Description

Levothyroxine – also known as T4 – is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the thyroid gland.

Levothyroxine is the thyroid hormone, which is produced directly by the thyroid gland, whereas the thyroid hormone liothyronine (T3) is produced in the body by enzymatic conversion of the thyroid hormone levothyroxine.

The task of thyroid hormones in the body consists in the regulation of burning fat, carbohydrates and protein. This means thyroid hormones are responsible for the amount of the metabolic turnover, which is burned in the resting state during a given period of time.

If, therefore, the thyroid hormone level is low, the basic turnover of fat, carbohydrate and protein burning is also low.  As the level of the thyroid hormones increases, so does the burning of calories.

Since thyroid function is usually due to the thyroid gland producing too small amounts of thyroid hormone levothyroxine (T4), a thyroid hormone preparation with levothyroxine (T4) is almost always used.

The thyroid hormone liothyronine (T3) is used in the rarer cases, for example, when the conversion of the thyroid hormone levothyroxine (T4) into the thyroid hormone liothyronine (T3) is disturbed.

Bodybuilders occasionally use the thyroid gland hormone levothyroxine during the mass phase, to increase the metabolic turnover and burn more calories.

If you eat an unclean diet of junk food, you would not necessarily become fat although compensating the negative effects of false nutrition with the help of thyroid hormones is, however, more than questionable.

Furthermore, the protein metabolism is stimulated by thyroid hormones, which can lead to an increased protein synthesis with simultaneous high protein supply in combination with anabolic steroids.

Bodybuilders often take protein preparations and / or clenbuterol with the use of thyroid hormones to counteract the muscle breakdown. In order to provide absolute muscle promotion there needs to be a fair presence of anabolic steroids.

Before the use of levothyroxine (T4) it is advisable to have your natural values determined beforehand by a physician.

Side effects of Levothyroxine (T4)

• trembling
• restlessness
• dizziness
• sweating
• insomnia
• nausea
• increased heart rate
• internal restlessness
• loss of weight
• down-regulation of the thyroid function (especially during prolonged use)

 

Application / dosage:

In bodybuilding, athletes speak of dosages between 200 – 400 mcg / day when levothyroxine is used for diet support.

The dosage usually begins at 100 mcg / day, is increased by 25 or 50 mcg / day every 1 – 2 days until the maximum dose of administration is reached.
At the end of the course, the dose is slowly lowered. Every 2-3 days the dosage is reduced by 25 or 50mcg / day (to zero).

It is important, That the dosage is slowly increased when starting and decreased when ending the cycle so the thyroid gland will be adjusted smoothly.

Levothyroxine intake usually lasts 4-6 weeks and usually a maximum of 8 weeks.