A healthy thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones which regulate body, brain growth, development, body temperature, energy levels and metabolic functions. Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of hormone T4 and T3, with tell-tale signs of tiredness, weight gain, cramps, muscle weakness, slow heart rate, dry and flaky skin, hair loss, a deep husky voice6 and other symptoms listed in Appendix 1.
T4 is the storage hormone that has to convert to the active hormone T3. Healthy production of thyroid hormones is supported by optimal levels of Iodine, Vitamin D, Ferritin, Folate B12, and selenium. Vitamin D can be obtained from sunlight, other vitamins are sourced from supplements like Beef Liver Capsules or other Wholefoods.
Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders, with a greater burden in women and the elderly being diagnosed (Canaris et al, 2000). A cross sectional Australian survey found the prevalence of overt hypothyroidism to be 5.4 per 1000 (O'Leary et al, 2006). Professor David Stott of the University of Glasgow states 1 in 10 people over 65 are diagnosed with an under functioning thyroid and claims Levothyroxine is the most commonly prescribed prescription drug in the United States. In Scotland alone close to 2.5million prescriptions were issued in 2015/16 at a cost of almost £11.8million5.
There appears to be three options for people with hypothyroidism wanting to supplement with pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals (for different brands refer Table 1.0).
Option 1: Prescription NDT that is made from animal thyroid and has a measured amount of T4 and or T3 per tablet.
Option 2: Prescription Synthetic/ Medicine Levothyroxine, laboratory made, that has a measured amount of T4 and or T3 per tablet.
Option 3: Over the counter glandular supplements such as 30mg bovine glandular thyroid with 470 mg beef liver. This option has concerns amongst medical practitioners because it’s not clear how much T4 or T3 is in each dose or whether each dose has consistent amount of T4 or T3 or any for that matter.
Hashimotos (autoimmune thyroid disease) is where the thyroid is under attack diagnosed by raised thyroid antibodies. Efficacy of medications and testing is evaluated from blood test results arranged by a General Practitioner or an Endocrinologist. Tests are usually carried out eight weeks after changing concentration levels or brands or immediately upon experiencing symptoms of hypothyroidism. Functional thyroid tests include:
TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone comes from the pituitary. Taking a dose of Levothyroxine has not effect on TSH
FT4: Free T4 is T4 unattached to protein
FT3: Free T3 is T3 unattached to protein
TPOab: Antithyroid Peroxide antibodies
TGab: Thyroid antibodies
B12
Folate
Ferritin
Vitamin D
Blood tests may be affected by other medication. If supplementing with Biotin it is recommended to stop taking Biotin 7 days before any blood tests. The last dose of any levothyroxine should be taken 24 hours before the blood test, taking a delayed dose immediately after the blood draw. No food or drink other than water six to eight hours before the testing.
The interpretation of results is not straight forward and may be best managed by an Endocrinologist. If TSH is in range and FT4 is below range this may suggest central hypothyroidism where the problem lies with the pituitary or hypothalmus gland rather than the thyroid.
TABLE 1.0 VARIOUS BRANDS OF THYROID HEALTH PRODUCTS
NDT Prescription Drugs
Armour
NP Thyroid
Synthetic Prescription Drugs:
Oroxine Eltroxin Eustroxsig
Glandular Supplements OTC
Allergy Research
Nutricology
Dr Ron’s
Ancestral
Written by
BrendaSmith
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Thanks for your feedback. I will add that Levothyroxine sodium is available by itself As prescription medicine. My mum takes this.
In the original document I have a list of references from where information came. A lot of the information though has come from this forum and site. Thanks
I do mind. I've got better thing's to do with my limited energy than help you write whatever it is you are attempting.
Your first post on this site said you were thinking of trying an Australian product, and asking for advice on that. , You are now saying you are trying to put information together to 'tell people' .
Tell who, about what, for what purpose, on what authority ?
Obviously not your extensive knowledge and experience of thyroid issues.
I therefore find it hard to be sure if anything you write is true enough to be worth reading , by me , or anybody else in the world.
Try being more upfront in the future.
I and many others have found help from this forum ,and from doing our own reading of published science research papers.
I am angry about your use of members time here, and worried for anybody you are trying to help with your 'work'.
Had your original post said 'Hello , i am trying to write an informative piece about hypothyroidism,could anybody help me ? ' you would have had a much better response, and no doubt produced much better work .
I sincerely hope this is just your homework , and you're not intending to use it on any real people.
I hope you have at least leaned something from any reading you have done through this forum.
Chill out. You don’t have to attack people and provide feedback in the way of insults. How do people find out about this forum? People tell people don’t they? Why are you so worried about what I tell people if it’s sourced from this forum, has a link to information that could help them. I am very surprised about your reaction.
Brenda There are several glaring errors in this summary such as "Prescription Synthetic/ Medicine Levothyroxine, laboratory made, that has a measured amount of T4 and or T3 per tablet." LEVOTHYROXINE HAS NO T3 PER TABLET.
