ASK DR. LIEBERMAN

Question:

My son is hypothyroid, and is being treated with Armour Thyroid.  When should I see results?

Answer:

If a disorder is caused by low thyroid, supplementation with thyroid USP should result in improvement within days to weeks of reaching the optimal dose.  Most physicians will use a three week period at each prescribed level before increasing the dose.

Question:

Can a thyroid condition cause ADD?   What are the symptoms of a thyroid condition?  What do you suggest as a supplement or medication to help this condition?  Can a thyroid problem and blood sugar problems be related?

Answer:

The thyroid has major functions of controlling the metabolic rate in the body and affects every single cell.  A hypothyroid status often results in increased sensitivity or a proneness to allergy.  This suggests that ADD (which likewise seems to be influence by multiple environmental triggers) would indirectly also be affected by poor thyroid function.  Almost every patient going through the Center for Environmental Medicine undergoes evaluation for thyroid function because of this important relationship.  When an abnormality is found, the patient is placed on a therapeutic trial of thyroid medication.  It is important to point out that thyroid function can often be abnormal even when the classical laboratory tests are within normal limits.  Many years ago the endocrinologist, Broda Barnes, pointed out the relationship of thyroid function to hypoglycemia - stating that the treatment of hypoglycemia was correction of thyroid dysfunction - therefore, all patients with symptoms of hypoglycemia should be evaluated for thyroid dysfunction and a therapeutic trail offered.