Switching to NDT

[les121]

Hi .... This year I intend to take my thyroid health into my own hands....Both doctors I asked about NDT .... never heard of it!!!! ..... After 6 years on levo I'm going to buy thyroid s. ..... I'm on 150 mcg of levo ....can anyone advise me on the NDT dose to equal that?.... must say I'm nervous and excited about this change. ...

[shaws Administrator]

A rough equivalent is 1gr of NDT = 100 mcg levo. It's easy just to switch over and I am sure you will feel much better. Endos/GPs are unaware of NDT because in the BTA guidelines it makes false statements about NDT and say that levothyroixine is the only hormones to be prescribed, despite the fact that many don't recover their health completely or get additional problems.

I do hope you benefit but some are disappointed if NDT doesn't work as they expected but sometimes we need to try more than one make.

[les121 in reply to shaws]

Thankyou...

[nightingale-56]

Hi Les121, I am just about to do the same as you. Am seeing the Endo this afternoon, but don't expect any great help from him. have been on Liquid Levothyroxine (Teva) for the past 5 weeks and have been gradually going downhill and now have very under-treated symptoms, such as I had when untreated after a sub-total thyroidectomy in 1979 for 19 years. Once on Goldshield Eltroxin I was good after about 4 months and was like this until about 4 years ago when they changed to Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine. I have some Thyroid-S to hand and can't wait to hear what the Endo says this afternoon. Will post results of appointment. Hope self-medicating works for you. Keep us informed and good luck with it all.

[Ruthi]

Lots of us self-medicate with no problems. Just take the switch gradually.

If you work on the premise that one thyroid-s is equivalent to 100mcg Levo you certainly will not overdose. But I would switch at the rate of half a tablet at a time, and sit back and wait AT LEAST two weeks to see how you are doing before taking the next step. Although its difficult to be patient, you will still have the levo in your system for up to two months, gradually being converted to T3 which is what actually has the effect you are looking for.

At the slightest sign of jitteryness, palpitations etc STOP the meds for 24 hours. That should be enough time for the T3 to get out of your system. Then restart at a slightly lower dose - assuming the jitters have gone down, of course! I go in quarter tablet increments. Thyroid-s is really easy to cut up with a pill splitter.

I arrived at my dose like that, but I seem to remember it took several months. At that point, if you can face the panic in your GP, you could present yourself for a blood test. Explain that because you are taking NDT which has T3 in it, you are expecting your TSH to be suppressed, and its really only the Free T3 that you want to check. As long as its not waaay above the reference range you are fine.

For a while I determinedly ran my T3 at above the range, because that was the only way I felt OK. In retrospect I realise that I was compensating for rather stressed adrenals (I was in an abusive relationship at the time, although I hadn't yet recognised it) so its not an ideal way to run things, and will bite you on the bum eventually. Nowadays I try to run in the upper third of the Free T3 reference range. It keeps my doctor happier! And I am dealing with my adrenals in other ways.

[les121 in reply to Ruthi]

Thanks for the advice. .. I'm looking forward to trying the NDT

[Lizzy1606]

Keep us informed how you are on NDT as i am thinking of taking my thyroid health into my own hands as well. I tell my self every year next year will be better there will be change ,Good luck and i hope it will go well for you .

[hashisis1]

I started doing the same four weeks ago. I started on one grain then up to one and a half, just started two. I am self medicating cos I can't get NDT from my DR, she didn't even know there was a t3 supplement!

Anyway I was told I could also add thyroxine in to keep my levels up in another forum. I did that, but within a few days got bad aches all

Over, felt sick and started to bloat.

I wasn't sure if it was the NDT, my low hormone levels or the mix, but was told in another forum about pooling, something that happens when you mix synthetic and natural that stops absorption.

Three days ago I stopped the synthetic and the aches are easing.

It's a bit scaring going alone but when your drs won't help and synthetic doesn't work you have little choice.

Take it slow and make sure your vitD3 levels are good.

[Glynisrose]

First off DO NOT simply swap your levo dose for NDT it doesn't work. Stop levo about two weeks before you start your NDT as it takes this long to get levo out of your system. Start on a low dose of NDT, say 1/4 grain and build up over a few months. I could not believe the difference it made to me and my GP agreed that I was a different person, (not that she would have prescribed it as she said it was 'too expensive'!!) I feel so much better now I'm on NDT.

[debsmitch60 in reply to Glynisrose]

Hi I know this is an old post but I am going to try ndt too. Can I ask how you are and what type of Ndt you are taking please? X

[les121]

Thanks..... I've not heard of that one so is the stopping levo 2 weeks before a must then?

[Linda-57]

I agree with Ruthi. Levo is T4, you do not need to get it out of your system - just take your last levo one day start the NDT the next. Stop the Thyroid Madness by Janie Bowthorpe has good guidelines on switching (I couldn't find this on the website):

Start on one grain - this is a safe introductory dose, and stay on that for one to two weeks, then start raising. Do it by half a grain each time. 2-3 grains are apparently optimal for most people but some people go as high as 6 grains. Go by your symptoms and hopefully you will find the best dose for you.

If you don't notice an improvement there may be other issues such as adrenals which really need addressing first.

This a wonderful book with lots of useful information, and you can access the website here:stopthethyroidmadness.com/. There are also various facebook groups - search for FTPO.

Good luck!

[Linda-57]

I agree with Ruthi. Levo is T4, you do not need to get it out of your system - just take your last levo one day start the NDT the next. Stop the Thyroid Madness by Janie Bowthorpe has good guidelines on switching (I couldn't find this on the website):

Start on one grain - this is a safe introductory dose, and stay on that for one to two weeks, then start raising. Do it by half a grain each time. 2-3 grains are apparently optimal for most people but some people go as high as 6 grains. Go by your symptoms and hopefully you will find the best dose for you.

If you don't notice an improvement there may be other issues such as adrenals which really need addressing first.

This a wonderful book with lots of useful information, and you can access the website here:stopthethyroidmadness.com/. There are also various facebook groups - search for FTPO.

Good luck!