TIRATRICOL

OTHER NAME(S):

3,3', 5-triiodothyroacetic acid, Acide 3,3', 5-Triiodothyroacétique, Acide Triiodothyroacétique, T-cuts, Triac, Triax, Tricana, Triiodothyroacetic Acid.

Overview

Overview Information

Tiratricol is a naturally occurring chemical in the body. It can also be man-made.

Tiratricol is taken by mouth under the supervision of a healthcare provider for the treatment of thyroid problems including thyroid cancer and underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Some people take tiratricol to lose weight, but there is no good scientific research to support this use.

In the US, between 1999 and 2001, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required several tiratricol-containing products to be recalled, and obtained a court order to prevent companies from marketing them. The FDA determined that tiratricol is not a dietary supplement but an unapproved new drug containing a powerful thyroid hormone, which may cause serious health consequences.

In France, tiratricol is a prescription drug used mostly for thyroid disease. It has been studied in France since the 1950s.

How does it work?

Tiratricol seems to work by altering thyroid function.

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Likely Effective for

  • Pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone (PRTH).

Possibly Effective for

Likely InEffective for

Insufficient Evidence for

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of tiratricol for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

When taken by mouth: Tiratricol is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth under the supervision of a healthcare provider for treatment of thyroid problems. It can cause side effects such as severe diarrhea, fatigue, weakness, and weight loss. Tiratricol is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth for weight loss. The FDA has issued a warning against tiratricol use for weight loss. Also, tiratricol should not be used by anyone with normal thyroid function.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Tiratricol is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth under the supervision of a healthcare provider during pregnancy for the treatment of thyroid problems in the developing infant. Tiratricol is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth for other purposes during pregnancy because it might harm the developing infant's heart.

Not enough is known about the safety of using tiratricol during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Bleeding problems: Tiratricol might slow blood clotting. There is some concern that tiratricol might increase the risk of bleeding in people with certain bleeding problems. Avoid use.

Chest pain (angina): Taking tiratricol might make symptoms worse. Avoid use.

Diabetes: There is some concern that tiratricol might interfere with blood sugar control, and doses of medications used to treat diabetes might need to be adjusted. If you have diabetes and use tiratricol, monitor you blood sugar levels carefully.

Heart disease: Taking tiratricol might make symptoms worse. Avoid use.

High blood pressure: Taking tiratricol might make this condition worse. Avoid use.

Interactions

Interactions?

Major Interaction

Do not take this combination

!

  • Stimulant drugs interacts with TIRATRICOL

    Stimulant drugs speed up the nervous system. By speeding up the nervous system, stimulant medications can make you feel jittery and speed up your heartbeat. Tiratricol might also speed up the nervous system. Taking tiratricol along with stimulant drugs might cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Avoid taking stimulant drugs along with tiratricol.
    Some stimulant drugs include diethylpropion (Tenuate), epinephrine, phentermine (Ionamin), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), and many others.

  • Thyroid hormone interacts with TIRATRICOL

    Tiratricol works similarly to thyroid hormones. Taking tiratricol along with thyroid hormone pills might increase the chance of side effects from thyroid hormone.

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

!

  • Cholestyramine (Questran) interacts with TIRATRICOL

    Cholestyramine (Questran) might decrease how much tiratricol the body absorbs. By decreasing how much tiratricol the body absorbs, cholestyramine (Questran) might decrease the effectiveness of tiratricol supplements. To avoid this interaction take tiratricol at least one hour before or four hours after taking cholestyramine.

  • Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with TIRATRICOL

    Large amounts of tiratricol can decrease blood sugar levels. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking tiratricol along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to be too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
    Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

  • Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with TIRATRICOL

    Tiratricol might slow blood clotting. Taking tiratricol along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
    Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Dosing

Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

  • For treating thyroid cancer in combination with a medication called levothyroxine: 10-24 mcg of tiratricol twice daily at the beginning of treatment. The dose is gradually increased to the amount needed for benefit.

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View References

REFERENCES:

