Natural thyroxine v levo thyroxine

[Loraine62]

Hi, I am new to this site and never been involved in anything like this before. So here we go, I read an article recently that mentioned that you could buy natural thyroxine and it was much more effective. Is this fact or just good marketing? I have been on levo thyroxine for over ten years by currently struggling with my weight it seems to have ballooned, my memory is poor, joints ache, thinking is slow ans sluggish. I feel I should be doing more to help my self, can any one suggest where I should start when I have blood tests they just come back in the normal range...

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Loraine. The first place to start is to get hold of a copy of your recent thyroid results with the lab ref ranges from your GP practice manager or receptionist. 'Normal' is a very broad range and isn't the same as optimal. Post them in a new question and members will advise whether you are optimally medicated on Levothyroxine.

You may be undermedicated going by your symptoms and if you were previously well on Levothyroxine a dose increase will probably be sufficient. If you are optimally medicated but symptomatic you may benefit from NDT or T3 to a reduced dose of Levothyroxine.

[helvella Administrator]

I have never liked the term "natural thyroxine". The type of product is a desiccated thyroid made from pig thyroid. Often called "natural desiccated thyroid", often abbreviated to NDT. It contains both thyroxine and liothyronine - so "natural thyroxine" is somewhat misleading.

My number one suggestion is to get hold of your existing results and post them.

[Glynisrose]

Its a fact for those that do not convert T4 (levo) to the active T3 (which is needed by every cell in your body!!).