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Liothyronine

By Mary Shomon, About.com

Created: December 29, 2003

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Question: Liothyronine
Answer: Pronunciation: lie-oh-THY-roe-neen

Brand Names

Brand names in the U.S/Canada - Cytomel

Description

Liothyronine is the generic name for the drug that is a synthetic version of triiodothyronine, the thyroid hormone abbreviated as T3. Most commonly, this drug is a treatment that is added to levothyroxine. Thyroid cancer patients who are withdrawn from levothyroxine in order to get an accurate diagnostic scan may also receive this drug to help counteract the hypothyroid effects of lack of levothyroxine. Some alternative practitioners also believe in using liothyronine-only therapy as a treatment for hypothyroidism, hypometabolic conditions, and the controversial "Wilson's Syndrome."

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