How much do you know about Tirosint?
Is Tirosint better than Levothyroxine?
In this article, I’ll explain how it works and if it might be time to switch your thyroid medication.
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Is Thyroid Medication Always Necessary?
I think this is such an important topic that I want to cover it right out of the gate. It’s quite simple to know whether or not you truly need thyroid medication: If you lack a thyroid, then medications are necessary.
If you are pregnant or nursing and are currently on thyroid medication, then it makes the most sense to continue staying on your medication. This is a safer outcome when you’re already in this situation — but, for most others, the answer is a bit different.
Many people who are on medication may not need it at all. Perhaps you didn’t need it in the first place, or things have changed to where it’s no longer required. That said, you may be on medication that you don’t need, and it’s making you feel unwell.
I have spoken a lot about the process of deprescribing thyroid medications and how to get off your thyroid medication safely. I’d love for you to look into those a bit more, but please know that, in many cases, you may not need to rely on thyroid medication at all.
What Is Tirosint?
Let’s get back to the heart of today’s discussion: Understand Tirosint and how it works. Tirosint is a purified form of the body’s main thyroid hormone (T4). In general, the body releases T4 and a little bit of T3 to control many of your body’s processes.
More specifically, they control how fast you generate energy, how well you repair connective tissues, and how well nerve signals move throughout the body. They also affect how other hormones work in our bodies. In short, they do a lot!
Your thyroid gland mostly makes T4, which your body then converts into T3. T4 and T3 are both important, and Tirosint is a brand that contains T4.
Key Insight: Tirosint contains the same active ingredient as Levothyroxine, Synthroid, Unithroid, and Levoxyl. They all contain T4.
The biggest difference between Tirosint and other brands is simply that it contains fewer active ingredients (more on that later).
Tirosint and Other Forms of Thyroid Medication
How does Tirosint fit into the landscape of other thyroid medications? First, there are T4-only medications, which are by far the most widely used.
Then, you have naturally desiccated thyroid (NDT), also called desiccated thyroid extract (DTE) or natural thyroid.
While we call things like NDT natural and things like T4-only medication synthetic, there’s a little bit that we need to unpack. Yes, the T4 medicines are synthesized (made in a laboratory), but they are chemically identical to what the body produces.
We also have T3-only medication. The major brand here is Cytomel or Liothyronine.
There are also medications that can be custom-made, which are often referred to as compounded thyroid medication. The advantage is that they can be made from different dosages, but the drawback is that they may be less standardized.
As a final wrinkle in this discussion, there are also non-prescription thyroid glandulars. They have active hormones, but they’re not really standardized.
How is Tirosint Different?
The big differentiator about Tirosint is the lower list of inactive ingredients. It comes in gel caps and as a solution. The gel caps are made up of T4, water, glycerol, and gelatin—and that’s the end of the list. If I did that same list with Levothyroxine, the list would be much longer!
For most people, these inactive ingredients are not a huge deal. They are things that most people can digest without indecent.
When it comes to the solution version of Tirosint, you can imagine it in the shape of a creamer cup or something similar. Each little cup has a dose; all you have to do is pop it open and drink it. Pretty straightforward.
The Key Benefits of Tirosint
The biggest benefit of Tirosint is better absorption. Some people may be taking medication and still not feeling their best. Their levels are not stable, they’re still symptomatic, and their scores aren’t steady — a big culprit here can be poor absorption.
When people switch from Levothyroxine to Tirosint, they must take lower doses. That’s simply because Tirosint is better absorbed, they may not need as much.
Better absorption also means a lower risk of allergic reactions. Some people may react poorly to some of these inactive ingredients, so reducing the list of ingredients reduces the risk of an adverse reaction.
There is also more stability in dosing and consistency from batch to batch, which results in more bioavailability and fewer ups and downs.
Meal timing also becomes less of an issue. Most thyroid medications need to be taken at least an hour before meals. For some people, that’s not enough, and they need longer periods before eating (coffee can also interfere here).
That’s rarely an issue with Tirosint. This is also true for those on some kind of antacid therapy, where it becomes less of an issue with Tirosint.
