Posted by Noa on January 28, 2001, at 15:16:14
In reply to Re: Noa -- hypothyroidism-PS, posted by bissie66 on January 24, 2001, at 15:42:25
Cytomel is one of the brands of T3, while synthroid is T4. T4 is thyroid with 4 iodine molecules (atoms? sorry--non-scientist here and I always get these mixed up) and cytomel has three iodines. T4 is more stable--this is the form that thyroid hormone is stored in the body. But T3 is the active form that the cells of the body use. It is less stable. Usually, the body converts T4 to T3 as needed, but some people don't convert enough of it. In psychiatry, especially, doctors have found that T3 helps to potentiate the effects of antidepressants.
BTW, with thyroid hormones, pick a brand, any brand, and stick with it. Generics are less reliable as to potency, and you want to stay with the same brand, whatever it is, for consistency.
poster:Noa
thread:52313
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010122/msgs/52760.html