Option 1: Switch to Regular Synthetic Medicine

Most doctors suggest switching to synthetic levothyroxine. These are man-made medicines that work like your natural thyroid hormone. Popular brands include Synthroid and Levoxyl.

But there might be problems with this switch that doctors don't always talk about:

Your Body Might Not Convert the Medicine Properly

Synthroid only gives you T4 hormone. Your body needs to change this T4 into T3, which is the hormone that actually does the work. But many people can't do this conversion very well.

Potential Issues may include:

• Stress stops conversion: When you're stressed, your body makes T4 turn into "reverse T3" instead of helpful T3. This reverse T3 can actually block the good T3 from working.

• Liver problems: Most T4 gets changed to T3 in your liver. If your liver isn't working perfectly, you won't get enough T3.

• Gut issues: Your stomach and intestines also help change T4 to T3. If you have stomach problems, this won't work right.

• Some people are born with conversion problems: About 13% of people have genes that make it hard to change T4 into T3, especially in their brain.

Many People Still Feel Sick on Synthroid

Research shows that about 15% of people taking Synthroid still feel tired and sick, even when their blood tests look normal. They often have problems like:

• Constant tiredness

• Can't lose weight

• Brain fog and trouble thinking

• Hair falling out

• Feeling cold all the time

Why Synthroid Might Not Work as Well

• Wrong hormone amounts: Your body normally makes about 80% T4 and 20% T3. Synthroid gives you only T4 and hopes your body will make the T3. But this doesn't always work.

• Higher reverse T3: People taking Synthroid often have more of the "bad" reverse T3 that blocks the good hormone from working.

• Need higher doses: People on Synthroid often need higher T4 levels in their blood to feel normal, but their T3 levels stay low.