Nature throid

[Maybe21]

Hi - I’ve read on here that 1 grain of nature throid is equivalent to around 100 mcg of levothyroxine or just under . I was taking 100 mcg levo and starting at half a grain have slowly increased to 1grain . Now 4th week of 1 grain and feel under medicated - due for bloods in 2 weeks . Any suggestions 🧐 thanks

[shaws Administrator]

When taking NDT we can increase by 1/4 tablet every two weeks until symptoms resolve. Take pulse/temp several times a day and if either goes high, drop to previous dose and that should be your daily dose. Sometime we can feel hot but temp is usually normal.

The blood tests we have were introduced along with levothyroxine (T4 only). When we take NDT - it has all of the hormones a healthy gland would produce so this doctor only took a blood test for the initial diagnosis and thereafter concentrated in relieving the symptoms so results of blood tests will be different than taking T4 only.

web.archive.org/web/2010112...

[Maybe21 in reply to shaws]

Thanks . Pulse OK but temp is consistently 36.1

[EPNM in reply to Maybe21]

years ago I was on T3 as well as 100mcg Thyroxine. GP stopped the T3 on advice from hospital endo clinic who had put me on it in the first place. Became very unwell, saw Dr Peatfield and have been taking Armour first, but now Nature-Throid since. I now take 1.75gr daily - there's been a shortage so I have 2 gr 1 day and 1.5gr next day. I was on 2 gr daily but had an episode of Atrial Fibrillation so dropped the dose slightly. I write this as most people don't appreciate the fact that AF can happen on too high a dose. I often feel hot, but temp is 36.2 and pulse normal. I still have the very occasional evening when I'm overwhelmed with tiredness, but as my Acupuncturist daughter points out, I do have an auto-immune condition and I am 75! Good luck.

[Maybe21]

What do you think the comparable dose of NDT should be ?

[Kell-E in reply to Maybe21]

1.5 to 2 grains would be more like it. It really depends on your body, but I agree 1 grain is too little. The charts are extremely conservative.

[nr99]

I was prescribed 50mcg and that lowered my TSH to 1. But I felt worse than without medication so I have since then taken Thiroyd which contains slightly less T4 and T3 than other NDT but anyway, last test I had 0.7 on 2.5 grains. So I don't think 1 grain is equal to 100mcg.

[SilverAvocado]

I agree with reallyfedup123. There is an old we link going around in the forum that says this, but it doesn't really make sense, and may even be a typo.

A grain contains 9mcg of T3, and 38mcg of T4. For that to come out as equiv to 100mcg of Levo, you've got to believe that 9mcg of T3 is equiv to 62mcg of T4, so almost 7x as potent.

There is a lot of controversy over how much more potent T3 is, and its always an estimate anyway, because what really matters is what body needs and uses. However, I think 3x or 4x are better estimates.

This would make that 9mcg of T3 equiv to 27-36mcg of T4. A much smaller number!

This makes 1 grain of Nature-Thrioid equiv to about 63-74mcg of Levothyroxine.

Saying that, you don't necessarily need end up on a similar dose of NDT to your old dose of Levo. Presumably you didn't feel great on it, or you wouldn't have changed over.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SilverAvocado]

Saying that, you don't necessarily need end up on a similar dose of NDT to your old dose of Levo.

Absolutely. But the only way we know of finding out is to try.

[Phoenix605]

The conversion I was given was T4+(T3x3) I now take 2.5 grains 95+(22.5x3)=162 instead of 150 mcg levo (2.25 =146.25 so I tried both). I did the temp and pulse checks and went over-medicated at 2.75 with palps so dropped back to 2.5. My main reason for the swap was remaining fatigue and joint issues which only resolved with NDT even though my FT3 tests out at practically the same level. I didnt need extra as was optimal in the ranges with decent conversion and nutrient levels before swapping.

So I think this conversion formula is pretty accurate and your 1 grain would be 38+(9x3)=65, so 1.5 (97.5) and 1.75 (103.5) would straddle 100mcg and put you in the ball park. Obviously if you were not optimal (or converting well) on levo your end point may not be a pretty direct numbers swap like mine.

[Phoenix605 in reply to Phoenix605]

Stupid thing wont let me edit, should read 103.75!

[Maybe21]

Thanks everyone for your replies . Looks like I need a bit more nature throid x

[Jazzw]

I agree Hidden - my experience is that 1 grain is perhaps nearer 75mcg of levo. Our bodies don’t seem to use NDT in the same way as they do levothyroxine.