  • FDA. List of orphan designations and approvals. Office of Orphan Products Development. Available at: www.fda.gov/orphan/designat/list.htm.
  • Ferner RE, Burnett A, Rawlins MD. Triiodothyroacetic acid abuse in a female body builder. Lancet 1986;1:383.
  • Hawkey CM, Olsen EG, Symons C. Production of cardiac muscle abnormalities in offspring of rats receiving triiodothyroacetic acid (triac) and the effect of beta adrenergic blockade. Cardiovasc Res 1981;15:196-205. View abstract.
  • Heim J. [Hypothyroidism of central origin corrected by the cessation of Triac therapy]. Ann Med Interne (Paris) 1982;133:588-9. View abstract.
  • Jaffiol C, Daures JP, Nsakala N, et al. [Long term follow up of medical treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer]. Ann Endocrinol (Paris) 1995;56:119-26. View abstract.
  • Jean-Pastor MJ, Jean P, Biour M, et al. [Hepatopathies from treatment with a specialty drug combination of tiratricol-cyclovalone-retinol]. J Toxicol Clin Exp 1986;6:115-21.
  • Kunitake JM, Hartman N, Henson LC, et al. 3,5,3'-triiodothyroacetic acid therapy for thyroid hormone resistance. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1989;69:461-6. View abstract.
  • Lerman JL, Pitt-rivers R. Physiological activity of triiodo and tetraiodothyroacetic acid on blood-cholesterol levels. Lancet 1956;1:885-9.
  • Lind P, Langsteger W, Koltringer P, et al. 3,5,3'-Triiodothyroacetic acid (TRIAC) effects on pituitary thyroid regulation and on peripheral tissue parameters. Nuklearmedizin 1989;28:217-20. View abstract.
  • Anon. FDA warns against consuming dietary supplements containing tiratricol. FDA. 2000. Available at: www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS01057.html
  • Asteria C, Rajanayagam O, Collingwood TN, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of thyroid hormone resistance. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999;84:405-10. View abstract.
  • Bauer BA, Elkin PL, Erickson D, Klee GG, Brennan MD. Symptomatic hyperthyroidism in a patient taking the dietary supplement tiratricol. Mayo Clin Proc 2002;77(6):587-90. View abstract.
  • Beck-Peccoz P, Sartorio A, De Medici C, et al. Dissociated thyromimetic effects of 3, 5, 3'-triiodothyroacetic acid (TRIAC) at the pituitary and peripheral tissue levels. J Endocrinol Invest 1988;11:113-8. View abstract.
  • Bentin J, Desir D, Mockel J. Triac (3,5,3'-triiodo-thyroacetic acid) induced "pseudohypothyroidism". Acta Clin Belg 1984;39:285-9.
  • Bracco D, Morin O, Schutz Y, et al. Comparison of the metabolic and endocrine effects of 3,5,3'-triiodothyroacetic acid and thyroxine. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1993;77:221-8. View abstract.
  • Chow WS, Lam KS. An overweight woman with galactorrhoea. Postgrad Med J 1998;74:121-2.
  • Cohen-Lehman J, Charitou MM, Klein I. Tiratricol-induced periodic paralysis: a review of nutraceuticals affecting thyroid function. Endocr Pract 2011;17(4):610-5. View abstract.
  • Dulgeroff AJ, Geffner ME, Koyal SN, et al. Bromocriptine and Triac therapy for hyperthyroidism due to pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1992;75:1071-5. View abstract.
  • FDA. FDA warns against consuming triax metabolic accelerator. Available at: www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS00984.html
  • Lledo Carreres M, Lajo Garrido JL, Gonzalez Rico M, et al. Toxic internuclear ophthalmoplegia related to antiobesity treatment. Ann Pharmacother 1992;26:1457-8.
  • McDermott MT, Ridgway EC. Central hyperthyroidism. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 1998;27:187-203. View abstract.
  • Mechelany C, Schlumberger M, Challeton C, et al. TRIAC (3,5,3'-triiodothyroacetic acid) has parallel effects at the pituitary and peripheral tissue levels in thyroid cancer patients treated with L-thyroxine. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1991;35:123-8. View abstract.
  • Menegay C, Juge C, Burger AG. Pharmacokinetics of 3,5,3'-triiodothyroacetic acid and its effects on serum TSH levels. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1989;121:651-8. View abstract.
  • Mueller-Gaertner HW, Schneider C. 3,5,3'-Triiodothyroacetic acid minimizes the pituitary thyrotrophin secretion in patients on levo-thyroxine therapy after ablative therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1988;28:345-51. View abstract.
  • Nicolini U, Venegoni E, Acaia B, et al. Prenatal treatment of fetal hypothyroidism: is there more than one option? Prenat Diagn 1996;16:443-8. View abstract.
  • Olsen EG, Symons C, Hawkey C. Effect of triac on the developing heart. Lancet 1977;2:221-3. View abstract.
  • Pitt-Rivers R. Physiological activity of the acetic acid analogues of some iodinated thyronines. Lancet 1953;2:234.
  • Radetti G, Persani L, Molinaro G, et al. Clinical and hormonal outcome after two years of triiodothyroacetic acid treatment in a child with thyroid hormone resistance. Thyroid 1997;7:775-8. View abstract.
  • Scally MC, Hodge A. A report of hypothyroidism induced by an over-the-counter fat loss supplement (Tiratricol). Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2003;13(1):112-6. View abstract.
  • Sherman SI, Ladenson PW. Organ-specific effects of tiratricol: a thyroid hormone analog with hepatic, not pituitary, superagonist effects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1992;75:901-5. View abstract.
  • Sherman SI, Ringel MD, Smith MJ, et al. Augmented hepatic and skeletal thyromimetic effects of tiratricol in comparison with levothyroxine. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997;82:2153-8. View abstract.
  • Takeda T, Suzuki S, Liu RT, et al. Triiodothyroacetic acid has unique potential for therapy of resistance to thyroid hormone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1995;80:2033-40. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2018.