Are there SYNTHETIC Thyroid Replacement Medications?

[GuineaPigs8]

I am a VEGAN and use no animal products. The Armour site stated that their meds are made from pigs. As I am a VEGAN, this is not an option for me.

[edra]

If you need only T4, go with one of the many brands of T4 medications such as Synthroid.

If you later end up needing T3, use Cytomel.  Preferably in small doses taken every few hours.  My recollection is that King Pharrmaceuticals makes Cytomel, you can check on the ingredients at kingpharm.com  .

[Thypatient]

Liz118:  Synthetic meds like the brand Synthroid are T4 only meds.  But since T4 gets converted to T3, it’s not necessary to need to take both.  Especially since, along with the thyroid, other organs of the body, like the liver, are contributing to that conversion.  It only becomes necessary to need both when there is a conversion problem.  Through blood work a dr can configure if the conversion is taking place.  If there were a problem a dr would then prescribe an adjunct T3 med like the brand Cytomel.

Rachel4:  I agree.  The fillers in any of the synthetic meds might not be entirely vegan so it’s probably best to contact a co. on that.

[Rachel4]

I think alot of people just take a synthetic thyroid hormone. I'm on levoxyl. Though I don't know if it is vegan. You would have to contact pharmaceutical companies to find out if it's vegan.

[Liz118]

But isn't synthroid only T4? Wouldn't she need both T3 (cytomel) and T4?
...just curious

[Thypatient]

All the synthetic thyroid hormone replacement meds are called levothyroxine.  From there it breaks down into:

(1.) Generic (non-brand) levothyroxines.
(2.) Brand named levothyroxines.  Examples of brand named levothyroxines would be Synthroid and Levoxyl.

Hope this gives you an idea but do suggest you do more reading up.

Good luck.

[stella5349]

Had to giggle on your question you posted about not wanting pig thyroid and seeing your screen name GuineaPigs8.

Sometimes the thyroid mind in me is just silly...... sorry

Go to rx.com or drugs.com and type in Synthroid - you will find a bunch of different names for Synthetic T4 thyroid meds

[redheadaussie]

If you are in USA Synthroid is the synthetic replacement hormone.