Posted by SLS on November 24, 2002, at 0:13:04
In reply to Re: Journal mentions triiodothyronine augmentation, posted by Larry Hoover on November 23, 2002, at 13:16:44
Hi.
As described by Larry:T3 = triiodothyronine = liothyronine = Cytomel
T4 = tetraiodothyronine = thyroxine = Synthroid, Levoxyl
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The thyroid gland secretes perhaps 25% of the circulating T3. The remaining T3 in the body is produced by the conversion of T4 to T3 in peripheral tissues. T3 is the more active of the two thyroid hormones.It should be understood that when treating depression, thyroid hormones are used as drugs, and are generally prescribed without regard to existing thyroid levels in the body.
T3 has been used to augment tricyclic antidepressants for over 20 years. I believe that the use of T3 instead of T4 became established as the result of early anecdotal reports. I'm not sure that any systematic investigation has been conducted comparing the relative efficacies of T4 and T3. I responded very differently on each. T3 made me horribly worse. I found T4 to be somewhat helpful.
Unfortunately, I believe T4 has been unjustifiably neglected in the treatment of affective disorders.
Sometimes, both T4 and T3 are prescribed in combination to augment antidepressants.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:128933
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021122/msgs/129008.html