NDT

[Maggiemay12]

My specialist has said I NDT is not safe to use and that it is not licence to use here . The amount off T3 in them is too high and cause heart problems when used long term . What do you think about this info as I thought it was licence and this worries. E

[helvella Administrator]

Always interesting to ask why giving NO T3 (that is just levothyroxine) is OK?

There is considerable uncertainty about precisely how much T3 a human thyroid produces. And simply saying that the ratio IN desiccated thyroid is different suggests a possible misunderstanding of the numbers.

What might be more reasonable is if they could demonstrate that the EFFECT of the ratio in desiccated thyroid was always going to be wrong in a human - and wrong by a worse margin than giving no T3.

[Clutter]

Maggiemay12, Your endo is correct, it isn't licensed for UK use, but it doesn't mean it is unsafe, it just means the manufacturers have not applied for a licence. NDT was grandfathered into US and Canadian formularies before Levothyroxine existed and for a hundred years was the only thyroid replacement available in tablet form until Levothyroxine was produced. The amount of T3 in NDT is too much for some and not enough for others. Adding Levothyroxine or Liothyronine (T3) gets around the problem. As long as FT3 remains within range there is little chance of developing heart problems related to T3.

[waveylines in reply to Clutter]

The reason why NDT is not a licensed medication is because it wasn't required to go through licensing in this country as it was deemed a natural product unlike the synthetic levothyroxine. However this does not mean to say that it can't be used or is unsafe -just that it hasn't been deemed necessary for it to undergo the rigours of licencing. In other countries such as America and Canada NDT has had to go through strict quality regulations to prove they are a safe reliable product. NDTs have been in use for about a hundred years and was the medication of choice for many many years before levothyroxine came on the scene in the 70s.

Your endo is incorrect in saying it is unsafe. This is a prejudiced view that is held based on no scientific proof and to me seems little more then proproganda. Have never really got to the bottom of why it is so frowned upon by many endos. They know the body produces four thyroid hormones so have never understood why they think giving the storage form ie T4 only is the best.

As for containing too much T3 -well this depends on the individual -for many it is fine and for most people their blood levels remain with in range. For a few it is too much T3 and those people do better with a mix of NDT and levothyroxine. And for a few more they do better with more T3 added to a NDT. This is because some people absorb it better into their cells then others. The key to successful treatment therefore is variety so that it can be modified to suit the individual -mono therapy like using levothyroxine only does not offer this individual programme and therefore does not suit all.

[Heloise]

Hi Maggie, as already mentioned, Armour thyroid was helping hypothyroid patients as early as 1900. It worked well and was plentiful since pork is available and reasonably priced and has never caused anyone's death. Now why wouldn't a drug company want to cash in on producing something similar in the lab? Drug companies do this all the time. Levothyroxine is a huge business.

There is also thyroid made from beef but it is very weak compared to humans. Perhaps there is a bit more of the potent T3 in the porcine NDT, the body is smart enough to deal with it. Why is it that people like me on this site that are taking straight T3 but I also did well on Armour and Erfa. I would be ill on T4 which I took for six years but not everyone feels the same.

The licensing is merely a method of government control. Replacing your hormone if you lack thyroid is life saving and the closest to it is NDT.

By the way, your heart needs lots of T3. There is more danger if you do not convert your T4 into enough T3.

health.howstuffworks.com/hu...

youtube.com/watch?v=nZ_CP7l...(Not working as expected?)

[greygoose]

But it doesn't matter what the ratio is in NDT, because most T3 comes from conversion, anyway. The body sorts itself out. Don't underestimate the power of your body.

So, I suppose your endo would have a fit if someone said they were on T3 only. There's no ratio at all, there. lol

[tamladp]

Why are you on levo, do you have a thyroid that is just under active? Sometimes an under active thyroid can still convert enough t3 to be OK. If you don't have a thyroid then your body needs t3. Levo is t4 only. Like others have said, it's not licensed because it's natural not synthetic. If you don't have a thyroid try looking up. Stop the thyroid madness website. You will find lots of answers.

[Glynisrose]

Your 'specialist' is lying! NDT is perfectly safe and TSH is of no use once you are on any form of thyroxine .

[Maggiemay12]

Thanks everyone for your advice ,doctor wants me to try Levothyroxine and cytomel now as he reckons that he can see exactly how much I am on as he believes ND is not accurate and argues this is why it comes in grains so ,wish there was a specialist who understands our thyroid options better . As I find I am very sensitive to ND as in I feel great most off the time but other time I feel too much T3 I it but can't cut down as I need the T4 as I feel so ill ,so will hopefully give Levothyroxine and cytomel a go and just hope it works , Can't believe the trouble you can get into when you try and explain the facts about NDT .

[Rapunzel]

Maggiemay

Perhaps you could let your doctor know that apparently NDT is what Hilary Clinton takes. If it's good enough for her...

[Heloise in reply to Rapunzel]

lol, that is some interesting trivia. I knew the woman was smart!

[Heloise]

Maggie, something else that may help. thyrophoenix.com/adjusting_...