Thyroid disorders are quickly becoming one of the most recognized medical conditions in functional medicine. Providers are learning more about thyroid hormones and the effect they have on a person’s quality of life, how they relate to symptoms that used to be correlated with other medical conditions such as depression, chronic fatigue, and obesity.
It is wonderful news that providers are starting to recognize thyroid imbalances as the root cause of a patient’s symptoms, but the treatment for these disorders is still a very confusing process due to the immense variability in individual patient needs and the medications available.
Common commercially available thyroid medications such as Synthroid, generic Levothyroxine (T4), and Liothyronine (T3) are only available in standardized doses, which can be a problem because every patient is different and may not fit the “standard” dose available to see results and changes in their symptoms. But there is a solution to this problem!
Compounded thyroid medication allows for an individualized approach to treating thyroid disorders. Providers and pharmacists work together to create a patient-specific thyroid medication to fit the exact demands for that patient, and have the ability to provide a medication that is the perfect fit for that specific patient.
The most common type of commercial thyroid medication prescribed by primary care physicians tends to be name brand Synthroid, or its generic version, Levothyroxine. This medication is made to supplement the T4 hormone. T4 is the precursor hormone that is converted by enzymes in the body to form T3, which is the active thyroid hormone that interacts with cellular functions throughout the body. This may improve patient symptoms but not treat them completely if the patient’s body lacks the ability to convert all of the T4 into T3.
There are many factors that can impact the body’s ability to convert T4 into T3, including:
Depressive mood and fatigue are one of the most common symptoms of thyroid disorders, and unfortunately, they are also one of the biggest factors affecting conversion of T4 to T3. Depression symptoms are linked to low T3 levels in the body due to impaired conversion from T4, the more a person’s T3 levels decline, the greater the depression symptoms, which as a result, further decreases the conversion of T4 to T3. It’s a vicious cycle that many people experience even when prescribed one of these T4 medications.
This evidence just goes to show that even when a patient is actively taking their T4 medication, their symptoms may not improve because their body is unable to optimally use the T4 being supplemented. In this case, providers may prescribe another commercially available medication known as Liothyronine, which is T3 only. Improving the body’s T3 levels supplies the body with the active hormone it needs to reduce their symptoms, which in turn, improves their body’s ability to convert the T4 that they are also taking.
This is great, but now you have to remember to take two different prescriptions all the time and hope that your body metabolizes both correctly, which doesn’t always happen in every person. According to Dr. Westin Childs, numerous studies, dating back to 2018, have concluded that some patients experience better results from taking combined T3 and T4 prescriptions when compared to taking both of them separately.
In short, the answer almost every single time will be yes. There are no health benefits offered a commercial thyroid medication, that a compounded one doesn’t also offer. The treatment options are limitless, offering benefits to patients whose requirements are unachievable using standardized doses of commercial thyroid medications.
Although insurance won’t cover our compounded thyroid medication, spending an average of $30-$60 out of pocket to finally feel relief from your thyroid disorder’s symptoms and feel your very best is priceless compared to feeling “a little better” or “okay” from commercially available thyroid medications that are covered by insurance. The pros greatly outweigh the cons when comparing the different forms that you can be taking
Recharge RX can fill any prescriptions from your current provider so be sure to talk to them about your current treatment and ways you could benefit from a compounded thyroid dose if you aren’t satisfied with your current results from your standardized dose. Or if you’re not satisfied with your current provider’s treatment plan, or if you’re just interested in getting a second opinion, give us a call at 352-512-9996 to find out more information about our Hormone Replacement Therapy treatments, led by hormone specialist Dr. Steve Tieche, M.D., to see if Recharge Clinic may be a better fit for your health and wellness goals.
We offer free consultations and a different approach to patient treatment, focusing on how you feel and want to feel and not solely on the number of lab results.
Recharge Rx is a distinguished private compounding pharmacy in the heart of North Central Florida, here to serve you for all of your pharmaceutical needs! A compounding pharmacy makes custom formulations of medications tailored to fit the unique needs of a patient that can’t be met with what is commercially available.
