Can anyone help me understand the difference between these 2 meds, (if any)?

Been taking .15 mcg of Cytomel daily for 3 months, had excellent results.

The pharmacy is out of Cytomel, so the doctor called in Thyrolar, which I will begin taking today.

I am scared that I won't continue to receive the same results from the Thyrolar.

My mood, weight has improved 100% since I began taking Cytomel, and I am scared to change! Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cytomel is synthetic T3. (T3 is the more 'powerful' of the two thyroid hormones.) Thyrolar is a synthetic combination of T3 plus T4 - the more plentiful thyroid hormone.

As long as the dose prescribed contains the same amount of T3 as you're used to, the addition of the T4 may or may not make a difference. It's hard to predict what will happen. It is now recommended by the experts in the field that patients should stick with what works when it comes to thyroid medicine... because even a switch between brands of T4 can make a big difference; changing formulas altogether certainly could.

If you're only switching for a few days, until you can get the Cytomel, you may not notice a difference at all, but it's really hard to say.

The pharmacies I use can usually obtain within a day any drug needed from a cooperating pharmacy which has it in stock. As a thyroid patient, who knows how hard it usually is to get regulated on a brand and dose, I would advise you to do what you have to to get the one that works for you. Drive farther, temporarily use samples from the MD, etc.
Just my opinion.

My pharmacy said Cytomel was on "backorder" from the manufacturer? Does this sound possible?

Midwest,

Thanks for the info, I thought I might post my test results here, which might help you figure which med would be better, the Thyrolar or Cytomel.

T4 : 1.1
TSH: 2.3

I once had trouble finding a refill for my Armour. It was backordered and unavailable at every Walgreen's store in my area. I called other pharm's and found what I needed at a grocery chain's pharm. The shortage turned out to be a problem at the manufacturer's end... They were having trouble with supply. So, yes, it's possible your Cytomel is "backordered".
Rather than being without any med, if you absolutely can't find any somewhere else, try the Thyrolar. It's better than being without, and it may even be altogether better.

When you post test results, you need to include the lab's normal range with them. We have to compare your result to the "norm" to know what's what. If you know which T4 test you had (free T4 or total T4), that's important to report too.

Just judging by what you report, on a typical range your TSH would be higher than where most people in treatment feel well. And you've had no test for T3, which is the hormone that you've been taking. That's a little bothersome, because the MD has no idea where your T3 level stands.
But the thing is ~ You feel well! That's the most important thing... More important than lab tests. This is the way doctors treated hypoT long before lab tests for it were invented. They gave the med and watched for symptoms to go away. The tests should only be used as a guide, but that's not what usually happens.

Let us know what you decide to do about the med, and what happens with it!

Sorry, midwest. These test results are a little confusing.

T-4, FREE: 1.1 normal range (.8 - 1.8)
Testosterone, total: 72 (20 - 76)
TSH: 2.31 (2.5 - 3.5)

Would my T3 level be labeled on the test result as "T3", or would it be labeled as something else? The doctor has hand written in some notes below the results, and one of the items written says the word T3 and TU. She has "285" circled besides these 2 words, then an arrow pointing to "290-420".

Any clue from this what my T3 level is?

T3's chemical name is "triiodothyronine" and is called that on some lab forms. The lab that runs my tests has a range of 230-420 for free T3. That 290-420 seems like it might be the FT3 range for your lab. If it is, your level (285?) is below the low end, so the Cytomel treatment is a good plan to remedy that.

The thing is though, taking supplemental T3 often will lower the free T4 to a level below what it was before taking the T3, and that isn't usually a good thing. Most people feel better when a balance of the two hormones is struck. Your FT4 level of 1.1 is below the middle of the range (1.3), and for many people, that can be too low. As a general rule, most people feel best when both FTs are at least at mid-range or slightly above - within the upper third of the range. By taking Cytomel only, you may eventually get to the point that you'll need additional T4. From what I can tell, the Thyrolar will probably benefit you more than it would set you back.

"TU" might refer to the thyroid uptake test. I don't know a lot about it, but IMO, it isn't a very useful test for thyroid, because not a lot of information can be gotten from it.

Take everything I've said and store it in your mind for later, in case your MD's plan eventually stops working. But for now, you should trust in her, because she's gotten you feeling so much better than you did. That's a very positive thing in a thyroid doctor. There are so many duds out there, you just wouldn't believe!