Q. I have an underactive thyroid and take Synthroid. After three years I do not feel any better.
I asked my doctor if I could try an alternative to Synthroid like Armour Thyroid. She told me she prefers the synthetic over the natural form. I was surprised at that, because many people seem to do well on it.
I feel that adding T3 from the natural product might help, but I do not think my physician is going to be willing even to try it. Do you have more info on treating thyroid problems if Synthroid is not working well?
A. If you are experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, depression, hair loss, constipation, puffy eyes, dry skin and brittle nails, you may indeed be suffering from too little thyroid hormone. Although the research is controversial, some people report feeling better when they get a mixture of T3 and T4 forms of thyroid hormone. Synthroid contains only T4 (levothyroxine).
We are sending you our Guide to Thyroid Hormones with a discussion of natural vs. synthetic thyroid replacement and how to balance T3 and T4. Dried thyroid glands have been used for more than 100 years, before the FDA existed. Doctors may prescribe Armour or other natural thyroid preparations.
