Laura’s Questions: I am on 25 mcg of Levothyroxine for 6 yrs with hypo symptoms, every one! My endocrinologist just took a panel, and the results are the following:
Should we up my dose of Levothyroxine to 50 or should I just switch to Synthroid or Armour? Thanks!
Short Answer: We typically don’t recommend or prescribe Levothyroxine or Synthroid for our patients. Both of these medications only contain the T4 hormone. This is referred to as T4 Monotherapy. These medications do a good job of lowering the TSH level but do not always help the patient feel better. We like to prescribe thyroid medication that contains both the T4 and T3 hormones. In our experience, our patients tend to feel much better on a combination medication, rather than on a T4-only medication.
In our opinion, we feel that sustained-release compounded thyroid medication is the best option most of the time. This type of thyroid medication gives the doctor many dosing options, which is certainly good for the patient and their overall symptom profile. Because this medication is compounded, the T4 and T3 hormones can be changed independently of the other hormone. With a commercial prescription, there are only so many dosing options, and both hormones are affected when raising or lowering the dosage. Also, the sustained-released nature of the medication helps to reduce any unwanted side effects that are common with commercial instant-release thyroid medications.
Related Podcast Episode:
PYHP Episode 038 – Do You Have a Low Free T3 Level?
Check out Dr. Davidson’s new book – The Perimenopause Plan
Buy the book on Amazon.
If you have questions about your thyroid or any other hormone related issue, feel free to contact us.
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Discover the common and unfamiliar symptoms that you might be experiencing. Get access to cases of real women with hormonal conditions.
Protecting your `heart health` is crucial, especially during `menopause`, when risks can increase. In this `women’s health` episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki share essential `health tips` and insights into how `hormones` impact cardiovascular well-being. Learn about important lab tests and supplements to safeguard your heart. You’ll learn: ● Why heart disease in women is often a “silent” problem until it’s serious ● The difference between general “heart disease” and atherosclerosis ● Coronary calcium scores: what they are, what the numbers mean, and when to consider one ● Why total cholesterol alone is useless (and often scary for no reason) ● The key markers that matter more: ○ Triglycerides ○ HDL ○ Triglyceride HDL ratio (and why 1.5 is a powerful insulin-resistance clue) ○ ApoB ○ Lp(a) ○ hs-CRP (cardio CRP) ○ Blood pressure & insulin resistance ● How estrogen decline in perimenopause & menopause affects cholesterol, visceral fat, inflammation, and heart risk ● How rhythmic dosing and thoughtfully prescribed HRT can support metabolic and cardiovascular health ● Visceral fat vs “roly poly” fat: why where you store fat matters more than the scale ● Foundational supplements for heart protection (education only, not personal medical advice): ○ Omega3s (EPA/DHA) ○ Vitamin D 2 ○ CoQ10 ○ Curcumin/turmeric ○ Magnesium Red yeast rice, bergamot, berberine & more metabolic support ○ Nitric oxide support (beet root, citrulline, etc.) If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Can You Do Rhythmic Dosing After a Hysterectomy? Short answer: Yes, but there are some other factors to take into consideration to make sure someone is a good candidate. In this episode, Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki explain how rhythmic dosing works without a uterus, why it can be an excellent option after total hysterectomy (with oophorectomy) or surgical menopause, and when a simpler static approach might be better. We cover candidates, myths (like “no uterus = no progesterone”), brain and bone benefits, and how to personalize dosing for real-life outcomes—sleep, mood, cognition, libido, and long-term bone strength. What you’ll learn ● Rhythmic dosing 101 (mimicking a 26–28-day cycle) ● Hysterectomy types: uterus-only vs. total (with ovary removal) ● Why rhythmic dosing can still help—even without a period ● Customizing estrogen + progesterone to symptoms and goals ● Brain fog & sleep: why declining estradiol hits cognition ● Bone density protection in the first 5–7 years post-menopause ● Endometriosis & fibroids: nuance, not