Increase NDT or Switch back to Levo+T3? - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

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Increase NDT or Switch back to Levo+T3?

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Hello,

A year ago, i was on Levo 88 mcg. TSH was 2.94 (.2 - 4.2), FT4 was 1.06 (.93 - 1.7), FT3 was 2.6 (2-4.4). Those don't look too bad, but I had symptoms of blurry vision, sore joints and brain fog. Plus i tested positive for anitibodies. Fast forward to my latest results a month ago on 1.5 grains Nature-throid: TSH was 0.695, FT4 was 0.86 and FT3 3.6. Doctor upped me to 1.75 grains and I felt pretty decent for a few weeks, but now I feel terrible again. Blurry vision, headaches...especially a few hours after my doses of Nature-throid, which i take 2x/day. I convert well i was told.. my RT3 was 10.9 (9-27). But my FT4 number is low! And I am losing hair like crazy. Do i just need more NDT? I think the T3 is too much for me for some reason with this reaction i seem to be getting after i take a dose of NDT. i have posted Ferritin in the past..i think it is 57 (10-232), B12 is 698.. Any ideas?

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22 Replies

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LAHs8 years ago

You could look into your source of NDT, perhaps you got a bad batch.

claudiasmum8 years ago

Your results on 1.5 look pretty good. How did you feel on that dose? My instinct would be to drop back down to 1.5.

• in reply toclaudiasmum8 years ago

I felt ok on 1.5, but still was getting blurry vision/lightheadedness throughout the day.

Lozzer668 years ago

Ft4 is often very low on range when taking ndt ..it's t3 that counts and that is in a better place than when on levothyroxine. ....why did doc up yor dose another quarter?...did you feel ok on 1.5 ?...I would maybe drop back to 1.5 and if headaches continue maybe look at changing to a different brand of ndt .. (could be the fillers in it?)I'm having a similar problem in that since upping my dose from 1.75 grain to 2 grain about a month ago my hair is coming out at a rate that's alarming me and I know it's been barely any loss for last couple of years so it's either the natural shedding that can happen at this time of year naturally or a massive coincidence! Also at same time I've started with face and scalp tingling and im looser when going to the bathroom which I wasn't previously..I'm thinking I may be over medicated even though my T4 is low (they didn't do t3 last time so can't be sure) .My vitamins/iron are ok so I've dropped back a quarter to 1.75 to see if hairloss stops.It's tricky as under and over medication can present with same symptoms but you were on a lowish amount of levothyroxine so perhaps 1.75 for you is too much?

• in reply toLozzer668 years ago

yes, my hair is coming out at an alarming rate as well since upping to 1.75...maybe i should just go back to the 1.5. problem is i didn't feel well at that amount - still lightheaded and blurry vision. Maybe it is my iron, though my iron number doesn't seem to be alarmingly low. My doc upped the NDT because my t3 was still low?

Lozzer66• in reply to8 years ago

Yes you could feel rubbish if iron /ferritin is low and also b12 as your body can't utilise yor meds properly without good levels and low iron and b12 can cause hairloss in itself.Also ndt can highlight adrenal issues and that too can cause hairloss so they may need supporting.Let me know if you suss it out I'm in same boat!

• in reply toLozzer668 years ago

thank you - i will let you know!

SlowDragonAdministrator8 years ago

As you have Hashimoto's are you on gluten free diet

What are you vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels like

• in reply toSlowDragon8 years ago

yes. vit D was super low back in February...36. been supplementing that. haven't had folate checked. Ferritin 57, b12 698

SlowDragonAdministrator• in reply to8 years ago

Check folate and vitamin D

How much vitamin D are you taking?

Ferritin is slightly too low

• in reply toSlowDragon8 years ago

i take 1,000 vit d and i have to go back to the dr. to have my folate checked

SlowDragonAdministrator• in reply to8 years ago

1000iu vitamin D is not very much

Typically 5000iu to increase levels for at least 2-3 months

Just a Maintenance dose 2-3000iu is common with Hashimotos

We need or use more

If only ever been on 1000iu it's quite likely level not gone up much

Suggest you get it rechecked

Heloise8 years ago

Low iron is notorious for hair loss and your ferritin is a bit low. Were you supplementing iron during your last test? You should be off iron for five days before a test for a true evaluation.

• in reply toHeloise8 years ago

no, i wasn't supplementing the iron during my last test. i have tablets of iron-bis-glycinate of 28 mg that i just recently started 1x/day

Heloise• in reply to8 years ago

Maybe some of the links will help. stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

• in reply toHeloise8 years ago

ok, thank you!

jamesal08 years ago

1.75 grains on NDT is a miserable quantity, of course it depends on how much thyroid gland you have left, but most adults need between 3 and 5 grains per day. In crease your dose slowly adding 1/2 grain per week until you go hyper. Then back off 1/2 a grain.

• in reply tojamesal08 years ago

thank you. I feel like I cannot tell the difference between hyper and hypo anymore though!

jamesal0• in reply to8 years ago

hyper is heart pounding, skin crawling and tingly hands/lips/tongue.

hypo is cold hands/feet, anxiety, shakiness, cant think straight

• in reply tojamesal08 years ago

ok, thank you for that. i seem to have the hypo symptoms. I was thinking of going back to 1.5 grains and maximizing my D, ferritin, folate and iron and introducing iodine (test patch revealed i am pretty deficient..it was gone in less than 10 hours?). And then once everything else is optimal, see about raising my ndt in a few months hopefully? I just cannot stand this lightheaded/dizzy feeling that is suddenly so bad in the AM's!

jamesal0• in reply to8 years ago

totally up to you but I doubt if the vitamins will help you sleep or stop the fuzziness, they will help you process thyroid and convert it into T3. Me I would start by increasing NDT by 1/2 grain/day each week, although it depends if you have a reliable supply of NDT. You will end up on between 3-5 grains per day.

Did you check Heloise's suggestion re Stop Thyroid Madness web site. This is the good oil.