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Suggest Medicines That Are Not Sodium Derived For Non Functional Thyroid
Question: Is there a medication for thyroid issues that are not sodium derived? Both levothyroxine and liothyronine appear to be such. My thyroid was rendered non-functional with rad. iodine in Feb 2013 after advanced Plummer's syndrome was diagnosed.
After being on synthroid since March 2014 my calves remain severely swollen and I'm suffering severe insomnia, sleeping only 2-3 hours in 24. I have done the furosemide regimen and it does not work, though I have used it successfully in the past to reduce water retention in the legs. I am at my wits' end and will not take synthetic thyroid T4 or T3 any longer, even if the consequence is life-threatening, as 'living' with such conditions is unacceptable. I have several medical conditions associated with being 73 y.o.
D. XXXXXXX
XXXXXX
After being on synthroid since March 2014 my calves remain severely swollen and I'm suffering severe insomnia, sleeping only 2-3 hours in 24. I have done the furosemide regimen and it does not work, though I have used it successfully in the past to reduce water retention in the legs. I am at my wits' end and will not take synthetic thyroid T4 or T3 any longer, even if the consequence is life-threatening, as 'living' with such conditions is unacceptable. I have several medical conditions associated with being 73 y.o.
D. XXXXXXX
XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Thyroid
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to hear about your symptoms.
In order to interpret the symptoms in a scientific way, it is important to co relate them to your current thyroid function tests in the blood. This includes
TSH
Free T4
If the labs suggest a dosing problem then this can be resolved with appropriate dosing.
Levothyroxine is the recommended way to treat hypothyroidism of any cause. To my knowledge, it is only available in the sodium formulation.
So called natural preparations like armour thyroid and desiccated thyroid extracts are deemed unsafe by thyroid experts.
I have noted your history form the previous queries to another doctor on this forum.
Your complaints could be attributed to other potential problems too. it is always a good idea to have routine labs like
CBC
CMP
in place and documented as normal.
Further it appears you also have diabetes, so A1c is an important blood test.
Thyroid
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to hear about your symptoms.
In order to interpret the symptoms in a scientific way, it is important to co relate them to your current thyroid function tests in the blood. This includes
TSH
Free T4
If the labs suggest a dosing problem then this can be resolved with appropriate dosing.
Levothyroxine is the recommended way to treat hypothyroidism of any cause. To my knowledge, it is only available in the sodium formulation.
So called natural preparations like armour thyroid and desiccated thyroid extracts are deemed unsafe by thyroid experts.
I have noted your history form the previous queries to another doctor on this forum.
Your complaints could be attributed to other potential problems too. it is always a good idea to have routine labs like
CBC
CMP
in place and documented as normal.
Further it appears you also have diabetes, so A1c is an important blood test.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr. Topiwala
Thank you your response to my query.
I am sure any medicinal substance not created in an XXXXXXX pharmaceutical laboratory, whose bottom line is always its sole concern, is deemed 'unsafe ' by Food & Drug. What is unsafe, doctor Topiwala, is taking a daily dose of a sodium based medication that is severely impacting my health and compromising my well-being. I have been relegated to a low sodium diet for 14 years and see no reason to attribute this new condition to any other medical condition I'm suffering, since it has occurred only in conjunction with taking Synthroid. Btw, I have a-fib with a defibrillator in place, chf, and rapid pulse, all from Plummer's.
My primary phys. has arranged for blood work every 5 weeks to determine proper dosage of the sodium based med. My TSH was 13.52 in Feb. After following a regimen of Synthroid 50 mcg daily for 5 weeks it was reduced to 4.9. The dosage was then increased to 100mcg causing my bp to rise substantially. It was reduced to 75mcg, which dosage was causing anxiety, insomnia and edema below the knees. It has been back at 50mcg for several weeks
My last A1C was 6.1, which is higher than usual for me. But I had been taken off the oral medication after 6 consecutive A1Cs were 5.5 and I was experiencing night sweats and periodic day sweats. Be assured I have my type 2 diabetes well under control.
