Reducing my dosage

[Magill69]

My doctor prescribed porcine whole thyroid, T4 andT3, a 162.5 (mg written on the bottle) tablet daily.

I am experimenting by taking a tablet one day then a half tablet the following two days. The tablets cost NZ$128 per 100. Very expensive, but I will have to live with the expense if my experiment doesn't work.

On the half tablet days I take a NUTRALIFE 'Thyro Guard' tablet a few hours afterward. I've only taken four tablets so far, maybe they will be more effective when I've had more of them.

When I take a whole tablet I feel more alert that day

Every day I take Red Seal 'Men's Multi' and 'Zinc, B6 & Magnesium' I also take Nature's Way Kelp (Iodine 300mcg).

Eating natural food - every day - I have an orange, and a kiwifruit mixed with coconut oil and 4 Brazil nuts. I have coconut oil with other food and with two cups of Moccona 'Indulgence' coffee. I mention these foods specifically for their nutritional value (excepting the coffee).

I don't know what people will make of the above. Some might say, "What a strange fellow!" I've added a lot of detail so that any advice I receive will be more specific.

[Clutter]

Magill69,

If you are prescribed 162.5mg daily but are taking half the dose two out of three days you will be undermedicated and that is why you feel better when you take 1 x 162.5mg. The vitamins and minerals in Nutralife Thyro Guard are not a replacement for the T4 and T3 in NDT.

Kelp is high in iodine and is not recommended for hypothyroid patients especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). You should get the iodine required from your daily dose of NDT.

[Magill69 in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter and GreyGoose

I know Thyro Guard doesn't have T4 or T3. I was thinking it might aid the reception of T4 and T3 in my endocrine (thyroid) system. But I realize I am a novice on the subject.

I've been scolded by both of you for tampering with the correct daily thyroid dosage. I'm fortunate the cane is no longer used in classrooms

Concerning iodine: I will stop taking the Nature's Way Kelp, Zinc, B6 & Magnesium and the Thyro Guard (from which I may also be taking too much Tyrosine).

I have taken multivitamins for years while I was on Glaxo Smith Kline, and then Goldshield synthetic thyroid. I would not rely on most so-called natural foods because of their deficiencies of vitamins, minerals, etc. It is Red Seal 'Men's Multi' if you want to read the label. I'm always open to advice which will improve my well-being.

Vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin are not tested through a doctor in NZ. We have to be referred to a specialist.

[greygoose]

Oh dear, where to start. You're getting too much zinc, too much copper - hypos are usually high in copper, anyway - too much calcium, and not enough of anything else. And way, way too much iodine! Which will make things worse, not better. Multis are really a very, very bad idea. They won't do any good, but might do a lot of harm.

If I were you, I would stop all that, and then get your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested, and just take what you need - too much is never better.

I don't know how much you know about thyroid, but T4 is the storage hormone, and T3 is the active hormone. It doesn't matter when you take your t4, or if you take more one day than the next. But with T3 it very much does matter. Your body needs to feel that it is getting a constant, steady supply. Chopping and changing like that will confuse your body and will not resolve your symptoms, because the body will never feel confident enough in the dose to use the T3 as it should. You will probably end up with hypo and hyper symptoms at the same time. Plus you are short-changing your body by not giving it the full dose.

If you want to get well, I suggest you stop your experimenting, and take as prescribed.