BIOIDENTICAL T4 AND T3

[Guest guest]

Here's a quote from the site of Dr. Navar, who apparently specializes in

bioidentical treatments. You can find the site here:

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<http://www.drnavar.com/hormonefaq.html>

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Note that she says that T4 and T3 are bioidentical. Not exactly peer

reviewed material, but she should know...

Quote:

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" The thyroid hormones, T4 and T3, are bioidentical. Synthroid and

Levoxyl are T4 and Cytomel is T3 "

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" Of thyroid hormones, Synthroid is real T4 and Cytomel is real T3. "

> COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

> ABOUT BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES

>

> Dr. Navar specializes in prescribing natural bioidentical hormone

> replacement for the treatment of women’s hormonal imbalances, such as

> those that occur in menopause and perimenopause. Dr. Navar has been

> preaching the superior benefits and safety of bioidentical hormones

> vs. synthetic hormones for many years. There are many health care

> providers that now claim to specialize in natural hormones but Dr.

> Navar’s expert training, knowledge, and experience as a

> *board-certified MD* who has been in practice for over 25 years can

> make the difference between feeling great and just so so.

>

> * What are bioidentical hormones?*

>

> The ovaries, testicles and the adrenal glands manufacture a series of

> hormones all derived from cholesterol. These are called the steroid

> hormones. Since the early 1960s, chemists have been able to synthesize

> all of these molecules starting either from cholesterol or from plant

> steroids found in wild yams and soy. Since the manufactured molecules

> are exact duplicates of the hormones made by the various glands in the

> body, they are called bioidentical.

>

> Which bioidentical hormones are the most commonly used?

>

> There are three estrogens made by the ovaries. They are Estradiol (the

> strongest of the three), Estrone (of intermediate strength), and

> Estriol (the weakest but safest). The ovary and the placenta make

> progesterone. On the male side is testosterone. The adrenal gland

> makes two weaker androgens, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), and

> androstenedione as well as cortisol. Actually, ovaries, testicles and

> adrenal glands can all make any of these hormones, although the

> quantities vary. The thyroid hormones, T4 and T3, are bioidentical.

> Synthroid and Levoxyl are T4 and Cytomel is T3. Humalog is a

> manufactured hormone identical to human insulin. All of these

> hormones, as well as some others, are available for purchase at a

> pharmacy through a doctor’s prescription.

>

> What kinds of hormones are NOT bioidentical?

>

> Many pharmaceutical companies have developed and manufacture hormones

> that have been altered with some chemical groups added or removed.

> These hormones are different from anything the body naturally makes.

> They are not identical to anything naturally occurring in a human body.

>

> Why would a pharmaceutical manufacturer make non bioidentical hormones?

>

> Some of these chemical changes make the hormones better absorbed when

> taken by mouth. Some changes make the hormones stronger or last

> longer. Some changes alter the hormones effects. Birth control pills

> are all synthetic. The estrogens in birth control pills are better

> absorbed by mouth than natural estrogen. Natural progesterone requires

> relatively large quantities to work. Most birth control pills use an

> altered form of testosterone, which acts in some ways like

> progesterone. The drug companies call these chemicals Progestins. They

> are better absorbed by mouth than real progesterone, are stronger and

> last longer, so less is needed and the pills are smaller. As they are

> foreign to the human body, they tend to have greater side effects. In

> addition, a manufacturer can get a patent on a newly created molecule

> and thus sell the patented drug for more money. Natural occurring

> bioidentical hormones cannot be patented.

>

> Are Bioidentical hormones FDA approved?

>

> Yes. All hormones available at the compounding pharmacist are FDA

> approved. They require a doctor’s prescription with instructions to

> the pharmacist as to the form of the medication, dosage and how it is

> to be used.

>

> How is this different from the medicines at a regular pharmacy?

>

> For a manufacturer to produce and advertise a medication, they must

> first prove to the FDA that each particular dosage form, strength and

> use will perform according to their advertising, be safe and

> effective. This costs the manufacturer a huge amount of money. They

> patent their new drugs and hope that they will pass the FDA and sell

> enough to make back their investment plus a profit. While under

> patent, no one else can make or sell their drug.

>

> Why don't big pharmaceutical companies make many of the bioidentical

> hormones?

>

> You can’t patent parts of the human body. Once any drug or dosage form

> is approved by the FDA, any company can make and sell a generic,

> unless the drug is protected by a patent. Without patent protection,

> it simply does not make business sense for any manufacturer to spend

> the money getting specific dosage forms through the FDA.

>

> Are there any bioidentical hormones at regular drug stores?

>

> Yes. Estrogen patches, for the most part, use real bioidentical

> estradiol. The manufacturer has patented the patch itself, not the

> hormones inside. Prometrium is a drug company product that is real

> progesterone mixed by a patented process with peanut oil. The peanut

> oil mixture is what is patented. It comes in only two dosages, but is

> available at any drug store and is covered by most insurance. Of

> thyroid hormones, Synthroid is real T4 and Cytomel is real T3.

> Thyrolar is a combination of T4 and T3 in a 4 to 1 ratio.

>

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So much for the " poison " or " fake " labels. It's identical to what your

body makes.