NDT

[MissFG]

I’m off to Thailand in 3 weeks. Is NDT readily available over there? Is it cheap? How do you take it?

I’ve never considered it as I went straight into T3 when I couldn’t convert. So curious to find out more as I’m visiting there.

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

No, you can't buy NDT in Thailand. Check out helvella 's document that he is compiling about which thyroid meds are available in different countries:

dropbox.com/s/h9ti2sdagf3qs...

[thyroidnodules in reply to SeasideSusie]

I wonder why when you can buy it online?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to thyroidnodules]

I have received mixed messages. Certainly some people have found they cannot just walk into any pharmacy and buy it.

Some online suppliers offer to arrange to get it delivered to a hotel. So it looks to be possible but I don't know how you'd go about it if you are actually there.

[gizmomonster in reply to SeasideSusie]

I believe that you can buy NDT. You have to go into the smaller Mom/Pop pharmacy to get it without a prescription.

[MMaud in reply to SeasideSusie]

I bought and had NDT delivered to a Thai address when I was in Thailand last year. It arrived in a couple of days.

I chose to do it that way as I had concerns about customs issues.

[monworm in reply to MMaud]

can you let me know who shipped it to you? where did you purchase it from? i have a friend traveling back from thailand and need to have her bring the NDT with her

[Gingersnap202]

I have been told that NDT (Thyroid -S) is available "over the counter" at Thai Pharmacies. IE: No prescription needed. ... It used to be cheap. Less than a year ago I bought 1,000 for $89.00 . Bought them for my hypothyroid dog. ... Bought 500 a couple weeks ago. Price is now $116.00 for the 500. When I asked why the big price increase, I was told "the raw materials are now costing more". ??? As far as how to take it: "With a big glass of water!" ... Seriously, if you want to try it, you need to figure out how much Thyroid-S you would need to take, to get the amount of T3 you are now taking. ...If you do buy some in Thailand, I would love to hear what you pay for it there!!!

[Lora7again in reply to Gingersnap202]

Hi Gingersnap

I have heard the price has increased as well. When I purchased it a couple of years ago it cost me £59 for a 1000 tablets and I received it by post in about 9 days which was very quick.

[Iliketokayak in reply to Gingersnap202]

I live in Chiang Mai, (Northern) Thailand which is a large city. I have yet to find any NDT in a pharmacy. A Thai doctor will only dispense Synthroid and that can be purchased without a prescription in a pharmacy. I went to one pharmacy and thought that I had really hit the jackpot when I found some 25mcg T3. It was apparently from Europe and the packaging was superb. Bottom line, it was counterfeit. I lost about $30. If I was going to visit Thailand I would Google first and then contact an NDT manufacturer directly and see if they would/could sell it. From what I've heard, it is possible that NDT is no longer being manufactured here but that is rumor. To the best of my knowledge the T3 that may be available here is marketed as a steroid to bodybuilders and those in martial arts - usually very small tablets in 100mcg size. Next to impossible to split and who knows if they are legit. I used to take NDT but now am on T3 only.

[Ard1]

Hi, I went to Thailand 2 months ago and bought Thyroid S over the counter. The Fascino brand pharmacies stock it, whereas many others don’t. It was about £60 for 1000 tablets. Look up Fascino pharmacy for the area you’re staying in.

I hope that helps 😊

[MissFG in reply to Ard1]

Thanks what’s in Thyroid S and the difference with T3?

[Ard1]

Thyroid S is Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT) from pig thyroid

Each tablet contains 60 mg. Thyroid Extract (1 Tablet = 60mg = 1 grain)

(1 Bottle contains 1000 Tablets)

Each tablet contains: equivalent of 38 mcg of Levothyroxine (T4) and 9 mcg of Liothyronine (T3) so it is a mix of T4/T3 and is supposed to better replicate human thyroid. The T3/T4 ratio doesn’t work for everyone some people need more T3.

I have been on it a few months and much prefer it to a synthetic T4/T3 combo but everyone is different. I need 5 grains a day spread out. I was on 225mcg T4 and 62.5mcg T3 before.

[MissFG in reply to Ard1]

Thank you I’m on 62.5mcg of T3. Im over the nhs range but it suits me.

How did you move over to thyroid S and were you concerned about changing? And is it easier to source online?

[Ard1 in reply to MissFG]

I’m slightly over range too but find that it suits me too.

I started on 2 grains 12 hours apart. I built up to five grains based on my symptoms. I don’t have a thyroid due to cancer. Are you taking T4 too as it’s not recommended to go T3 only?

