THYROID SUPPORT

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that is located in the front of the neck below your Adam’s apple and is wrapped around the trachea (the windpipe).

Learn About Your Thyroid

A Guide to Thyroid Support

The thyroid gland produces hormones, specifically monoiodothyronine (T1), diiodothyronine (T2), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and reverses triiodothyronine (rT3), which regulate the energy level, growth, and reproduction of every cell in your body. T3 is the most active thyroid hormone, about four to five times the potency of T4, but is only called upon when the body needs it. As a result, most thyroid hormone is stored in the body as T4 which is converted to T3 when the need arises. When there is insufficient production of T4 and/or T3 the most common of thyroid disease, hypothyroidism, will be exhibited. In fact, hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid accounts for about 80% of thyroid dysfunctions.

The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism may only appear over an extended period of time, months or years, and can share similar characteristics of other disorders. This can lead to a misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment.

Some classic signs and symptoms include:

  • Fatigue
  • Cold Intolerance
  • Reduced Heart Rate
  • Weight Gain
  • Depression
  • Dementia
  • Dry Skin and Brittle Fingernails
  • Hair Loss
  • Constipation
  • Muscle and Joint Pain
  • Menstrual Changes
  • High Cholesterol
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Fluid Retention
  • Headaches
  • Infertility
  • Insomnia
  • Poor Night Vision
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Abnormal Tingling or Burning Sensation
  • Nutritional Imbalances
Aurora Compounding Pharmacy

What to Know

Thyroid Symptoms

If you are experiencing any of the above thyroid support symptoms there is a temperature test that you can perform to determine if you might have a potential problem. Because thyroid hormones help to regulate the body’s temperature taking a basal body temperature (the temperature taken underneath your arm) may help to discover if you have a thyroid problem.

  • The thermometer that you use needs to be able to accurately measure to one decimal place.
  • Upon waking and before you get out of bed place the thermometer under your armpit and take your temperature.
  • Any activity prior to taking your temperature will skew the results.
  • Do this for 3 consecutive days and record the results.
  • For a menstruating woman, you should take your temperature during your menses.
  • A normal temperature is 36.6 to 36.8 degrees Celsius (97.8 to 98.2 degrees Fahrenheit). An underactive thyroid will have a temperature below 36.6 degrees Celsius. This would warrant a visit to your physician to investigate further.
Find Your Compound

TEST NAME

REFERENCE RANGE

RELEVANCE

Thyrotropin
(sensitive TSH)

Male/Female:
</=13 yr 0.70-4.20 mIU/L
>/=13 yr 0.32-4.00 mIU/L

A high reading indicates hypothyroidism
A low reading indicates hyperthyroidism

Free Thyroxine
(Free T4)

Male/Female:
<1 yr 11-22 pmol/L
1-18 yr 11-18 pmol/L
18 yr 9-19 pmol/L

A high reading indicates hyperthyroidism
A low reading indicates hypothyroidism

Free Triiodothyronine
(Free T3)

Free Triiodothyronine
(Free T3)

Male:
<1 yr 3.6-7.5 pmol/L
1-11 yr 4.3-6.8 pmol/L
12-14 yr 4.4-6.6 pmol/L

Male:
15-18 yr 3.5-5.9 pmol/L
>18 yr 3.1-6.2 pmol/L

Female:
<1 yr 3.6-7.5 pmol/L
1-11 yr 4.3-6.8 pmol/L
12-14 yr 3.8-6.1 pmol/L
15-18 yr 3.6-5.7 pmol/L
>18 yr 3.1-6.2 pmol/L

A high reading indicates hyperthyroidism
A low reading indicates hypothyroidism

Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase

<35 kIU/L

Above range indicates probably an autoimmune disease e.g. Hashimoto’s, Graves’ disease, Lupus, etc.

Anti-Thyroglobulin

<40 kIU/L

Above range indicates Hashimoto’s (hypothyroidism)

Reference ranges may vary from lab to lab. Also you can be symptomatic even though you fall within the reference or “normal” range. This is because the reference range is based on a wide selection of patients who may or may not have hypo/hyperthyroid symptoms.

Treatments for hypothyroidism can include very dose-specific thyroid supplementation, improving gastrointestinal health, and adding specific minerals such as Iodine, Selenium, Zinc and others.

Know Your Medication

Thyroid Prescriptions

The most commonly prescribed thyroid hormone is levothyroxine (Synthroid or Eltroxin) which is T4. It is available in many strengths which makes for easier dose adjustments, but a person could be low in liothyronine (T3) as well. Unfortunately, it only comes in two commercially available strengths, 5 and 25 mcg in a product called Cytomel. Another product that contains T4, T3, T2, and T1 is desiccated thyroid (made from the thyroid gland of pigs) which comes in 30mg, 60mg and 125mg strengths. What is a person to do if T4 alone does not adequately treat one’s symptoms and the available strengths of Cytomel and Thyroid (desiccated) are not ideal to use? This is when a compounding pharmacy can help. As Compounding pharmacists we have T4, T3 and desiccated thyroid powder to customize a patient’s dose to their exact needs. Individualized doses of T4, T3 and desiccated thyroid can all be compounded in either immediate or slow-release capsules. There are many treatment options available to help with your hypothyroid condition so you can get back to feeling great again.

Contact Our Specialists

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To learn more about thyroid support, please contact Aurora Compounding Pharmacy and talk with one of our specialists.

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Not close to us? No problem! Have your doctor fax your prescription and we will ship your custom compound with free overnight shipping.

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