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Avoiding the Tyranny of the Test

Dr. Richard Shames Explores Your Optimal Dose of Thyroid Medicine

By Mary Shomon, About.com

Created: December 13, 2003

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According to thyroid expert Dr. Richard Shames, when confronted with what may be unfair "tyranny of the TSH test," he generally tells his patients they have several options. Any one of their choices might boost them up from their present partial recovery to perhaps 90 or 100% of their prior full function. These options include:
  • Controlled trial of more thyroxine
  • Switching brands of thyroxine.
  • Adding some T-3 (Cytomel) to the thyroxine regime.
  • Switching to Thyrolar (brand name mix of T-3/ T-4).
  • Trying animal thyroid (Armour or Nature-throid).
  • Boosting any medication with natural therapies.
Dr. Shames outlines the specifics of option #1 -- the controlled trial of more thyroxine and increasing your dosage of thyroid medicine, in his online exploration of this topic. Richard Shames MD is a Harvard and University of Pennsylvania educated General Practitioner with over 30 years of experience. He is presently practicing in Mill Valley/San Rafael, CA. He & Karilee Shames PhD, RN, co-authored the new HarperCollins book [link url=http://www.thyroid-info.com/thyroidpower.htm]THYROID POWER: 10 STEPS TO TOTAL HEALTH[/link]. He is available for second opinion consultations all over the country via their website www.ThyroidPower.com.

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