iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrlllll ftecdf hslcinfd olidfmdhtlbtktbeCompounded T4/T3 products, however, need to be prepared by a special-
ly trained compounding pharmacist.These compounds are usually much
more expensive and may need to be refrigerated to preserve activity.
Some proponents of natural thyroid medications claim the desiccated
glands of animals are the best option as they also have trace amounts of
T1 and T2, which may have undiscovered biological functions.
In contrast, some pharmacists, Dr. Alexander Haskell (author of Hope
for Hashimoto’s) and Dr. Mark Starr (author of Hypothyroidism Type
II) report that for some Hashimoto’s patients, natural thyroid formula-
tions from animal thyroids such as Armour® may be perpetuating the
autoimmune attack because they contain thyroglobulin and TPO. They
only recommend compounded and synthetic thyroid medications for
people with Hashimoto’s.6,7
If someone starts feeling worse after initially feeling better on desiccated
thyroid or has an increase in TPO antibodies after starting desiccated
thyroid, switching to a compounded T4/T3 medication may be helpful.
Others report that desiccated thyroid products, especially when given to
a suppressive level, will reduce thyroid antibodies. A suppressive dose es-
sentially puts our own thyroid to sleep, and all of the required hormones
are obtained from the medication.
Compounded T4/T3
Thyroid compounds are usually prepared in the same physiological ratio
found in NDT. Physicians, however, can elect to change the amount of
T3/T4 as the compounding pharmacists are literally making the medica-
tions from scratch.
The benefits of the T4/T3 compounds is they can be made devoid of the
fillers not tolerated by many people with Hashimoto’s, and do not seem
to perpetuate autoimmunity.
Most T4/T3 compounds are immediate-release versions like NDT prod-
ucts, but compounding pharmacists can also make sustained-release
versions.
Some professionals recommend sustained-release formulations so the
hormone is released continuously throughout the day. However, these
types of formulations may not be absorbed properly by people with
Hashimoto’s and gut issues.