Aa
Does all exogenous t4 convert to t3 in people who have no thyroid issues?
I belong to a fitness forum and a member is contemplating using t4 for weight loss,. I am familiar with t3 for weight loss and that is consistantly used on said forum but he insists that exogenous t4 will convert endlessly into usable t3 and rev up his metabolism. Can he push his thyroid to hyperthyroidism with just t4 if he took in 3-400mcg or more of it? My understanding was that in healthy individuals the conversion is regulated and any excess is just wasted, is that incorrect? Keep in mind his thyroid is working efficiently with no thyroids meds. Does it convert at the same 4:1 ratio regardless of dose? I appreciate any info that can be provided.
Best Answer
I'm at the point where I no longer refer to the health "care" system. I think we ought to start calling it what it is...the medical industry or the medical market.
Why is it easier to request and get an MRI than a $10 FT3 test? Follow the money trail...
Why is it easier to request and get an MRI than a $10 FT3 test? Follow the money trail...
I, too, feel the urge to chime in about the fact that many of us that are extremely ill and truly need thyroid medications yet OUR doctors won't prescribe it for US. What the hell? Beyond disgusted with our healthcare system!!!!
on 340 mcg i lost 16 pounds. I also could not eat normally, shook so bad i could hardly stand. My ears rang so loud and I couldnt sleep at night. My stomache issues were so bad that even just drinking water sent me right to the restroom.
I stopped taking my huge dose about 3 weeks ago and im STILL feeling the effects of it. I probably damaged something taking too high of a dose. I lose weight, but not in the normal sense. I looked gaunt, as if i was being starved. My hips look sunken in, and i also lost muscle mass.
Does this answer your friends question?
I stopped taking my huge dose about 3 weeks ago and im STILL feeling the effects of it. I probably damaged something taking too high of a dose. I lose weight, but not in the normal sense. I looked gaunt, as if i was being starved. My hips look sunken in, and i also lost muscle mass.
Does this answer your friends question?
Maybe if my wife can't get the T3 she needs from the Endo. I guess I should try the weight loss sites. She cant loose weight either.
But I don't think she is yet getting enough thyroid replacement either.
Pushing to Hyper or the edge of hyper seems like playing with fire to me.
if getting the drugs illegally then may as well just buy barbiturates (speed). to help with weight loss, what really is the difference then?
As frustrated as I/we may be with Dr's I still plan to stay within the bounds of MD's who I'm not trying to get "hooked up" with. Maybe I am an old prude! I have to admit I've been tempted to self medicate. But I never have.
But I don't think she is yet getting enough thyroid replacement either.
Pushing to Hyper or the edge of hyper seems like playing with fire to me.
if getting the drugs illegally then may as well just buy barbiturates (speed). to help with weight loss, what really is the difference then?
As frustrated as I/we may be with Dr's I still plan to stay within the bounds of MD's who I'm not trying to get "hooked up" with. Maybe I am an old prude! I have to admit I've been tempted to self medicate. But I never have.
haha goolarra isnt wrong, we're hooked up... many of us on our boards are better versed in our meds than doctors and t3 is common knowledge amongst our boards but t4 is always an afterthought and rarely looked into which is what brought me here.
What a sweet, old-fashioned notion...that you need a script for prescription drugs! LOL Get on one of those body building sites and just see what you can get without a script. Not to mention that if you try hard enough and/or have enough money, I'm sure you can find a doctor that will prescribe just about anything you might want.
My opinion is you should never mess with hormones simply for the sole purpose of losing weight. If there is weight induced issues that was caused secondarily from a thyroid problem or imbalance that is another thing.
Hormones are VERY complex and inter-related. Messing with them can easily upset the whole apple cart and have a whole host of unintended consequences. I would definitely not recommend anyone doing EITHER T4 or T3 induced medication as some sort of "natural" weight loss pill.
As normal. Taking what seems like the easy way out is usually never a good idea. If it sounds too good to be true then it usually is....
Many of us here find it nearly impossible to find a Dr to prescribe thyroid medication with KNOWN laundry list as long as your arm of hypothyroid symptoms when their blood labs are anywhere within the normal range. How are folks finding a Dr who prescribes otherwise perfectly normal people thyroid medicine for solely weight loss reasons? I have an ethical problem with that and I would think many insurance company's and possibly medical boards would as well. That is definitely outside of normal standard of care practice I would think.
But I guess when you can find a Dr who will prescribe pot for a hangnail or whatever I guess anything is possible.
Hormones are VERY complex and inter-related. Messing with them can easily upset the whole apple cart and have a whole host of unintended consequences. I would definitely not recommend anyone doing EITHER T4 or T3 induced medication as some sort of "natural" weight loss pill.
As normal. Taking what seems like the easy way out is usually never a good idea. If it sounds too good to be true then it usually is....
Many of us here find it nearly impossible to find a Dr to prescribe thyroid medication with KNOWN laundry list as long as your arm of hypothyroid symptoms when their blood labs are anywhere within the normal range. How are folks finding a Dr who prescribes otherwise perfectly normal people thyroid medicine for solely weight loss reasons? I have an ethical problem with that and I would think many insurance company's and possibly medical boards would as well. That is definitely outside of normal standard of care practice I would think.
But I guess when you can find a Dr who will prescribe pot for a hangnail or whatever I guess anything is possible.
Factitious hyperthyroidism (iatrogenic or "doctor-induced") hyperthyroidism can also occur when someone intentionally takes too much thyroid hormone such as those trying to lose weight or children accidentally taking thyroid hormone pills.
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
He could also push himself to hypo: Neither endogenous nor exogenous T4 will endlessly convert to T3. In fact, with very high levels of T4, what often happens is the body converts more T4 to RT3 than to T3. RT3 is inert. The only way for the body to protect itself from excess FT3 is by converting more to RT3. Too much RT3 can actually cause one to become hypO, even with high FT4 levels. RT3 blocks the T3 receptors in cells, excluding FT3 from getting in.
I think your friend is suffering from oversimplification of the whole process. Tell him to have his FT3, FT4 and TSH tested. If there's a thyroid problem, fix it. If not, then don't mess with it and screw up his natural hormones. Neither T4 not T3 should be taken strictly for weight loss.