What do you suppose I was on? asks the new one...

[EssaA]

I really need to understand so I better know how to convert over to ThyroGold.

The compound thyroid med I was on was 165mg (yes, that is on prescription label, not mcg) and told it is 2.75 grains. Plus on 50mcg Levothyroxine in afternoon.

I am in USA. At the compounding pharmacy, when they told me the "chemical" they used had gone up by 3x the cost, I asked, "What chemical?"

I always thought it was a New Zealand bovine NDT like I requested from endocrinologist. But am told it is a porcine "chemical" that is 2.75 grains.

So what could it have been? Do I have a right to ask what exactly is in my compound? Each and every detail?

Now.....

I am converting over to NDT ThyroGold on my own. I am simply going off Synthroid T4 which I know means needing to move up slowly on NDT T3/T4. If I did that it would be a massive drop in the T3 my body is used to.

Note: I did stop the Levothyroxine (Synthroid) 50mcg before beginning the ThyroGold at around 120mg at bedtime and 75mg around noon. I have the 300mg capsules. Letting it dissolve in mouth then washing down. Watching symptoms, improvements closely, checking basal temp 3x a day.

I have read that one can swap one NDT for another NDT. And that ThyroGold proves more potent.

But since I don't know if the compound was a synthetic or an NDT??? am feeling lost and cautious.

Thank you for your help.

Background: hypothyroid, Hashimoto's but endo did not tell me that! And brother has this, asthma, Lupus, breast cancer stage IV survivor. MTHFR gene mutation behind it all coming to a head in autoimmune. Undiagnosed thyroid issues for 20 to 40 years. Not 59, on meds since 2010. Looking for new doctor.

[shaws Administrator]

I am not medically qualified and have hypothyroidism.

So, previous to the NDT, you were taking approx 3 grains in your compound meds plus 50mcg T4. Roughly 350mcg of levo.

Usually, you swallow tablets with one glass of water. They are not made to be sublingual as the molecules in our tongue are too large for for the hormones. It's different with heart medications, they are specifically made to be sublingual. Crushing is also similar in that you may not be absorbing the proper amount of hormones and swallowing most rather than digesting them.

Thyro-gold I have read are quite potent and most start with 150mcg (you can split the capsule). These are some excerpts producers of Thyro-gold:

Proper Terms. You mention possibly becoming "hyperthyroid" from taking too much Thyro-Gold™. Some people occasionally do take too much of their thyroid hormone product. The product might be Thyro-Gold™ or any other one on the market. When someone takes too much, the excessive exposure of his or her tissues to thyroid hormone overstimulates some of them. However, the proper term to describe the tissue overstimulation is not "hyperthyroidism."

nebula.wsimg.com/e0c9c9ed95...

Dr. Lowe: Thyro-Gold™ contains all the natural contents of the bovine thyroid gland. Many people believe there is such a thing as "thyroxine-free" desiccated thyroid. Presumably, the T4 has been selectively removed from these products, leaving only T3, T2, and T1.

1.Most people who experience symptoms of overstimulation from only 3 of the capsules (390 mg of powder) have one or more underlying conditions that interact with small doses of thyroid hormone to produce adverse effects. Tremors are one such effect. In my experience, the most common of these underlying conditions are: (1) a cortisol deficiency; (2) nutritional deficiencies, most often involving B complex vitamins; (3) abnormal blood sugar regulation; and (4) the intake of xanthine [pronounced zan’ thēn] chemicals, such as caffeine, theobromine, theophyllin, and pseudoephedrine. (Examples of consumables that contain xanthines are coffee, tea, chocolate, cough medicines, and decongestants.)

Q: I’m happy to find that Thyro-Gold™ is a dietary thyroid supplement and doesn't require a prescription. I’ve ordered it already. I’ll be grateful if you’ll answer a question for me. I notice that one Thyro-Gold™ capsule has 300 mg of thyroid powder in it. Why do most other over-the-counter desiccated thyroid products have only 130 mg dosage?

Let’s say that those customers want to switch from the other product to Thyro-Gold™. To get the same amount of thyroid powder with Thyro-Gold™, customers who take 6 capsules of the other product will take only 2.6 capsules of Thyro-Gold™. Those who take 7 capsules of the other product will take 3 Thyro-Gold™ capsules. And those who take 8 capsules of the other product will take only 3.5 capsules of Thyro-Gold™.

You may wonder about taking half of a capsule of Thyro-Gold™, or a little more or less. One can easily pull open Thyro-Gold™ capsules and then portion out and re-encapsulate the powder however he or she wants. I hope this is helpful to you, and I wish you the best with your use of Thyro-Gold™.

naturalthyroidsolutions.com...

If you have further questions you can contact Tammy, Dr Lowe's widow who will respond.

naturalthyroidsolutions.com...

Also, 300mg were the first Thyro-gold but they now do 150mg too.

[EssaA in reply to shaws]

Thank you, Shaws. Some good information here. I have been reading books and websites and forums for days and some you sent I had not found yet.

Yes, I have been concerned I could take too much and create a thyroid storm. Why I am being so cautious, have read of others jumping in with 300mg and suffering.

Tammy Lowe replied - that taking 300mg + 150mg would replace what I have been taking. Even two 300mg caps. Since I have been taking a 300mg or somewhat less for 5 days (about 2/3 at bedtime then 1/3 or less at noon) I am happy to increase to the 300mg at bedtime and see how I feel the next day.

With Hashimoto's I understand the numbers can spike and drop.

Part of your answer was confusing to me, then I realized you might be answering another person's question. So mentioning it since they may not see their answer if it is on my question. This one that you answered: "Q: I’m happy to find that Thyro-Gold™ is a dietary thyroid supplement and doesn't require a prescription. I’ve ordered it already. I’ll be grateful if you’ll answer a question for me. I notice that one Thyro-Gold™ capsule has 300 mg of thyroid powder in it. Why do most other over-the-counter desiccated thyroid products have only 130 mg dosage?"

My questions now - so what woud it be if I was on a porcine chemical that is 2.75 grains. I understand that Armour chemical went up in price by about 3x. So suspecting that one. And if so, isn't Armour an NDT? And if so, then I am replacing one NDT with another. Right?

[shaws Administrator in reply to EssaA]

Yes you are right. You are replacing Armour with Thyro-gold.

There are quite a few NDTs, for instance Erfa, Thiroid, Thyroid S, Nature-throid and Westhroid to name but a few but are mainly prescription only. Dr Lowe invented Thyro-gold particularly to be over-the-counter so that, like the UK who prohibit NDT, people had the freedom to at least try it.

I wish you well and good luck.