NDT / T3 and osteoperosis ?: Saw my endo today... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

137,637 members161,416 posts

NDT / T3 and osteoperosis ?

12 Replies

Saw my endo today and he warned me about osteoperosis and stroke being on optimum dose of the two above, and not to raise anymore. is this correct ,? Do I have to worry about these, I do take extra vits and minerals etc.I thought if I was adequately medicated osteoperosis was not a problem. And stroke ? I have low blood pressure, I'm slightly under weight, and fairly fit considering I have uat , He saw I had slight hand shakes whilst there, but I had a coffee 30 mins before seeing him (always get the shakes after strong coffee) and I was anxious about my appointment,

Read more about...
12 Replies
Clutter profile image
Clutter

Nataliesue, FT3 over range increases the risks of osteoporosis and atrial fibrillation which can lead to stroke. If your FT3 remains within range you've no need to worry.

T3 saved my life. I was half dead because I was not properly treated and I developed heart disease because of this. This is now under control and I am alive and well only because I started self-medicating with T3. Doctors are responsible for millions of us living in misery, sick and invalid because they can't bother to learn anything about hypothyroid treatments other than levothyroxine. And they don't care about our symptoms, they only look at what is written in the tests which is in many cases of no use at all.

amymmarcello profile image
amymmarcello in reply to

where are you getting your T3 from? I had my thyroid removed 2 years ago. I was supposed to have one side removed for a nodule the dr said he could not say it wasn't cancer until he removed it. I had it done only to find out the next day, he took the wrong side out and needed to surgery again the following day. Anyway, for 2 years now, not 1 dr. will help me with t3. I have purchased it from another area outside of the US. I guess I am looking for info from someone else on t3, please.

~Amy

in reply to amymmarcello

Hi Amy, I am really sorry to heat what those incompetent doctors did to you! That is terrible! But I can perfectly understand you, they left me untreated for years, they literally left me to die. I'll send you where I am getting my T3. It is a very good supplier and can be trusted. My best wishes x

in reply to amymmarcello

Hi. I get mine from gp as I'm allergic to levothyroxine muck, and it didn't work for me so doctors had no choice but to put me on t3 as they would not touch not.

NatChap profile image
NatChap

I think the danger of being under treated on T4 or just not treated, far outweighs the risk of being on T3 or NDT. My Gran had hypothyroidism and wasn't treated at all. She died in her early 60's from a massive heart attack after having a couple of strokes, suffering with high cholesterol, depression, rheumatoid Arthritis and various other complaints. I know what I'd rather do x

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

This is an excerpt from Dr Lowe:-

December 24, 1997

Question: Dr. Smith recently referred one of his patients back to his primary care physician for a prescription for T3. The physician adamantly refused, saying that T3 was old hat, unstable, and caused strokes. Is there anything in the literature about any relationship between T3 and strokes?

Dr. Lowe: The physician should call a pharmacy and request the leaflet given to patients when they pick up a Cytomel (T3) prescription. The physician would learn, as the patient leaflet on Cytomel explains, "POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: NO COMMON SIDE EFFECTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED with proper use of this medication." Other than Nystatin, he probably will find that no other drug he might prescribe is as free from adverse effects as T3.

I don't know what he means by "old hat." As medications go, T4 has been around a lot longer, and desiccated thyroid even longer. As for stability, T3 is certainly as stable as T4 and desiccated thyroid. Synthroid (the most prescribed form of thyroid hormone) is not more stable than Cytomel. At this time, Synthroid users are being reimbursed millions of dollars, partly because of significant variability in the potency of the product.

And ". . . caused strokes"? If anything, the use of T3 may help prevent strokes. I scanned MEDLINE for studies on "T3" and "strokes" published between 1966 and 1997. These key words were mentioned in 43 publications Most publications reported the beneficial effects of T3 on cardiovascular function. The word "stroke" was most often used in regard to the "stroke work in cardiac contractility" (a physiological description)—not in the sense of cerebrovascular accidents (strokes). I'll mention just a few representative publications. These suggest that it is urgent for the physician you mention—for his patients' welfare—to quickly update his knowledge.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

Seabob profile image
Seabob

I have osteoporosis and osteopenia..I have been on t4 only for many years...my oncologist said about these risks on T4!! I am now on NDT.

I have osteoporosis of the spine and pelvis and recently discovered from my medical records that I've actually been hypo for decades. The blame for this is firmly with muppet GPs who failed to diagnose.

Everyone should get hold of their medical records and take control of their health.

Glynisrose profile image
Glynisrose

What rot! You will not get osteoporosis or have heart problems from taking T3. You need to convert T4 to T3 or you will get nowhere. If you need T3 then take it! There are times when your doctor does not know his arse from his elbow and this is one of them!

My bone health improved, the evidence is two blood tests 15months apart with taking high doses of T3 and NDT. The endo I saw gave me all my results by letter, except my bone health ones. He tried to suppress this information, but I got the results from my Gp :-)

judburke profile image
judburke

Fabulous to hear :)

You may also like...

Stick with T3 or try NDT

already supplementing a number of vitamins and minerals. I wasn't sure whether to try dropping my...

Anyone supplementing NDT with T3?

am considering dropping to 3.5 grains and adding a bit of T3 (how much? ) to drop my T4 and raise my

Which T3 and Which NDT

Switching from NDT to T4 + T3

weeks. Although my levels improved, I have seen a slight increase in antibodies (Thyroid Pharmacist...

Transitioning from NDT to T3 (slowly) - anyone done this? Or combines NDT with t3?

Armour or dropping t3 to see how it pans out). My vits are all optimal as recommended on here...