Posted by SLS on July 9, 2004, at 1:11:51
In reply to Cytomel vs. Synthroid, any opinions?, posted by gardenergirl on July 7, 2004, at 8:05:32
Hi GG.
I did a bit of research on the Net in the hopes that I could find information comparing the efficacy of T4 versus T3 when used to treat unipolar depression. There really are no direct comparisons. However, one abstract that I can't find right now reported an abnormality in T3 measurements, but not T4. I wish I could find the darned thing. Anyway, it made for a pretty compelling case for using Cytomel. The great majority of the successful use of thyroid hormone augmentation of antidepressants reported in the literature is of T3. Since you are already taking T4, I would take advantage of the opportunity to try a T3/T4 combinatioin.
The following link describes a case of bipolar disorder for which such a combination of T3/T4 was used. The website offers some good information about thyroid function and mood illness in general.
http://www.psycheducation.org/thyroid/combostory.htm
http://www.psycheducation.org/thyroid/studies.htm
As often happens, however, there are researchers who report conflicting results:
All in all, I would probably go for adding T3 to the T4 if I were in your position.I hope this is of some help. Let us know what you decide and how you do.
Good luck!
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:363672
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040704/msgs/364270.html