I want to change from levothyroxine to thyrovanz

[Nataliefahey]

Hi everyone, I’ve been on levothyroxine for 18 months and felt awful, when I increased my levothyroxine my t4 is high but my t3 still stays around 4 the range goes up to 7.1, when my t4 is high I get very shaky, but still have hypo symptoms because of my t3 not being optimal, anyway I’ve just received thyrovanz and really want to make the switch, I’m currently on 125mcg levothyroxine, how on earth do I change over? I really haven’t got a clue , and how much should I take.... please help 😘

[greygoose]

'Thyrovanz™ is classed as a whole food dietary supplement with each capsule containing the natural contents of the bovine thyroid glandular which include thyroid hormones T4, T3, T2, T1 and Calcitonin. However being a natural product the relative amounts of these hormones have not been established.'

Taken from their website. How can you possibly change from taking levo to taking this when you have absolutely no idea how much hormone is in it. I really don't think it's meant to replace thyroid hormone replacement - such as levo - it calls itself a thyroid 'support', which is pretty meaningless, really. If you stop your levo, I think you will be taking a huge risk of either becoming over-medicated or under-medicated, without gaining any advantages.

Oh, and their claims that it contains T2, T1 and calcitonin, are probably exaggerated, and I don't think can be proved. In any case, the quantities would be so small as to be negligable.

From what you say, you have a conversion problem - although that can't be confirmed without the numbers : results, ranges and dose. You would be far better off spending your hard-earned cash on some T3 to add to your levo. It would be cheaper.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at your previous posts you have Hashimoto's (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease). About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

With Hashimoto's, until it's under control, our gut can be badly affected. Low stomach acid can lead to poor absorption of vitamins. Low vitamin levels stop thyroid hormones working.

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Always get actual results and ranges. Post results when you have them, members can advise

Plus post your most recent TSH, FT4 and FT3 Thyroid test results

Also extremely common to be gluten intolerant

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

If you can't get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results

[Jlynn1020 in reply to SlowDragon]

TSH is a pituitary hormone and should not be used solely to diagnose hypothyroidism or manage medication. It’s ONE number not even related to the thyroid.

[Jlynn1020 in reply to SlowDragon]

Actually it’s not just gluten that’s the problem. There are multiple food sensitivities at play. The suggested treatment that has worked for 99% of the people I’ve helped is the AIP diet to cut out all food sensitivities, and the use of LDN. If your D or selenium is low, getting those to optimal will also bring your antibodies down.

Don’t supplement unless you have tested what you are supplementing for. It’s just as dangerous to have too much of something than it is being deficient. Especially with Selenium.

The most important vitamins and minerals for the thyroid are:

B12: this should be in the upper 1/4 of the range

D: should be between 60-80

Magnesium: should be around 5.2-5.5

Selenium: not over range

Potassium: 142 or above

Sodium: 142. If it’s lower than 139 that indicates low aldosterone which you need medication for otherwise you won’t be holding on to any electrolytes.

I have men’s and women’s iron ranges, but I’m not sure off the top of my head the ranges the UK uses. If anyone would like this info, let me know the ranges

[Musepux]

I was googling around regarding the use of Thyrovanz and came across your post. I read posts from other people that changed without any negative effects.

Did you change?

Thanks

[Jlynn1020]

I know I’m a little late to the party, but Thyrovanz is absolutely a replacement for any t4 only meds and you will wish you had done it sooner. If you need any dosing help, let me know. I’m the admin of the Thyrovanz Users Facebook group. Through trial and error, and each patient being responsible for getting labs, thousands of people are now thriving who were just surviving on Levo or synthroid.

If you don’t know what something is, just say that instead of turning someone away from getting more information about any product that could help them.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jlynn1020]

How much of each thyroid hormone does Thyrovanz contain?

greygoose SlowDragon

[greygoose in reply to Jlynn1020]

And, how, exactly, are people supposed to get more information? Certainly not by looking on their web site. I tried that.

You say that Thyrovanz can replace any T4 only meds, but what if the person is a poor converter and needs a source of T3, like the OP? It says on the web site that Thyrovanz contains T3. You are contradicting that. So, if it doesn't contain any T3 then it is not NDT and of no use to a poor converter. In which case, poor converters should be turned away from it, because they'll just be wasting their money. Maybe there should be some reliable information available.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Jlynn1020]

Jlynn1020 'I’m the admin of the Thyrovanz Users Facebook group. '

How does this qualify you to support thyroid patients with transferring to a non prescription thyroid hormone replacement?