Is there a reliable, natural alternative to Levothyroxine?

[Baginbo]

Natural Alternative?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Baginbo

There is Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT) made from pigs' thyroid, this was the first thyroid hormone replacement before synthetic levothyroxine.

However, it's not all natural, it has to be made into tablets and the only way to make tablets is to add synthetic excipients.

NDT is not licensed in the UK so unlikely to be given on prescription.

[Baginbo in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for your reply, I did see this on this site. Thoughts on the product Thyrogard, natural thyroid support please?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Baginbo]

Baginbo

Don't touch it. Anything that says "thyroid support" tends to have iodine in it, Thyrogard lists Kelp - a source of iodine.

Iodine solution used to be used to treat overactive thyroid before the current radioiodine treatment, so therefore it can make hypothyroidism worse. We should avoid iodine unless we have tested and found to be deficient.

What exactly is your problem with Levo?

Do you have any current test results (with reference ranges) that you can share with us?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?

How long have you been on this dose?

do you have any actual blood test results?

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...