CBD, Levothroxine and thyroid : My doctor thinks... - Thyroid UK

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CBD, Levothroxine and thyroid

Coachgeorge profile image
39 Replies

My doctor thinks the CBD oil was normalizing my thyroid. Most recent blood tests indicate I’m now hyper rather than hypo. I don’t think I’m hyper but the CBD is helping regulate my thyroid. Thoughts?

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Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge
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39 Replies
Ralph1985 profile image
Ralph1985

You take thyroid medication?

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply toRalph1985

Levothyroxine down to 75 mcg from 100mcg

radd profile image
radd

Coachgeorge,

Welcome to our forum. There are some members who supplement CBD.

If you advise what thyroid issue you have, if you have been tested for thyroid antibodies TPOAb & TGAb, if you are medicating thyroid hormone replacement and if so which one, and post any recent thyroid hormone test results complete with ranges (numbers in brackets), members will be able to comment.

RockyPath profile image
RockyPath

Because LT4 is prescribed to such a vast population, companies marketing CBD are suggesting their product as a possible alternative. This represents an enormous potential market with huge revenue.

However, there are as yet no clinical trial results published. There is, however, a YouTube video of a Dr. Patel who describes a 2012 study in Germany that recruited several dozen men. They each smoked 2-1:2 grams of marijuana (about five joints) per day for the duration of the study. The THC and CBD In this study had zero effect on thyroid hormone levels, though the participants had a very enjoyable time during the study.

Nico101 profile image
Nico101 in reply toRockyPath

I use the real stuff (with the THC - the stuff they use for cancer) and it has worked wonders for my anxiety and Crohn's... however, as amazing as this stuff is, it has had zero effect on my thyroid (hypo) or adrenals (low cortisol).

Nico101 profile image
Nico101 in reply toNico101

I forgot to say I also use CBD during the day (so I'm not off my head all day), and this does nothing for thyroid/adrenals, either.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

It would help if you posted these 'hyper' labs, results and ranges, and let us have a look. If your doctor is saying you're 'hyper' just because your TSH is low, then he knows nothing about thyroid. It's the FT4 that is the most important number - did he even test that?

I've taken CBD oil for quite a while, now, and whilst it's helped enormously with pain levels, I don't feel it's had any effect on my thyroid status. In any case, it's impossible for a hypo person to suddenly go hyper. The thyroid cannot jump around like that, going from under-active to massively over-active. You could be over-medicated, but as you haven't said how much of what you're taking, nor given your blood test results/ranges, it's impossible to say. You could, also, have Hashi's, which causes levels to jump around. So, all in all, we need more information to know what's really going on. :)

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply togreygoose

My T4 went from 1.69 to 2.26 while taking the CBD. Doctor doesn’t think I changed from hypo to hyper but developed hyper symptoms. My Tsh is 1.43. Not sure about antibodies. I’ve never heard of those specific tests. My ANA results are usually high 1.4 to 1.8. She’s lowered my Levothyroxine from 100mcg to 75 mcg. George

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toCoachgeorge

Results without ranges are meaningless. But, that's the whole idea of taking thyroid hormone replacement: your FT4 rises.

Do you think you have hyper-like symptoms?

A TSH of 1.43 is a bit high for someone on thyroid hormone replacement. It certainly doesn't suggest the need for a drop in dose.

If your ANA is high, then you have an autoimmune disease of some sort. But an ANA test won't tell you what it is. But, given that you were hypo, it would be logical to suspect that you have Hashi's. Ask her to test TPO antibodies. If she says that's pointless, just tell her it's far from pointless, it's very important to know, and you want it done. :)

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply togreygoose

I definitely have hyper symptoms. Anxiety has been out of control in a physical way. Jittery all the time. But I also have night sweats then chills, too.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toCoachgeorge

They could all be symptoms of under-medication, or a conversion problem. Really not conclusive for over-medication. You just cannot rely on symptoms because so many of them can be both hypo and hyper/under-medicated and over-medicated. I'm thinking poor conversion, here.

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply togreygoose

What do you mean by conversion?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toCoachgeorge

Levo is T4, basically a storage hormone. It has to be converted to T3 before it becomes active and the body cells can use it. (Briefly, what happens it that one iodine atom is removed from T4 - which has 4 iodine atoms - so that it becomes T3, which has 3 iodine atoms).

Not all of us can do that very well - especially if we have Hashi's. But, it can also be due to nutritional deficiencies, low-calorie diets, infections, etc.

The only way to find out if you are converting well is to have your FT4 and FT3 tested at the same time.

This appears to be something that doctors just can't get their heads around, and they refuse to test FT3, making all sorts of excuses like it's not stable, etc. - it's a darn sight more stable than the their beloved TSH! So, people very often have to get these tests privately.