"Taking a dose of Levothyroxine has not effect on TSH"
"There appears to be three options for people with hypothyroidism " no mention is made of liothyronine as an option or a combo levo/lio.
"The interpretation of results is not straight forward and may be best managed by an Endocrinologist." Many on here would disagree.
Taking a dose of Levothyroxine has not effect on TSH
I think they mean that taking your levo just before the blood draw has no effect on TSH. It doesn't. Because TSH doesn't change that fast. But, it's not very well explained.
BrendaSmith , who wrote this?
Vitamin D can be obtained from sunlight,
That is not strictly true. Even people living in very hot countries, like Australia, can still be vit D deficient. Let's just say that it can be obtained from sunlight, but isn't always.
Of course, you can get synthetic tablets that are T4 plus T3 - usually about 100 mcg T4 and 20 mcg T3. Can't remember the names, off hand, but they wouldn't be called levo, of course. The one we have in France is Euthyral.
But, it is rare to be prescribed one of these - especially in the UK. The 'treatment' of choice is pure levo - T4 only.
BrendaSmith Assuming you have written this yourself, and are asking members here to correct errors, I'll add to what others have said with the following;
TABLE 1.0 VARIOUS BRANDS OF THYROID HEALTH PRODUCTS
Description 'thyroid health products' doesn't work for me. Maybe change it to Thyroid Treatments?
NDT Prescription Drugs and Synthetic Prescription Drugs
Please change the word 'drugs' to 'hormones'.
Your brand names list is confusing. The NDT brands named are American. The levothyroxine brand names are Australian. Are you writing this for Australians only?
Which end bit? Dr Ron? Dr Ron appears to be in Canada (doesn't fit in with what RedApple said about brands, above), had his clinic closed for prescribing NDT, and sells a lot of supplements. But, I can't find anywhere where he wrote anything like the above. So, I don't think he wrote it. But, I could be wrong.
Brenda, are you starting your own website, or something? Or just trying to understand how all this works? If the latter, you haven't really understood much at all. As evidenced by your last two posts. If you're just trying to understand - which would be a very good idea - it would be better to phrase your queries as questions - 'Is it true that…?' 'Is this really how it works?' 'Can anyone explain why…?' or something like that. Asking for a 'critique' sounds rather suspicious because if you are starting a web site to advise others, my advice would be: don't. You don't know enough about it, yet, and could seriously mislead uneducated (in thyroidology) people astray. Stick to what you do know.
Hi I have been reading and trying to learn about hypothyroidism and thought I’d put together a summary and wanted to get it checked before I go telling others. I’d hate to say something wrong. I was after feedback. Thanks 😊
I think you have jumped to the wrong conclusions. I hope you can add more value rather than put people down who are trying to learn and whose journey is just beginning.
Who are you going to share this with? I myself have been reading about thyroid disease for 12 years and I have gained a lot of knowledge but I would not want to write about it and then show it to other people because I am not an expert and I am not medically trained. I have been a member of a number of sites here and in America and we have helped each other. Members on this site help other sufferers by sharing experiences of their own illness and what they have been told by others in a similar situation as themselves. Do you suffer with thyroid disease? If you do perhaps you can share your story and experience with us.
I can’t believe the reaction to this post. I wish to share some of the things I have learned from this site, with as many people as I can. I think there’s a lot of misunderstanding about thyroid treatments. This site is one source of knowledge and experiences, worth telling people about. But people shouldn’t be so paranoid.
I think members are wondering why you want to know about thyroid disease. I will ask again do you suffer from thyroid disease? This site is for people who suffer from thyroid disease and need help and advice. I don't think people are paranoid at all they are just asking questions like you are.
Why? This site is for people to share their blood results etc. and other members will help and advise you. You don't have to use your real name or give personal information and my name isn't Lora7again but I use it on this site.
There are many wonderful, helpful people on this forum with a lot of personal experience of their own thyroid disease. They originally came here for help, as I did, received that help from ThyroidUK and the great members of this forum. In most cases it has taken years of gathering information, understanding it and working hard to get well. Now those people are happy to try and help others.
Sorry I don’t feel comfortable sharing my information with you.
That statement, I'm afraid, just makes many here think that all you came here for was to pick our brains, gather information then use it to publish some sort of thyroid helpsite/book/website or whatever. This comes across as you just want to use us for your own ends to make this possible then take the credit for "your work".
In one reply you have said:
I am not starting a website. I’m interested in learning about hypothyroidism and trying to get things clear in my own head.
yet in others you say:
I am from Australia and am writing it for an Australian audience.
I wish to share some of the things I have learned from this site, with as many people as I can. I think there’s a lot of misunderstanding about thyroid treatments. This site is one source of knowledge and experiences, worth telling people about.
You can see how upset people are now that they know what your intention is, and I can't blame them. Unfortunately what you have written really isn't particularly good or accurate. At present you have nothing to offer thyroid patients, I think you have a lot more to learn and understand before you can write anything that comes anywhere near close to the excellent information that is already available elsewhere.
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