Recharge Rx owners Dr. Steve Tieche and his wife Cynthia Tieche made the decision to open this pharmacy after seeing the importance of custom doses for patients at their medical office, Recharge Clinic. Dr. Tieche takes a very personalized approach to treating his patients and understands that everyone’s bodies are different, so a “one size fits all” medication prevented him from being able to help his patients reach their individual health goals. They saw the need for a pharmacy able to make custom doses for their patients and opened Recharge Rx to do just that.
Recharge Rx is a fully functioning pharmacy complete with generic and name brand prescription and over-the-counter medications, supplements and vitamins, CBD products, and skin care products, with the added benefit of making custom prescriptions for patients. The Recharge family is so excited to have this opportunity to help patients optimize their health, and give medical professionals the ability to send prescriptions to a pharmacy capable of compounding personalized medications.
A compounding pharmacy has the same ability to carry commercial drugs that are available at your typical pharmacy, but with the added benefit of being able to create custom prescriptions as well. A compounding pharmacy can make custom formulations of medications designed to fit the unique needs of a patient that would be otherwise unavailable in generic pharmacy. In a compounding pharmacy, licensed pharmacists have the ability to make combinations of medications, as well as different forms, such as:
Regular –
Compounding –
Compounding pharmacies have the ability to create medication forms that offer the most convenient and effective application/route of administration (Ex. A patient needs a specific combination of T3 and T4 thyroid hormone medications that is only available as two separate prescriptions at a regular pharmacy. A compounding pharmacy can create one prescription that contains the prescribed dose of each hormone.)
A compounding pharmacy’s ability to create custom medications, as well as offer commercially available medications, offers many benefits to both patients and providers. Patients have access to medications that are the perfect fit to their needs, and providers have the ability to prescribe customized medications, giving them the ability to provide a better, more personalized treatment to their patients.
Benefits of a compounding pharmacy include:
Since our grand opening on August 21, 2021 Recharge Rx has been compounding popular medications prescribed at Recharge Clinic, such as custom dose T3/T4 thyroid medications (replacing two separate commercially available medications), topical Testosterone, Estrogen, and Progesterone creams for patients who prefer a topical application of hormones for HRT, Clomid, NAD+ in different forms per patient request, low dose Ketamine for daily use in different forms, and many others.
Our licensed pharmacists and highly trained pharmacy technicians work hard to provide our patients exactly what they need in a medication as well as creating new compounded formulas all the time. It’s not just Recharge Clinic that has access to Recharge Rx’s benefits, we accept and fill prescriptions from all Florida licensed medical professionals via written or electronic prescription. Keep that in mind next time you discuss your medication options with your primary care physician!
Although we do not accept insurance as a form of payment, we may be able to save you money on your prescriptions and create a formula specific to your needs.
Having access to a compounding pharmacy is extremely beneficial in fields of medicine that specialize in personalized treatments for patients such as:
The options don’t end there though! Recharge Rx also carries a full line of OTC (over-the-counter) medications, Recharge Clinic’s own line of health and wellness supplements and daily vitamins, Restorative Formulations™ organic botanical supplements, CBD products by local small business The Hemp Pantry, and the full line of ZO® Skin Health medical-grade face and body products.
Our available OTC medications include:
Recharge Rx is one of North Central Florida’s premier private compounding pharmacies, offering the area access to custom medications, generic and name brand commercial medications, various OTC medications, supplements and vitamins for overall health and wellness, CBD products, and medical-grade skincare products.
We guarantee a pharmacy experience like never before, from the classic and unforgettable 5-star “Recharge” look when you walk through the door, to the friendly and welcoming smiles from our pharmacy technicians, our goal is to make your visit here better than anywhere else.
We are able to serve you quickly and efficiently. We even offer over-the-phone payment options and order pickup that are even quicker on your busy days. Be sure to consider Recharge Rx for your next prescription refill or if you’re interested in a custom medication formula. If you have any questions about available medications or ways we can help you, give us a call at our direct line, 352-364-4480.
Created by: Bailey
