I am exasperated by all I hear on this complaint. Question is simple.... is it safe to take eltroxin or not ?

[Petrosky]

And are there any alternative treatments out there i.e. Acupuncture etc. ?

[PinkNinja]

Yes, if you need it and your body can use it. Some people can't convert it to the active form for various reasons, including a genetic defect, but most people are fine with it if they need it

Carolyn x

[PinkNinja in reply to PinkNinja]

Alternative treatments won't cure thyroid disease, but eating well and taking necessary supplements will help in addition to the thyroid medication. Anything that helps you relax and feel good, like meditation, can only be a good thing. I don't know much about acupuncture, I'm afraid.

[Petrosky in reply to PinkNinja]

Thanks. At last, simple sane advice. Supplements ?......... Which ones ?

[PinkNinja in reply to Petrosky]

Many people with thyroid disease have lower than optimal levels of iron, ferritin, folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin D so it is worth getting them tested if you can. Ferritin is best higher than the bottom of the range, say 70-90 for most people. Folate is best around 12 and B12 needs supplementing if your level is below 500. Vitamin D needs to be within the NHS reference range. Any of these could be contributing to your symptoms.

While it is perfectly safe to supplement with folic acid and B12 you must make sure you take them together and take more B12 than folic acid. You shouldn't take iron if your serum iron is near the top of the range and your ferritin is above 90. It is also best not to take vitamin D unless you need it. It is a good idea to use the sunshine to top up your vitamin D while it's sunny. Your body uses sunshine on your skin to make the vitamin D that it needs.

The best form of B12 is methylcobalamin. I take a separate B12 supplement and a B vitamin complex that contains the other B vitamins.

You may also benefit from taking moderate doses of magnesium, zinc and selenium.

There is a page on the main Thyroid UK website about vitamins and minerals here thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

I hope that helps

Carolyn x

[Hidden in reply to PinkNinja]

Hi Carolyn, my ferritin is 117.1 (10-200) and iron 20.2 (11-30), so hopefully these are okay and certainly not over the top.

[PinkNinja in reply to Hidden]

They should be fine but I wouldn't recommend taking iron unless it is a low dose and you find you need to take it to maintain your iron levels. I don't think it is too high though

[Petrosky in reply to PinkNinja]

CarolynB: Some info for you from my blood test print-out.....Iron 21.1 (12 - 32),

Ferritin 65 (16-215) Folic Acid 25.6 B12 412 (160-600) O'Kay ?

[PinkNinja in reply to Petrosky]

All is fine except you would probably benefit from more B12. The most easily used form of B12 is methylcobalamin. Hope that helps

[Totoro]

There are some people that don't do well on it but the majority are fine with it.

I believe thyroid medicines are some of the safest you can take because they are replacing what your body is missing. They are synthetic hormones.

Compared to other medicines they have very few side effects. The side effects come from over replacement or if you are one of the unlucky ones that don't react well to it.

I was on levothyroxine, which is what Eltroxin is and didn't have any side effects. The reason I went on to T3 (which is what levothyroxine converts to in the body) is because levo didn't relieve all of my symptoms and I was told I may not convert it well in my body. I also have no side effects on T3.

Totoro x

[Petrosky in reply to Totoro]

Thanks ..... more sensible advice. Must look into the T3 matter if I don't improve.