A thyroid panel is used to screen for or help diagnose hypo- and hyperthyroidism due to various thyroid disorders. Synthetic thyroid medications are made from levothyroxine sodium while natural thyroid Medications are made from desiccated pig thyroid. The other major difference is what thyroid hormones they contain. Most synthetic thyroid medicines, like Synthroid, contain only T4. Natural medications, like Armour, contain both T4 and T3 (triiodothyronine). The function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine and convert it into the hormones thyroxine, and triiodothyronine.
