Switching from Natural Desiccated Thyroid to a Liquid Formulation of Levothyroxine for Hypothyroidism

Figure 1

Box plots of (a) TSH values before and ≥4 weeks after the switch to LT4 liquid formulation for patients with TSH values within or below the normal range (0.45–4.5 μIU/mL) before the switch. (b) fT3 values before and ≥4 weeks after the switch to LT4 liquid formulation for patients who did not also receive liothyronine. The normal range for fT3 values was considered to be 2.0–4.4 pg/mL. (c) fT4 values before and ≥4 weeks after the switch to LT4 liquid formulation. The normal range for fT4 values was considered to be 0.82–1.77 ng/dL. Median (line within box), first and third quartiles (top and bottom of box), and minimum and maximum values (whiskers) are indicated. Gray symbols show the individual data points. fT3, free triiodothyronine; fT4, free thyroxine; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone.

(a)

(b)

(c)