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The synthetic thyroid hormone, Synthroid (T4) is commonly prescribed by many physicians when thyroid tests are abnormal and in many cases doesn't seem to work as effectively as expected. Numerous patients who take their Synthroid as prescribed, with T4 levels in the "desirable therapeutic range" do not feel much significant improvement in their condition. Increasing the dose of Synthroid sometimes helps, but more often the benefit is greater when either T3 (Cytomel) is added or the patient uses Armour Thyroid (or a similar generic desiccated thyroid), which contains both T3 and T4. [New England Journal Of Medicine, 1999] Many physicians are unaware of this study.
The goal is to reach an effective dose of hormone while keeping the TSH above 0.1. Many physicians keep the TSH at 3-5, which may not result in much clinical improvement.
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