Homeopathic Thyroid Replacement

[anonperson]

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I am posting this here since the OB forum is usually dead.

Had a pregnant patient with Hashimoto's with an elevated TSH of 23. Her free T4 and T3 were normal although at the lower limits. She had self weaned off of her synthroid because in the past it was dosed too high and was overall not trusting the medication. Instead she was seeing a chiropractor 🙂eyebrow🙂 who dabbled in homeopathic meds and had prescribed her some $hit called eco thyroid. I had looked it up and it says its ground up freeze dried bovine thyroid. When I heard this, I told her about the risk of miscarriage, IQ deficit, overall poorer pregnancy outcomes etc. Patient repeat her TSH 5 months later and it's actually within normal limits, although it is not within the ideal range for pregnancy. I'm actually surprised by this and didn't expect her TSH to move in this direction by such a degree.

Anyone have any experience with this stuff in any patient population? I still think it's BS but I couldn't find anything remotely unbiased other than some hacks trying to sell the stuff online.

 

[Raryn]

I am posting this here since the OB forum is usually dead.

Had a pregnant patient with Hashimoto's with an elevated TSH of 23. Her free T4 and T3 were normal although at the lower limits. She had self weaned off of her synthroid because in the past it was dosed too high and was overall not trusting the medication. Instead she was seeing a chiropractor 🙂eyebrow🙂 who dabbled in homeopathic meds and had prescribed her some $hit called eco thyroid. I had looked it up and it says its ground up freeze dried bovine thyroid. When I heard this, I told her about the risk of miscarriage, IQ deficit, overall poorer pregnancy outcomes etc. Patient repeat her TSH 5 months later and it's actually within normal limits, although it is not within the ideal range for pregnancy. I'm actually surprised by this and didn't expect her TSH to move in this direction by such a degree.

Anyone have any experience with this stuff in any patient population? I still think it's BS but I couldn't find anything remotely unbiased other than some hacks trying to sell the stuff online.

If it's actually desiccated thyroid extract, it has L-thyroxine (and some T3 as well) in it... Just not in nearly a consistent of a dose as Synthroid does. She (by happy accident) happened to take the right amount.

 

[DrSnips]

If it's actually desiccated thyroid extract, it has L-thyroxine (and some T3 as well) in it... Just not in nearly a consistent of a dose as Synthroid does. She (by happy accident) happened to take the right amount.

This. I have still seen the occasional patient on Armour thyroid because that is what they have been on for decades. The situation being described here sounds like reinventing an old medication.

 

[babdoc]

I've had people swear up and down that Armour thyroid is better than synthroid. Notoriously inconsistent dosing, though.

Secondly, I wonder if the OP and his/her patient are familiar with homeopathy. It doesn't sound like the pt's chiro is prescribing a homeopathic thyroid remedy. As stated, it sounds like it's similar to Armour thyroid.

Anywho, a homeopathic thyroid medicine would #1 be super dilute (typically to the point that there is no active ingredient) because they believe that dilution increases a remedy's effect. #2 it shouldn't be thyroid tissue or hormone used in the remedy. Homeopaths erroneously believe that "like cures like." So, a remedy for hypothyroidism would not use something that stimulates the thyroid; it would use something that depresses the thyroid. I.e. substances that induce symptoms of hypothyroidism such as lethargy, cold intolerance, constipation, depression, etc. would alleviate such symptoms at homeopathic/dilute doses. Weird, I know!

 

[anonperson]

I've had people swear up and down that Armour thyroid is better than synthroid. Notoriously inconsistent dosing, though.

Secondly, I wonder if the OP and his/her patient are familiar with homeopathy. It doesn't sound like the pt's chiro is prescribing a homeopathic thyroid remedy. As stated, it sounds like it's similar to Armour thyroid.

Anywho, a homeopathic thyroid medicine would #1 be super dilute (typically to the point that there is no active ingredient) because they believe that dilution increases a remedy's effect. #2 it shouldn't be thyroid tissue or hormone used in the remedy. Homeopaths erroneously believe that "like cures like." So, a remedy for hypothyroidism would not use something that stimulates the thyroid; it would use something that depresses the thyroid. I.e. substances that induce symptoms of hypothyroidism such as lethargy, cold intolerance, constipation, depression, etc. would alleviate such symptoms at homeopathic/dilute doses. Weird, I know!

To be honest I am not too familiar with the principles. I had heard about using what you have mentioned regarding the super dilute dosing.

I should preface that when I had seen her in the clinic, I called her chiropracter and told him that he was mismanaging her and putting her pregnancy at risk. He said he was going to adjust the dosing when he saw the patient next time. I just shook my head as the patient was still fairly adamant about seeing him for her hypothyroidism.

 

[jdh71]

Is it the thyroid hormone or the iodine that is the real issue during pregnancy?

 

[babdoc]

To be honest I am not too familiar with the principles. I had heard about using what you have mentioned regarding the super dilute dosing.

I should preface that when I had seen her in the clinic, I called her chiropracter and told him that he was mismanaging her and putting her pregnancy at risk. He said he was going to adjust the dosing when he saw the patient next time. I just shook my head as the patient was still fairly adamant about seeing him for her hypothyroidism.

Well it sounds like you did your due diligence. It sounds like an unfortunate situation. As for the hormone vs iodine part, I believe it's both if I remember correctly. Obviously low iodine can cause congenital hypothyroidism/cretinism from deficient iodine. But hypo/hyperthyroidism has its effects on the pregnancy too