title: Efficacy of combined levothyroxine and liothyronine as compared with levothyroxine monotherapy in primary hypothyroidism: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the efficacy of combination therapy with levothyroxine and liothyronine in improvement of general health, psychological problems, and metabolic status in primary hypothyroidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one patients diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism were randomly allocated into two study groups: the first group received usual dose of levothyroxine and the second group received combination of levothyroxine and liothyronine for at least 4 months. The main outcomes were psychosocial problems (Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-28), bodyweight, heart rate, blood pressure, and serum lipid levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels remained unchanged compared with baseline. Psychosocial scores, body weight, heart rate, blood pressure, and lipid profile in the two groups remained constant. The only exception was a small but significant reduction in anxiety/insomnia in combined treatment group as compared with monotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data do not support the hypothesis that combined therapy improves the well-being and general health of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Zanjan Faculty of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Science, Zanjan, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valizadeh
authors.forename: Mohammad R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Seyyed-Majidi
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hajibeigloo
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Momtazi
authors.forename: Noreddin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Musavinasab
authors.forename: Mohammad R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hayatbakhsh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013974:Thyroxine