I would seriously recommend that you get private testing because just TSH and FT4 really tell you very little about your thyroid status. You need:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

Tg antibodies

vit D

vit B12

folate

ferritin

That will give you a much better basis for understanding what's going on with you. Details of private tests here:

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/p...

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply togreygoose

I’ll check with my lab here in US. It’s called CompuNet. I know they do patient requests but not for everything. If they don’t, they might be able to direct me elsewhere. Thank you

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toCoachgeorge

Oh, sorry. I didn't realise you were in the US. :)

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply togreygoose

It’s all good! I found a lab near my home. Thanks

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply togreygoose

Just thought of something else. If I’m not converting, what can be done?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toCoachgeorge

Well, you first of all need to optimise any nutrients that are sub-optimal, see if that helps, makes sure you're getting enough calories, and if all else fails, you will need to take T3 along with your levo.

TSH110 profile image
TSH110 in reply toCoachgeorge

I always had anxiety, heart pains and hot sweats between feeling cold but I was still hypothyroid. Some people get symptoms normally associated with hyperthyroidism despite having an underactive thyroid. A TSH of 1.4 is indicative of hypothyroidism.

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply togreygoose

My lab ranges are .8-1.80 for t4 and .4-4.5 for tsh

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toCoachgeorge

OK. So, your FT4 is over-range. The next logical step is to test your FT3 and TPOab. You're not over-medicated on the basis of an FT4 result only. Your TSH does not suggest you are over-medicated, and the FT3 is THE most important number. :)

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply togreygoose

I’ll ask her. She’s good about responding. What should it be? Thanks

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toCoachgeorge

It should be where you want it to be. Where it makes you feel well. Optimal, where thyroid is concerned, is not a number, it's a feeling. If you still feel hypo, then your FT3 is too low, no matter what the result is.

Margareta3 profile image
Margareta3

What daily dose of CBD are you taking? Is it 5% or higher?

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply toMargareta3

I use ultra full spectrum from Zilis. It has a 94% absorption rate. I was using a full dropper twice a day but I’m now only using 2-3 drops twice a day. Doc said I was taking too much too quickly. George

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toCoachgeorge

She was right on that, anyway. :)

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge

New to the site. How do I pm?

Eddie83 profile image
Eddie83

CBD could conceivably have an effect on autoimmunity. But until we actually see what tests were run, and what their result is, anything said here is likely to be conjecture. So in addition to TSH, do you have TPO & TG antibody tests, and did your tests include FT3 & FT4? Also, keep in mind that tests are not nearly as important as _how you feel_. If a doctor told me I was hyper based solely on a TSH test, I would leave that practice immediately.

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply toEddie83

I probably wasn’t clear. She didn’t say I was hyper just indicated that I have symptoms. I’m going to have private testing. Thanks!

megan2017 profile image
megan2017

I think CBD and THC is just there to help if you tiredit makes you sleep well, if you have aches and pain its relaxes you. I thinks it's more a support thing as a destresser that a harmony replacement as such. I was told by my chiro i stress easily and that can trigger a lot of things. Don't get me wrong CBD and THC are not made in my view when its managed well. But i don't think it i must do it for everything. I am still trying to understand the whole marijuana addition view cause i can do it every day or every others day and then not do it for days, weeks or months. I use it to de-stress, sleep and arthritis pain.I could be wrong

TSH110 profile image
TSH110

Hit the persons icon and you will go to their page and you can then hit message to send that person a private message it is next to the blue ‘follow’ button

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge

I use ultra cell full spectrum from Zilis. I’m using 3-4 drops twice a day. Helps with my anxiety, too.

Nico101 profile image
Nico101

I've used quite a few different CBD brands. The current one - and it wasn't cheap - is by Strong Life. It's full spectrum - can't remember the %age off the top of my head; I think 20%. But I may just be so used to the proper stuff that just CBD doesn't affect me know. This brand was the highest rated on Amazon, so it may be me.

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply toNico101

My doctor is a big supporter of ultra cell because it is water based and better absorbed by the body than oil based

Catseyes235 profile image
Catseyes235

Sounds amazing. My daughter takes natural stuff and thinks I should too. Would love to know further details of sources.

Karolly profile image
Karolly

Hi

That's really good news can I ask where you get your Canabis oil from ? Is it Natural and safe

Karolly 🙋🏻

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply toKarolly

I use ultra cell by Zilis. It’s full spectrum water based. Recommended by my doctor

pcsangel64 profile image
pcsangel64

Can you get XXX in the US?

Coachgeorge profile image
Coachgeorge in reply topcsangel64

Think it might be UK

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