I want to switch with my Gps help from Nature-throid to thyroxine. Can anyone tell me why the bottle of Nature-throid says 1 grain= 65MGs!!!

but the contents say 38mcg T4 and 9mcg T3. I don't understand thelabelling or what it means. Any help out there? thanks

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Because 65 milligrams is the amount of desiccated thyroid powder used to make a one grain tablet.

That amount of desiccated thyroid powder contains the amounts of T4 and T3 you mention. (Desiccated thyroid powder is mostly substances such as cells and "colloid"/thyroglobulin. Only something like one tenth of one percent is thyroid hormone.)

Rod

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

thanks for your speedy reply Rod. I was worried as the GP has given me 50mcg tabs of thyroxine as I was taking 1 1/4 grains armour so the T4 would be roughly 50mcg right enough. My T3 is too high so perhaps I will be better on thyroxine. I just didn't understand why the bottle said MGs!!! Many thanks. I'm a bit scared of doing the change over as I also have severe ME and am very sensitive to meds but since I have been on Armour for many years i'm hoping it won't be too difficult and it will mean I get some medical supervision rather than buying the meds on line!. I will now have a load of meds I hope to sell cheaply or would rather give away than let them go to waste. I will post about that once I have managed the transition. Thanks again

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

Do be aware of our guideline:

23. Do not post offers to sell or give away your unwanted medications or over the counter supplements. Some people may have adverse reactions to the ingredients in these and you may be held responsible. Similarly, do not post requests for meds or over the counter supplements from others.

This is in place for good reasons - sorry it does not help you to do anything with your spare medicines.

Rod

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

I understand completely. I would gladly give them away rather than bin them as it's such a waste but I can see that it is inappropriate to do so and will give them to the chemist to dispose of once I am stabalised. Thanks Rod I didn't think of that

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

you may want to keep them as insurance in case the synthethic Thyroxine doesn't work out???? - well that's what I'd do anyway - usually it is the other way round - folks going onto NDT.

Anyway, good luck & don't forget those important vitamins/minerals are needed too (irons folate feritin B12 Vit D - magnesium & selenium help too!)

J x

[Heloise in reply to Hidden]

harker, do you realize what a rare case you are?? Many people who post have a great difficulty raising there free t3 levels to a proper range. If your free t3 IS over the highest range, you would be overmedicated and feeling it. You say you ARE over range, do you have symptoms, i.e. rapid heartbeat, breathless, sleep issues?

I hope you will post your progress as this is a very interesting situation which is also unusual. These are the optimal levels from STTM website: stopthethyroidmadness.com/l...

[Hidden in reply to Heloise]

sorry heliose I have severe ME and really only wanted to find ot the answer to a question. I have lots of symptoms all the time. Thyroid medication has never helped me get any better and yes I do have sleep problems/fatigue/breathlessness etc but I had them before I started Armour. I don't really have the energy to post my progress plus it makes me anxious as on forums (as it should be!) one gets lots of differing opinons which I can find quite stressful. Wishing you all the very best

[Heloise in reply to Hidden]

I didn't mean to impose anything. If you feel better and wish to at a later date, it would of interest. Just do what you think is best for yourself right now.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to helvella]

Must say, I would have hoped that ANY GP who is competent to help would have explained this to you.

Also have to ask, is this something you ASKED your GP to help with? Or something he is pushing onto you?

Rod

[Hidden]

No we decided together as I have no one supervising me and my thyroid levels are all over the place. My T3 is always too high so I want to try thyroxine and then It will be my Gps job to supervise/support me with my thyroid. Up to now, I have paid two private doctors for advice and the nature-throid and have never even been offered thyroxine as my levels were borderline 16yrs ago when I started thyroid meds. the private Gps are too expensive so I started buying on line which is a bit dodgy and expensive! it was about 50 quid for tax on the last batch. I will be glad to switch if it works out ok. My friend who switched a few years ago says she feels more stable on thyroxine so here's hoping. Thanks Rod

[nobodysdriving]

ok, one grain of NatureThroid is approx 75mcg of levo, so if you were on 1 and a quarter grain of NatureThroid then you should be roughly on 93.75mcg of Levo daily.

Please bear in mind that this is only 'maths' and everyone's body will react differently so for some 100mcg will be the answer, for others 87.5mcg (ie one 50mcg Tablet of levo and half a 25mcg daily) for someone else something else.

So you can start on the 50+half a 25mcg daily and see where you go.

Bear in mind that the T3 in the NDT will leave your body very quickly but the Levo will need time to 'build up' in your body (up to 8 weeks, 12 max) so you could feel hypo (a return or worsening in symptoms) as early as 2 days post stopping the NDT, however you should try as much as possible not to increase the Levo dose and wait a good 8 weeks to review how you are doing (of course speak to your doctor if any concerns)

hope this helps