Levo to nature thyroid help please

[Swolleneyes]

Hello,

I currently take 100mcg of synthroid and it is total rubbish, I would like to switch to nature thyroid.

What dose should I ask for to be prescribed? I see a lot of posts about gradually increasing from 1/4 grain to up to even three grains but I can't get a prescription for multiple different doses!

I will have to ask for a month (or a few months) supply of either one grain or two grain etc

What's the best thing to do?

Thank you,

[Swolleneyes]

The private doctor that prescribes doesn't have much knowledge of ndt but is willing to prescribe it.

[shaws Administrator]

As you have already been taking levothyroxine at 100mcg you can switch straight over to 1 grain of Nature-throid (other measurements are 60mg to 65mg for NDTs) and the makers of Nature-throid state that 1 gr (60mg) is equal to around 100mcg levo.

Take your pulse/temp before beginning and you can split tablets with a tablet splitter from pharmacists or some shops which sell them a bit cheaper. They don't need to be strictly perfectly halved and some just use a sharp knife or safety razor. Excerpts:

A: Both medications were formulated to be swallowed whole on an empty stomach with an 8oz glass of water. Use as directed by your doctor. The excerpts refer to Nature-throid or WP thyroid

getrealthyroid.com/why-get-...

A: No thyroid drug is FDA approved for sublingual usage. Both tablets were formulated to be swallowed whole on an empty stomach with an 8oz glass of water. Use as directed by your doctor.

A: Both medications were formulated to be swallowed whole on an empty stomach with an 8oz glass of water. Use as directed by your doctor.

[Clutter]

Swolleneyes,

1 grain NDT contains 38mcg T4 and 9mcg T3 which is equivalent to 65mcg T4.

I would reduce Synthroid dose to 50mcg and introduce 1 grain NDT to see how well you tolerate the T3 in NDT. After a couple of weeks stop taking Synthyroid and increase NDT to 1.5 grains. If necessary, increase to 2 grains after another 2 weeks. Hold at 2 grains for 6-8 weeks and have a FT3 test before increasing further.

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I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[Swolleneyes]

Thank you so much. I don't think I can ask for a prescription of 1, 1.5 and 2 so maybe what I'll do is ask for 2 grains and use a pill cutter to reduce it to 1 grain for the first few weeks whilst reducing my levothyroxine dose then as clutter said, up it to 2 grains

[Anthea55 in reply to Swolleneyes]

Many of us find it best to split the dose over the day when you are on NDT as the T3 in it needs replenishing.

I'm on NatureThroid. I get my prescription for 1/2 grain tablets (plenty of them), then I take 1 on rising, 1 mid morning and the last 1 mid afternoon. It's easier to add halves together and adjust the dose that way, rather than chopping them up. I put out my 3 pills into a small box each morning, so I can easily see what I've taken so far.

Once you've found the dose which works for you, you can change your prescription.

[Glynisrose]

Start on a low dose say 1/4grain and build up over a few weeks. The T3 will come as a shock to your system if you just switch. Personally I stopped levo for 2 weeks before starting NDT as the levo contains T4 alone which is a storage hormone and stays in the system for up to 7 weeks.