference in serum TSH levels whether consuming liquid LT4 at breakfast or 30 minutes prior to breakfast.

The results showed there was adequate absorption in both groups. No statistically significant differences in serum TSH, fT4, or fT3 levels were observed whether LT4 was taken at breakfast or 30 minutes before, in a fasting state.

According to this study and others it appears the absorption issues that happen with a tablet form do not happen with a liquid form.

Another study also evaluated the absorption of liquid T4 (Tirosint) compared with solid formulations and the same results were observed. A significant decrease of T4 absorption was reported when T4 solid formulations are taken with food or coffee. However, administration of T4 oral solution (Tirosint) appears to be less sensitive to the effect of breakfast beverages on oral bioavailability.

An additional benefit of liquid T4 is that it contains only 4 ingredients—levothyroxine, gelatin, glycerin, and water. There is no sugar, gluten, lactose, alcohol, or any other additives commonly found in the tablet form.

If you’ve been taking thyroid hormone and you feel like you’re not improving or your lab values aren’t improving, then it might be worth trying the liquid form of thyroid hormone to see if it works better for you.

It’s also important to consider digestion and gut issues. Often times when a person’s gut is healed and digestion is working better, they find they need a lower dose of thyroid hormone because they’re absorbing it better.

If you’re not getting the results you want on your current thyroid medication, consider asking your doctor about a liquid form known as Tirosint.


If you need help managing hypothyroidism, click here

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