Metavive?: I just saw a post here this morning... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

143,815 members•169,248 posts

Metavive?

•

I just saw a post here this morning mentioning that Metavive is a high quality product but cannot find that post again.

I read about it and it seems to be like NDT only sold as a supplement.

I have been on Thyroid-S for the past few years. In the past, I've been prescribed Armour and Erfa but both are terribly expensive in Belgium (at my current dose, 4 grains daily, about 2000€ a year for Armour and 1600€ for Erfa). Simply not worth it, especially since they've both been reported to be problematic. Thyroid-S works well enough, but I am not comfortable about all the fillers. Also, since two brands of Thai NDT have disappeared in recent months, I'd prefer to look for alternatives should it ever come to that.

I like the fact that the raw material used in Metavive comes from animals that have not been given growth hormone or antibiotics.

Have others successfully used Metavive? If so, did you find it to be weaker than prescription NDT? Approximate equivalence? I wouldn't mind taking more if only it worked well.

Read more about...

16 Replies

•

SeasideSusieRemembering5 years ago

ASanders69

The post you refer to is within this thread

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Of course, Metavive is sold as a food supplement with no declared hormone content, so it's not possible to compare it, everyone has their own experience and it seems that some do well with it.

• in reply toSeasideSusie5 years ago

Thanks, yes that's the post I was referring to!

I guess what I'm wondeirng is if Metavive is comparable to Thyro Gold which is also sold as a supplement?

SeasideSusieRemembering• in reply to5 years ago

ThyroGold is bovine glandular, Metavive does a bovine and a porcine glandular.

Looking at ThyroGold it comes as 150mg and 300mg capsules.

Bovine Metavive comes as 32.5mg and 65mg capsules.

Porcine Metavive comes as 15mg and 30mg capsules, and Metavive Pro (available through practioners I believe) comes as 60mg capsules.

This blog discusses ThyroGold:

thyroidpaul.com/2015/09/06/...

I don't think it's possible to say if Bovine Metavive, or indeed Porcine Metavive, and ThyroGold are comparable unless someone has tried both.

Modom• in reply to5 years ago

Thyro Gold sounds like an excellent product but the $40 postage plus import tax would make it prohibitive.

I am very interested as I am an Erfa user, now without any!

• in reply toModom5 years ago

So you cannot get Erfa anymore? The last time I ordered it I was told the 125 mg pills were unavailable, I could only get 30 and 60 mg pills and that would be more expensive than taking the 125 mg pills...

I am interested in ThyroGold as it seems to be prescription strength even if sold as a supplement...I know it's not the cheapest option available, but still more cost-effective than prescription NDT. I have just always believed porcine thyroid would be closer to human chemistry than bovine, but after all TG was formulated by a very knowledgeable doctor so could be worth a try...I am getting tired of all the reported availability problems, not to mention all the reformulations and reports about NDT working less well or not at all.

Modom• in reply to5 years ago

I use Allium as a pharmacy and they have been unable to get anything but 30mg for several months, and then nothing at all. They are are now getting some supplies.

The whole thing is becoming so very expensive about £2.70 a day, plus the costs of private testing for my private gp for my private prescription. Plus the uncertainty of the supply from Canada.

I agree Thyro Gold looks good, but the cost again becomes onerous. $40 plus customes charges at this end.

So, I have some Metavive in front of me and have been taking 90mg (to match Erfa).

I will up the does next week. So far so good, too soon to tell but feeling a little better mood wise.

• in reply toModom5 years ago

Yes, I know what you mean...ThyroGold is not cheap, but still cheaper than prescription NDT. I guess it depends on where you live, and whether your health insurance covers it, but in Belgium where I live only two brands of NDT are available: Armour and Erfa. It's not covered by health insurance since it's considered "organ therapy". At my current dose (4 grains daily), a year's supply of Armour would cost me 2000€, a year's supply of Erfa 1600€.

So, if I knew ThyroGold worked really well, I'd give it a try.