My question now is whether or not you would support my researching the medication issue via Ayurvedic medicine, a discipline seemingly free of greedy CEOs, stockholders and paranoid regulators.
Warm regards,
XXXXXXX
Thank you your response to my query.
I am sure any medicinal substance not created in an XXXXXXX pharmaceutical laboratory, whose bottom line is always its sole concern, is deemed 'unsafe ' by Food & Drug. What is unsafe, doctor Topiwala, is taking a daily dose of a sodium based medication that is severely impacting my health and compromising my well-being. I have been relegated to a low sodium diet for 14 years and see no reason to attribute this new condition to any other medical condition I'm suffering, since it has occurred only in conjunction with taking Synthroid. Btw, I have a-fib with a defibrillator in place, chf, and rapid pulse, all from Plummer's.
My primary phys. has arranged for blood work every 5 weeks to determine proper dosage of the sodium based med. My TSH was 13.52 in Feb. After following a regimen of Synthroid 50 mcg daily for 5 weeks it was reduced to 4.9. The dosage was then increased to 100mcg causing my bp to rise substantially. It was reduced to 75mcg, which dosage was causing anxiety, insomnia and edema below the knees. It has been back at 50mcg for several weeks
My last A1C was 6.1, which is higher than usual for me. But I had been taken off the oral medication after 6 consecutive A1Cs were 5.5 and I was experiencing night sweats and periodic day sweats. Be assured I have my type 2 diabetes well under control.
My question now is whether or not you would support my researching the medication issue via Ayurvedic medicine, a discipline seemingly free of greedy CEOs, stockholders and paranoid regulators.
Warm regards,
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
I understand your apprehensions, both medical and corporate related.
1 Have you ever seen an endocrinologist?
2 The dose changes of the synthroid that you have shared do not represent standard practice by thyroid experts such as endocrinologists.
In view of your heart condition, generally dose changes ar emade in increments of 12.5 mcg at a time, and not from 50 to 100.
3 it is rarely difficult for an endocrinologist to safely regulate a person's thyroid dose
4 You can check with any dietitian and cardiologist in the world to assess if the minuscule amount of sodium in the synthroid (or any other levothyroxine sodium preparation) affects your heart or body in any way.
5 If you are worried about greed and conflicts of interest in pharmaceutical industry, then why dont you consider purchasing levothyroxine from a national pharmacy chain where this medication is on the '4$' a month list
6 Good to know your diabetes is well controlled
7 Ayurvedic medication is beyond my purview. I am trained in allopathy and can only answer questions in my discipline. I respect alternative and complementary medicine but until there is substantial evidence based and robust scientific studies published in peer reviewed medical literature I cannot offer them as sound advice to anyone.
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
I understand your apprehensions, both medical and corporate related.
1 Have you ever seen an endocrinologist?
2 The dose changes of the synthroid that you have shared do not represent standard practice by thyroid experts such as endocrinologists.
In view of your heart condition, generally dose changes ar emade in increments of 12.5 mcg at a time, and not from 50 to 100.
3 it is rarely difficult for an endocrinologist to safely regulate a person's thyroid dose
4 You can check with any dietitian and cardiologist in the world to assess if the minuscule amount of sodium in the synthroid (or any other levothyroxine sodium preparation) affects your heart or body in any way.
5 If you are worried about greed and conflicts of interest in pharmaceutical industry, then why dont you consider purchasing levothyroxine from a national pharmacy chain where this medication is on the '4$' a month list
6 Good to know your diabetes is well controlled
7 Ayurvedic medication is beyond my purview. I am trained in allopathy and can only answer questions in my discipline. I respect alternative and complementary medicine but until there is substantial evidence based and robust scientific studies published in peer reviewed medical literature I cannot offer them as sound advice to anyone.
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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