one-size-fits-all ● When rhythmic dosing may not be ideal (e.g., 60 and off HRT for many years) If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Confused by your DEXA scan results? Not sure if your T-score is “normal,” “osteopenia,” or “osteoporosis”or what to actually do about it? In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki walk through three real viewer examples to show You exactly how to interpret bone density scores in your 50s and beyond. You’ll learn: ● How to read your DEXA scan: T-score vs Z-score in plain English ● The cutoffs: ○ 0 to -0.9 → normal bone density ○ -1.0 to -2.4 → osteopenia ○ ≤ -2.5 → osteoporosis ● Why two women in their early 50s can have completely different bone density ● What a T-score of -3.7 or -3.8 really means—and whether it’s reversible ● How surgical menopause, long-term steroids, vitamin D deficiency, RA, and genetics impact bone health ● Why your 50s are really about protecting your 70s (fracture risk, independence, and longevity) ● How weight loss, GLP-1 meds, and low muscle mass affect bones ● Practical foundations to protect and improve bone density: ○ Smart movement: walking, weighted vests, strength & resistance training ○ Protein targets & why bone = “calcified protein” ○ Stress, cortisol & steroid impact on bone loss ○ Vitamin D + K2, food-based calcium & targeted bone support formulas ○ Where HRT—and rhythmic dosing—fit into a long-term bone strategy If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Many women confuse cycling static HRT with rhythmic dosing, but they’re not the same thing. In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki from Progress Your Health break down the difference between the two, why it matters for your safety, and how to do hormone therapy the right way. In this video, you’ll learn: ● What “rhythmic dosing” actually means ● Why cycling your static HRT is not rhythmic dosing ● How improper dosing can impact mood, energy, and breast tenderness ● The risks of trying to adjust hormones on your own ● Why rhythmic dosing must follow the body’s natural ovarian rhythm ● How men and women can use synchronized rhythmic dosing safely If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
In Part 2, we go symptom-by-symptom so you can sleep through the night again. Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki cover night sweats, frequent urination, heart palpitations, muscle cramps, headaches, itchy skin, vivid dreams, and when to suspect sleep apnea (under-recognized in women). You’ll hear practical tactics—electrolytes, targeted magnesium types, phosphatidylserine timing, glycine, L-theanine, and smart melatonin use—plus when HRT helps and how to pair data (CGM, wearables) with your sleep plan. You’ll also discover practical, science-backed fixes like: 💧 Smart electrolyte balance & targeted magnesium types 🧠 Phosphatidylserine timing for cortisol control 😴 Glycine, L-theanine, and optimal melatonin use 💊 When HRT makes sense—and how to pair it with CGM or wearable sleep data What you’ll learn ● What nighttime urination signals (estrogen & ADH, electrolytes, cortisol) ● Palpitations in midlife: estrogen link, when to see cardiology, calming strategies ● Cramps/headaches/itchy skin—common causes & quick fixes ● How/when to test for sleep apnea at home (and why it’s missed in women) ● Fine-tuning supplements & dosing; when HRT is the lever Still not sure what’s really causing your sleepless nights? Find out if you’re in the In-Between stage of perimenopause and menopause. If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Why midlife wrecks your sleep—and how to fix it naturally. In Part 1, Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki unpack the hormone triad behind women’s insomnia: shifting estrogen/progesterone, cortisol dysregulation, and blood sugar/insulin resistance. You’ll learn the difference between trouble falling vs. staying asleep, how low progesterone affects GABA (hello 2–3 a.m. wake-ups), and the daily habits that reset your circadian rhythm. What you’ll learn ● The hormone triad driving midlife sleep loss ● “Vampire / Zombie / Ghoul” sleep patterns—what they mean ● Why blood sugar swings trigger nighttime cortisol spikes ● Morning fixes that help nights: protein breakfast, light exposure, movement, temperature ● Starter supplements & how to think about them: magnesium (glycinate, L-threonate), L-theanine, glycine, phosphatidylserine, melatonin If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