I have been on Thai NDT (Thyroid-S) for a few years now and doing OK, only it contains about 20 fillers (incl aluminium and dyes) and I'm not too crazy about that...I'm worried about long-term effects. I have never understood why they'd need to put so many fillers in one tiny pill. Also, some of the fillers may even be banned in the EU. So I have been looking into alternatives as I'm not sure I want to stay on Thyroid-S for the rest of my life.

Howard395 years ago

Hi think it’s like Seasidesusie says you have to try it and see.

My specialist uses it with decent results. One 60 mg porcine capsule is equal to a grain( ish).

My friend has swapped from armour with no issues. I tried swapping a grain for a capsule and ended up with a banging headache for three weeks.

The beef one was ok.

Personally I’ll use it as my back up plan.

Most people i know found it stronger than ndt. However we are all different, just costly to do a trial and error scenario.

• in reply toHoward395 years ago

Sorry, are you referring to Thyro Gold or Metavive?

Howard39• in reply to5 years ago

Metavive sorry.

• in reply toHoward395 years ago

OK, thanks! Can I ask why your friend switched from Armour to Metavive? Curious as my doctor prescribes Armour but the cost is prohibitive and there are many negative reviews online so I'd really hesitate to give it a try...

Howard39• in reply to5 years ago

Cost lol and availability.

Her specialist is mine too. She was under no pressure to swap but feels exactly the same for less money and with brexit ( double sigh!!) she had to source it herself. Our specialist has nature throid in stock which I found v weak and rivals armour on private prescription from that source.

Do you mean negative reviews re metavive ?

• in reply toHoward395 years ago

Sorry, no, re Armour since the reformulation back in 2009 or 2010...at first, I did not pay much attention as they were on the STTM (which I find too militant), but then reviews started showing up on other sites and forums as well...it seems to work less well since it was reformulated to have more cellulose added to it, although it seems cellulose is a common filler in drugs so not sure how exactly...except that some claim it impairs absorption of thyroid hormone.

But, on the other hand, brands such as NP, WP, and Erfa Thyroid are also reported to work less well lately, and they don't contain cellulose, so not sure cellulose is the problem to begin with...? Anyway, the STTM complained the added cellulose made it impossible to take Armour sublingually, but I've never taken NDT that way anyway (just swallow it) so not sure that would have made any difference to me...

It's really confusing and the info available does not make it any clearer...!

Howard39• in reply to5 years ago

Well it’s a pickle considering the price and it is supposed to be the best.

All I can say is try the metavive and it’s not the end of the world if you don’t take to it.( I’d suggest swapping like for like 60 mg is one grain. I tried to mix and had a thumping headache. So not ideal.) I do monitor my temps with a basal thermometer. V good if you are starting/ swap meds or monitoring your adrenals. See drmyhill.co.uk and search for orchestra in the search bar in the top right hand corner of the home page. Well worth a read.

Yes most have been reformulated. I chew mine and it works for me. The strongest I’ve taken is thyroid s but the additives list is pretty large. Tr man was excellent but sadly not now being made.

Good luck, let me know how you get on.

• in reply toHoward395 years ago

Thanks! Yes, I am currently on Thyroid-S, have been for a while, but am not too crazy abou the 20 or so fillers, including three various dyes.

You have given me good advice and a lot of food for thought! Chewing NDT up is an option I haven't yet considered, I have just read the advice to take it sublingually but then others claim it's not meant to be taken that way so not absorbed under the tongue. Chewing it up could be worth trying though.

helvella1 month ago

The person who started this post has left the forum. (Hence the name has changed from whatever it had been to ‘Hidden’.)

For that reason, I shall now close the post to replying.

This particular post is also very old (more than ten years) and might contain out of date information. Also, other members who have contributed might have left the forum, or may no longer be active. Because all members who have left are identified as ‘Hidden’, we often cannot reliably tell if just one member who has left, or several and who wrote which reply.

If appropriate, you can always send a Private Message (Chat) those who replied on this post who remain members. Or, in a new post or reply, call out (mention) such members.