How much is NDT/ERFA on private prescription? And what’s my equivalent dose?

[cazzaleo]

Hi!

I’m currently on 75mcg levo and 15mcg liothyronine, my private endo has said that if I’m not feeling better on this by the next time I see him then he thinks we should switch to NDT/ERFA.

Can someone please tell me how much ERFA costs on private prescription? (I currently get my liothyronine through a German pharmacy so it’s not expensive)

Also, what would the equivalent dose for what I’m on now be? I think I saw the endo write in his notes that he’d put me on 30mcg ERFA but I’m worried that that’d be a far lower dose of T3 and T4 than I’m on now and so would be setting me up for feeling even worse!

Thanks for your help!

[shaws Administrator]

I am not medically qualified but I've often read that the equivalent of 1 grain (NDT) is around 100mcg of T4. This is a conversion chart:-

getrealthyroid.com/conversi...

We usually start on a dose equivalent to what we are taking of levo and every two weeks add a 1/4 tablet until you're symptom-free. Read the following 'Safely Getting Well'

naturalthyroidsolutions.com...

[cazzaleo in reply to shaws]

Thanks shaws, I’ll have a read

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

According to this article (scroll down to find Erfa)

stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...

30mg Erfa (1/2 grain) = 18mg T4 + 4mg T3

So from the figures they are giving for the different dose tablets the closest to your 75mcg T4 + 15mcg T3 is either

2 x 60mg tablets (70mcg T4 + 16mcg T3) or

1 x 125mg (73mcg T4 + 17mcg T3)

[cazzaleo in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks really helpful, thank you

[BadHare]

Your current dose is approximate to 120mcg of T4, so starting on 1 1/2 grains would be a smaller drop to about 100mcg, but might work for you if NDT suits you better. Easier to start low & increase slowly.

II take Nature Throid currently, & think one grain is the equivalent to 68mcg of T4 (including the 9mcg of T3). Armour is a little weaker at 65mcg. I've not read about Erfa, so don't know that one, perhaps the company has a website with this information.

I take T3 as well as NDT, & find one grain of NT is about the same for me as 25mcg of T3, which is the equivalent of 75mcg of T4. This could be the effect of the other hormones in NDT working well for me. I've taken WP Thyroid made by the same company, which seems stronger for the same active dose than 25mcg of T3. People find different brands suit them better than others.

The current cost of 100x2grain NT, at the moment, including postage & import charges is approximately £95.

[cazzaleo in reply to BadHare]

Great, thanks BadHare!

[cazzaleo]

Ill look into it, thank you

[BadHare]

That made me itchy, though not as badly as Thyro-Gold. Do you need to use antihistamines!