Alternatives to Levothyroxine for Hypothyroidism

Are you taking thyroid medication but still having symptoms of low thyroid function? You may need a different type of medication or a different dosage of your current medication.

Levothyroxine (Synthroid/Levoxyl), which contains a synthetic T4-only thyroid hormone, is the most commonly prescribed medication in the United States. I find that it works well for some people, but it's not right for everyone.

Natural dessicated thyroid (NDT) was the treatment of choice before levothyroxine was invented and I find that many people simply feel better on this therapy and when given a choice, many of my patients prefer it over levothyroxine. 

NDT combines T4 with T3 (active thyroid hormone) which can be helpful for those people who do not convert T4 to T3 optimally. Brand names of NDT include Naturethroid and Armour. 

Cytomel is a synthetic T3-only medication. This would typically be used in conjunction with levothyroxine. 

Thyroid hormone can also be prepared by a compounding pharmacist. It can be very tricky to get accurate and consistent dose when compounding thyroid medications. I use compounded thyroid hormone in rare circumstances. 

Tirosint is levothyroxine/T4 in a hypoallergenic gelcap form which is better absorbed than typical T4 preparations.

Because absorption of thyroid medication can be a problem for many people, expect new and better forms to be available in the near future.