Things I learned today from my new endocronologist

[Brucergoldberg]

I learned a couple things I did not know about until today.  I saw my new endocronologist after waiting two months.  He upped my dose from .015  to .050.

He told me:

If you are going to take thyroid meds (t4) you should take SYNTHROID because if you are taking generic there is a good chance that every time you get it filled it may be a little different or from a different manufacturer.

If you are going from lets say .015  to .050 it is difficult at a small level to over medicate because your thyroid will just back off a little from production to compensate for it.

He wants me to take .050 for five weeks to see if this makes my symptoms go away.  If my TSH gets below 2.0 and I still have the symptoms, there is something else causing me problems.

He told me that synthroid is the only drug that is EXACTLY like what is produced in the human body.  It doesnt matter if its from the pill or your thyroid, as long as you get it from somewhere.

bruce

[juliva]

I'd die before I'd ever take synthyroid EVER again.. Just try prying my Generic out of my hands. My Endo told me just yesterday never take another drug other then the one I'm on. It's not a ONE DRUG FITS ALL and if your Endo believes that along with synthyroid being the only drug Exactly like the human body produce's ... I would recommend you RUN and RUN FAST!

I hope your symptoms go away on synthyroid... For your sake I really do! Good Luck!

[Brucergoldberg]

Okay well let me rephrase to keep from getting pounded on.

He told me that the "hormone" thyroid is the only drug that humans consume that is exactly like the molecule produced by the human body.  I am officially retracting the word "synthroid" from the above statement.

He also said "if you can afford to take the non generic, you should do that since you will know that every time you get your prescreiption filled you are getting the same exact drug, from the same exact place, made from the same exact thing".  He also said "there MAY or MAY NOT" be a difference.

I would also like to add that I have now seen 3 endocronologists here in Dallas and this was the only one that has had any school of thought that reflects the postings of the "elders" of this forum.

[goolarra]

I've been on Synthroid, Levoxyl and generic at one time or another, and I fail to see the difference in any of them.  Is generic really inferior, or has Big Pharma just run a very effective campaign to discredit their competition?  I don't know...Has your endo gone on any boondoggles sponsored by Abbott Labs lately?

I guess how difficult it is to overmedicate depends to a large extent on how functional or unstable your thyroid is.  

I agree with gimel totally on the TSH issue.  TSH is a very poor diagnostic.  Doctors need to topple it from its pedestal as the "gold standard" and start concentrating on FT3 and FT4.  Your endo's philosophy on TSH (less than 2.0) generates most of the complaints on this forum..

"...synthroid is the only drug that is EXACTLY like what is produced in the human body."  I don't think so...

[Brucergoldberg]

I agree.  He agrees as well with your statement.  But he did say that you should at least start with the T4 before you start taking t3.  I really havent started anything yet.  

[gimel]

And I should have added that many members have to have TSH at the very low end of the range and below, due to adjusting levels of FT3 and FT4 as required to relieve symptoms.

[gimel]

Not familiar all with your prior posts, but it appears that your new Endo may have the "Immaculate TSH Belief", based on his comment that if your TSH gets below 2.0 and you still have symptoms, there is something else causing your problems.  He really should be talking more about FT3 and FT4 and symptoms.  Many members have to have TSH at the very low end of the range and below in order to relieve symptoms.