Tirosint: Understanding Usage and Dosage
Tirosint is unique because it has a very low potency (13 micrograms). Very few medicines are that low, which means it can be used with other medicines for more fine-tuning and better outcomes for the individual.
Beyond that, though, there is a range of potencies available. This includes:
- 13 mcg
- 25 mcg
- 37.5 mcg
- 44 mcg
- 50 mcg
- 62.5 mcg
- 75 mcg
- 88 mcg
- 100 mcg
- 112 mcg
- 125 mcg
- 137 mcg
- 150 mcg
- 175 mcg
- 200 mcg
Tirosint is taken orally once daily. Because T4 has a very slow metabolism, taking it once daily will result in steady, even levels over time.
In fact, the metabolism is so slow that some people can take different amounts on different days and still maintain a consistent pattern. Some even do dosing once per week!
Who Benefits Most From Tirosint?
Let’s take a second and think about who would benefit most from being on Tirosint. Which circumstances would make you a good patient for this kind of medication?
First, it would be for those with gastrointestinal issues. This includes things like SIBO, acid reflux, IBS, or those who have had gastric bypass or other gastric surgeries. Those who have issues with absorption would benefit from Tirosint.
Then, we need to consider those who have shown an intolerance to more common medications like Levothyroxine or levoxyl. They may have reacted poorly to some of those previously mentioned inactive ingredients.
The next would be those taking acid-blocking medications like proton pump inhibitors. Studies have shown that Tirosint remains unaffected by changes in stomach acid levels.
Here are some additional folks that would benefit:
- Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery.
- Individuals with multiple food allergies or sensitivities to various foods.
- Those diagnosed with gastroparesis or impaired intestinal motility.
- Individuals experiencing increased intestinal permeability.
- Patients unable to tolerate medications containing natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) or sensitive to medications containing T3.
- Individuals are highly sensitive to medications and supplements, experiencing reactions even at low doses.
- Patients who have experienced some improvement with Levothyroxine or Synthroid but still seek further enhancement.
- Individuals unable to take Levothyroxine on an empty stomach or who consume coffee in the morning.
Side Effects and Risks of Tirosint
Most of the side effects and risks of Tirosint are related to how appropriate the medication and dosage are for the patient in question. If someone doesn’t need it, and the dose is appropriate, risks are minimal.
There is a thought that Tirosint may cause weight gain. This is true for many T4-only medications, and it’s not so much that the medicine causes it—but if someone doesn’t need it, it can inhibit their body’s ability to make and use other thyroid hormones.
What About Tirosint Alternatives?
I spoke before about other brands of T4-only medication like Levothyroxine or Synthroid. There is also going the natural route with
NDT or DTE. There are definitely those who feel better on it.
A common practice is for people to be on Tirosint and combine it with other medications to help optimize their health. That may be Tirosint plus natural thyroid or Tirosint plus an amount of Cytomel.
All in all, Tirosint is a medicine that is very welcome to most. Many people need therapy but can’t absorb common medications well, so it’s great to have an option that can be absorbed. I’ve seen many improve once they’ve made the switch.
The Full Story on Thyroid Medication
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, it’s also very important to ensure that you’re on the right thyroid medication — and, maybe, questioning whether you need to be on thyroid medication in the first place. Here’s a guide to exactly that topic.
In addition, I’d love for you to familiarize yourself with my line of Thyroid-Specific Formulations. I have put together unique blends to benefit different elements of your thyroid—and your overall health—in various ways. Please feel free to have a look.
P.S. Whenever you are ready, here is how I can help you now:
- Schedule a Thyroid Second Opinion with me, Dr. C, Click Here for Details
- Need help to choose supplements? Click ‘Help Me Decide Here’
- Get my top books Here
Dr. Alan Glen Christianson (Dr. C) is a Naturopathic Endocrinologist and the author of The NY Times bestselling Hormone Healing Cookbook, The Metabolism Reset Diet, and The Thyroid Reset Diet.
Dr. C’s gift for figuring out what works has helped hundreds of thousands reverse thyroid disease, heal their adrenals, and lose weight naturally. Learn more about the surprising story that started his quest.
