What Is The Difference Between Cytomel and Synthroid?

Hypothyroidism – also known as Thyroid hormone deficiency – can be a troubling condition, causing fatigue, weight gain, hair loss and muscle cramps. There are two medications used to treat this condition; cytomel and synthroid. Both have overlapping benefits. You can read more about the available dosage at https://internationalpharmacy.com/products/cytomel-tabs-liothyronine. But which symptoms do they cater to? And which one is superior?

The thyroid gland produces the hormone triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The thyroid gland produces more T4 than T3, with most of the T3 in the body being due to T4 converting to T3 outside the thyroid gland. Too much of either of these and the thyroid gland produces less thyroid hormones. Even though the thyroid gland produces more T4 than T3, much of the T3 in the body is due to the high conversion rate of T4 to T3 outside the thyroid gland.

For the most part, both T3 and T4 have the same impact on the body. It should be noted that T3 is more potent than T4, with one mg of T3 having a much greater impact on the body than T4. But if the dose of either gets too high, then the thyroid gland will produce less thyroid hormones in a process known as ‘feedback inhibition’. This is where cytomel and synthroid enter the picture.

Cytomel – also known as Liothyronine – is a manufactured form of the thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3). It is used to treat hypothyroidism, as well as myxedema coma. Synthroid – also known as Levothyroxine – is the manufactured substitute for the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4). In addition to treating hypothyroidism and the extreme cases of myxedema coma, it can also be used to treat and prevent certain types of thyroid tumors.

Now, when it comes to the differences between the two manufactured hormones, the treatment is equal. But owning to T3’s raised progression rate compared to T4, T3 is absorbed from the intestine at an alarming pace. This leaves patients open to the risk of mild hormone thyroid toxicity. Patients and doctors should also be careful when administering both medications. There is a test that measures the level of T4 in the blood (TT4), which is rendered ineffective due to the inclusion of T3. This can skew the decision on which medications to administer, because TT4 is used to monitor how effective the treatment is when including T3.

The tests results will slow a low level of T4, which could spur medical professionals to increase the dosage of T3. Doing so may make no improvements to the patient’s health, but could also increase the risk of them developing the previously mentioned mild hormone thyroid toxicity.

Overall, it would appear that even though both manufactured hormones are effective in fighting off hypothyroidism, synthroid is the more reliable source of medication, owing to the fact that T4 provides an adequate level of T3 upon conversion. This renders the administration of T3 medications like cytomel obsolete compared to synthroid, which would at some point in the thyroid hormone’s life cycle produce the necessary amount of both hormones.