There are several new thyroid hormone preparations that can be used to treat patients with hypothyroidism. These include a new preparation of levothyroxine called Tirosint that is the only thyroid preparation in a gel capsule. There is also new preparation of desiccated thyroid (from porcine thyroid) called WP thyroid, that is similar to Nature-Throid. Many […]
The thyroid gland makes 2 hormones, T4 and T3. T3 is the active hormone, and the body converts T4 to T3 by deiodinases. Most patients with hypothyroidism are treated with T4, and their doctors assume that it gets converted to T3 physiologically. For many patients this happens, and many patients do well on T4-alone treatment. […]
Preauthorizations are becoming the bane of doctors’ existence. Preauthorizations are a ploy by insurance companies to not have to pay for medicines. They often require extensive paperwork to be done, multiple phone calls and faxes, and take up a huge amount of time for doctors’ offices. They do not generate any revenue for the doctor, […]
Dr. Friedman treats a lot of men with hypogonadism or low testosterone. There are many different ways to treat low testosterone, with testosterone itself, other medicines that stimulate testosterone, or combinations of medicines. Most men with clearly low testosterone (measured first thing in the morning) should get on testosterone, and Dr. Friedman finds that injectable […]
Reverse T3 (rT3): Should it be measured in patients with hypothyroidism. There is a lot of controversy about whether reverse T3 (rT3) should be measured to assess hypothyroidism. The normal thyroid gland secretes T4 (an inactive precursor), T3 (the active hormone), and reverse T3, a biologically inactive form of T3 that may block T3 from […]
What are the Optimal Levels of Vitamin D? Vitamin D is in the news frequently. It has been touted as a wonder hormone that can prevent cancers, aging, heart disease, and other maladies. However, scientific studies showing that vitamin D actually prevents these conditions are rare. Many patients come to me confused about what their […]
What is PCOS? PCOS is a hormone imbalance in women that impacts 1 out of 10 to 15 women. PCOS probably has several etiologies (ovary, adrenal, pituitary and hypothalamus) and has gradients from mild to severe. PCOS is part of the metabolic syndrome which includes insulin resistance, abnormal lipid measurements, obesity, [...]
Alopecia is the medical term for excessive or abnormal hair loss. Losing hair is a natural part of the hair growth cycle. The hair growth cycle is ongoing, and on an average day, 90% of your hair is in the resting phase while the other 10% is either growing or shedding. Hair loss occurs when the hair sheds, and no hair re-grows to replace it. [...]
Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) AMH is a protein produced by cells in the ovary. AMH is used to evaluate fertility and ovarian egg reserve in women. AMH measurements can be taken at any time during the menstrual cycle making it a better ovarian egg marker than FSH, which is also used to evaluate fertility in women, […]
Many patients with fatigue as a main complaint are eventually diagnosed as having an endocrine problem. However, an often overlooked reason for fatigue in women who are menstruating is iron-deficiency. Iron is needed for thyroid hormone biosynthesis, including the conversion from the inactive thyroid hormone, T4, to the active hormone, T3. Women taking thyroid hormone […]
