Help.....

[les121]

Sat here with thyroid s. ... how much shall I take 150mcg of levo ????please advise I'm self medicating as the docs don't listen ...

[les121]

Sorry I meant I take 150mcg levo normally ....

[JuanGonzalez]

The starting dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg , I got started on levo about two months ago and I'm still on the starting dose

[les121 in reply to JuanGonzalez]

No sorry..... I'm starting thyroid s. ... so I want to know how much I should start with ...... thanks

[shaws Administrator in reply to les121]

1 gr is equal to around 100 mcg levo, therefore you can take 1 and a half grains.

[les121 in reply to shaws]

I don't understand the grain ? Do you mean 1 tablet?

[shaws Administrator in reply to les121]

It depends on what your tablet is. What did you order? Normally NDT is measured in grains I will have a look and get back to you in a minute. O.K. I have looked at STTM and will link. even though Thyroid S states 60mcg that's approx 1 grain which is equal to 100mcg levo (taking account of the T3 within). So what I stated above is o.k.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...

[les121 in reply to shaws]

It's thyroid s 60 mg tablets ... thanks

[Spareribs in reply to les121]

You could just switch over to the same amount, alternatively you could try 1 grain as some find the T3 in NDT a surprise... have a look at STTM...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/n...

[Clutter]

Les, 1 grain ie 1 x 60mcg Thyroid-S tablet is equivalent to 75-100mcg Levothyroxine. Unless you are used to T3 it's advisable to start with half a grain/tablet for a week or two to see how you tolerate the T3.

I suggest you reduce your Levothyroxine to 100mcg and start with half a tablet Thyroid-S for 2 weeks. Then reduce Levothyroine to 50mcg and take 1 tablet Thyroid-S split into 2 doses 6/12 hours apart for 2 weeks. Finally stop Levothyroxine and take 1.5 tablets of Thyroid-S in two split doses. If you need to increase to 2 tablets you should hold on that dose for 4/6 weeks and have a blood test to check levels before increasing further.

thyrophoenix.com/adjusting_...

[Heloise]

Hi Les, I've read the past replies to several of your posts. If you are confused, I can understand. I don't see what your complaints are with T4 and why you are deciding to switch. (I did the same so I understand problems with T4). If you had specific problems with your levo, I would never continue any of it now that you have your thyroid s.

Your NDT differs in that it has several other T's included along with 9 mcgs of T3. Some think this may give you a jolt of some sort. I'm no expert but to be cautious, perhaps you would like to start with half of one pill. So that would be 4 or 5 mcgs of T3 which is not that much even if you have never taken any thyroid hormone. Your body is already used to 125 of levo so it's not as if your body is not used to exogenous hormone even though it was synthetic.

Your system is still going to contain 125 of T4 slowly diminishing to 50% of that over the next few weeks so you are not "empty" overnight, plus the NDT is still replacing some of the effects of T4 plus T3, 2, 1 and calcitonin. The T3 is also making up for some T4 and that's why I can't figure why you would continue your T4. (There are many factors involved with thyroid regulation, it's hard to pinpoint "what happens when," so much of this is speculation.)

I know some people feel you have to clean out all your T4 from your system before making a switch but I'm not convinced it's a good idea. I am not saying I know any better than they do. You can always take it again if you feel that things are not going well so perhaps you can decide for yourself as you go along.

But, I'm excited for you in so many ways....so get going!

[les121]

Thanks for your replies very helpful. ...I've decided to take one tablet and split the dose in two... and stopped the levo to..il let you know how I get on .....

[Heloise in reply to les121]

Sounds sensible to me. Every good wish!

[Glynisrose]

First of all stop your levo for at least 2 weeks then start on 1/2 grain of NDT and build up. Take the 1/2 grain for 2 or 3 weeks then add another 1/2 grain and so on till you feel well.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Glynisrose]

NO! I have to disagree with your advice to stop your levo for at least 2 weeks. There is nothing to be gained by going without thyroid medication for this length of time, and potentil for a patient to make themselves very ill quite unnecessarily.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to RedApple]

I too absolutely disagree with the advice. So too does Stop the Thyroid Madness.

[Glynisrose in reply to RedApple]

Levo is T4 alone and stays in the body for several weeks, there is no problem with stopping it as it lingers. It doe NOT make you ill.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Glynisrose]

This is rubbish! I know from personal experience that going without thyroid medication for two weeks can make you very ill.

If you know better, then please give us the exact source of your information. If it's from a book, which one? If it's from a website, post the link.

[Glynisrose]

What utter rot!! You obviously know little about T4!! Its a STORAGE hormone and does nothing unless you can convert. It stays in your system for 4 to 6 weeks after you STOP TAKING IT!!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Glynisrose]

Glynisrose,

Regarding your response on this thread earlier today, I quote:

What utter rot!! You obviously know little about T4!! Its a STORAGE hormone and does nothing unless you can convert. It stays in your system for 4 to 6 weeks after you STOP TAKING IT!!

Your response, being to the original poster rather than RedApple as I assume you intended, fails to be threaded properly.

It is this admin's opinion that your response could be considered to be in breach of the following guidelines:

6. All members should conduct themselves at all times with respect and honesty.

10. Members posting on Thyroid UK must only post information which is true and correct to their knowledge. If relevant, please provide references to health or medical information.

13. If possible, show a clear distinction between personal experience or opinion and evidence-based information.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/suppor...

You were asked politely to back up your claim/statement. It does not appear to me that you have done so.

[Clutter in reply to Glynisrose]

Glynisrose, ThyCa patients are taken off Levothyroxine 4 weeks prior to RAI to enable their TSH to rise >30 for iodine uptake. There may be negligible traces of T4 remaining for up to 8 weeks but it won't prevent a person becoming profoundly hypthyroid.

[les121]

Hi I did actually stop taking levo for a week years ago just to see if I felt different. .. and I did I felt exhausted. ..so I don't think il try that ... I'm taking 1 grain for a week then slowly raise ... thanks for your views

[PinkNinja in reply to les121]

That sounds like a sensible option. I did something similar. The issue is, as another responder suggested, that the t3 can be a bit of a shock to the system so it is best to start slowly. As you are starting slowly, there is no need to stop taking the levothyroxine for two weeks as you are taking less thyroid hormone in a low dose of NDT than before. Your storage of t4 will drop slowly until you are on an optimal dose of thyroid s.

Some people can just start with the equivalent dose of dessicated thyroid but if you have no experience with it you are probably best to do what you are Proposing

I hope you start to feel the benefits of it soon and please do continue to post any questions you have.

Carolyn x

[les121]

Update ...... half tablet yesterday. .. Full tablet today. .. not felt funny or anything so that must be good ?

[PinkNinja in reply to les121]

That sounds promising

You may need to increase more often than every two weeks. You seem to be tolerating the t3 very well so go with how you feel. If you begin to feel hypo, increase your dose a little bit. Once you get to around 2 tablets a day, you may find it best to wait a couple of weeks before increasing so you don't miss your perfect dose and go straight past it.

All the best

Carolyn x