New Research Shows That T4/T3 Combination Is As Effective as Levothyroxine
When patients with hypothyroidism ask for a T4/T3 combination treatment -- like natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) or adding Cytomel (T3) to levothyroxine -- some doctors refuse, claiming that “T4/levothyroxine-only therapy is safer and more effective.”
A new study from the journal Thyroid says otherwise!
The researchers found that there is no difference in the effectiveness of T4/T3 combination and levothyroxine alone.
There was no difference in terms of clinical status, quality of life measurement, psychological issues, depressive symptoms, or fatigue. Adverse events and reactions were similar in both groups, and any differences were not considered significant.
At the same time, they also looked at the patients' preferences, and the results — while surprising to researchers, are no surprise to patients. They found that more patients preferred combination T4/T3 therapy — a total of 43% — compared to only 23% who preferred T4 (levothyroxine-only) therapy. (Around 30% of patients had no preference.
The Bottom Line: Doctors who say that T4/levothyroxine-only therapy is always better and safer than a T4-T3 combination therapy are WRONG...
Source: Millan-Alanis, JM et. al. "Triiodothyronine Versus Levothyroxine Monotherapy for Adult Patients with Hypothyroidism: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Thyroid. Sep 2021. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/thy.2021.0270