Thyroid Health

Subpar thyroid function is a struggle, to say the least. It affects nearly 1 in 12 Americans, and women are 5-8 times more likely to suffer from it than men. It’s a complex topic, especially since hypothyroidism can be complicated by a range of factors like Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune attack on your body’s own production of thyroid. Those who suffer from hypothyroidism often struggle with weight gain, thinning hair, dry skin, and fatigue – and that’s just what’s happening on the outside. Blood pressure and cholesterol can also increase, menstruation can become painful and prolonged, and the brains’ neurotransmitters can become unbalanced, leading to irritability, anxiety, depression and insomnia.

So, what’s the issue here? There are endocrinologists all over the country who treat hypothyroidism all day, and we have medications such as levothyroxine (T4) and liothyronine (T3).

The issue at hand, really, is that most physicians don’t look nearly close enough at the underlying causes of the disease, and don’t realize or discount the argument that the normal measures that are used diagnose hypothyroidism may not be enough. In addition to this, the causes of hypothyroidism such as heavy metal toxicity, low testosterone, poor nutritional status and diet, inflammation and the like aren’t given enough credence to make meaningful impacts on people’s overall health.

At Harbor Compounding Pharmacy, we take a functional medicine approach to treating thyroid disorders, and understand that a holistic approach is necessary to properly assess, and treat thyroid disorders. We are experts at compounding specialized thyroid formulations, and understand that combining the correct ratios of T4 and T3 in patients can make all the difference in the world to those who have not experienced benefit from T4 formulations alone.¹

Many patients have tried commercially available thyroid hormones, such as levothyroxine and liothyronine, and have found combination of T4 and T3 is the only form giving them adequate relief, reporting they simply do not feel as well when they take levothyroxine or liothyronine alone. More than this, commercially available tablets contain fillers and excipients that may not be well tolerated by all patients. When we compound customized dosages, we have the ability to omit any problem-causing inactive ingredients and substitute non-reactive fillers.

When commercially available medications aren’t right for you, we can work with your doctor to prepare compounded T3 and T4 slow-release capsules in any strength. Harbor Compounding Pharmacy can assist in monitoring the effectiveness of your therapy and adjust your medication as directed by your doctor, to ensure optimal results. Our highly trained compounding pharmacists are available to discuss individualized prescriptions, thyroid conversions, and all other considerations in therapy options.

1. Woeber KA. Levothyroxine therapy and serum free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine concentrations. J Endocrinol Invest. 2002;25(2):106-109.