My symptoms and energy levels completely changed once I got up to 4 grains of NDT , 5 grains is perfect but 6 was too much . To me it just feels like my biochemistry prefers NDT to synthetic meds. I feel a lot better

Additionally I take a large dose of vit D which also seems to have got me back to normalish. I have far more good days than bad now.

[Ard1 in reply to Ard1]

I haven’t tried to source it online ithink you can though other people might be able to point you in the right direction.

I haven’t had any concerns about swapping over as I could always swap back if it didn’t suit me. Tbh swapping to NDT was a great decision for me 😊

[MissFG in reply to Ard1]

Did you just stop Levo & T3 completed and start on 2 grains 12 hours apart?

I take T3 only Levo did nothing for me and I was so sick I went T3 only and I improved.but do wonder if a more natural alternative would be beneficial and how I’d feel?

I have to take vitamin D and B12. Especially B12 as my tongue swells up within days if I don’t take a high dose.

How do you source your NDT?

I just think if I can get it whilst I’m there, and my friend goes every Christmas it might be worth a try.

[Ard1 in reply to MissFG]

I go to Thailand once a year and have friends who go too. When you’re there ask Fascino pharmacy if there is a way you can order from the uk.

I don’t do well on Levo but really don’t recommend you stop it altogether as it will affect your bone density. I recommend taking T4 with your T3 but you would be better off finding an NDT friendly endocrinologist (Private) to help you adjust to what you really need.

I started by taking a grain at 11am and another at 11pm .

i now take 2 grains at 10am another 1grain at 4:30pm then another 2 grains at 11pm. I relied on my symptoms to to work out what I need.

You should make sure you don’t eat/drink anything with calcium 1 hour either side of taking it.

My tsh is suppressed because of the cancer and my T4 and T3 levels are now in range my T3 some times being slightly over.

You should also take zinc and selenium to help your thyroid meds work optimally.

[MissFG in reply to Ard1]

Do you have to keep it in the fridge? Do they have a use by date? Thanks

[Lora7again in reply to MissFG]

I never kept mine in the fridge but some do and have even frozen it when they bulk buy the drug just incase there is a shortage.

[Lesleyg13 in reply to MissFG]

My Thyroid-S delivered in December 2019 have an expiry date of 27/6/22.

[MMaud in reply to Ard1]

I bought my NDT online, but had it delivered to a Thai address.

[monworm in reply to MMaud]

where do you purchase from please? i’m in a situation where my friend will be back to europe soon from thailand

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to monworm]

It is far, far better for you to write a brand new post - rather than adding a reply to a two-year-old thread.

People have had mixed experiences trying to purchase desiccated thyroid in Thailand. Sometimes they seem to find it is regarded as prescription-only. But others have reported being able to buy some.

I have absolutely NO knowledge of Denmark law. For the UK, someone is not allowed to bring it (or other prescription-only medicines) in for someone else - unless they are members of that person's household.

[humanbean]

Just a suggestion...

Find a picture of Thyroid-S bottles or packets and print out a picture of it/them. It could be helpful to show a pharmacist when there is a possible language difficulty.

[MissFG in reply to humanbean]

Yes that’s what I do in Turkey. Do you know if I can ask in here for the correct brand people take? I’m not asking where to purchase it just what you suggest and a photo

[humanbean in reply to MissFG]

The only NDT currently still being made in Thailand that I know of is Thyroid-S.

[MissFG in reply to humanbean]

Thanks I’ll google it x

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to MissFG]

Unfortunately, I do not currently have a photo of Thyroid S.

Many other thyroid hormone medicines - yes!

dropbox.com/s/7tte490umnz6s...

[Lesleyg13 in reply to helvella]

I'll happily send you photos if no-one else has already?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Lesleyg13]

Lovely - can you send to [e-mail] - and she will send them on to me!

I can find internet pictures but they almost all have supplier identification. And I have no idea how old they are (e.g. could they have changed packaging).

[Lesleyg13 in reply to helvella]

Done.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Lesleyg13]

Have now added Thyroid S to my packaging document, thank you:

dropbox.com/s/7tte490umnz6s...

[Lora7again in reply to helvella]

I did not realize it showed the supplier sorry about that.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Lora7again]

It wasn't me that removed the supplier name!

[Lora7again in reply to Lora7again]

Oh dear ... I blame being untreated by the NHS ...

[Lora7again]

Here is what mine looked like

< supplier details removed>

Lora7again Your link has been removed by Admin as it gives the supplier website address. Please respect posting guideline 25:

25. Do not post advertisements, links or information of any sort whatsoever, on where or how to obtain UK prescription only medications without prescription. This includes online pharmacies who issue 'prescriptions' on the basis of the completion of a simple health questionnaire.

[MissFG in reply to Lora7again]

Thank you