I ordered the new NDT from Thailand, Tru Thyroid, earlier this month. It arrived after only 2 weeks, via air mail.
I emailed the seller yesterday to ask about the breakdown of the product (T4 vs T3), in comparison to other makes of NDT, and here is their detailed reply:
"We produce Tru Thyroid using a nearly identical process to what Armour has registered with the US FDA for their powder. This means we make our thyroid powder to USP standards, with an average hormone content of 38 mcgs of T4 and 9 mcgs T3 per 1 grain/65 mg. Thus, 2 tablets are hormone identical to 1 tablet of Thiroyd from Greater Pharma.
That said, you should always be prepared to adjust your dosage when changing brands. This applies to any brand, not just ours. Hormone content is a necessary condition (if the hormones aren't there you can't absorb them), but it is not the whole story. Bioavailability can change based on the location in your digestive system where the hormones are released, and this can be affected by the tablet formulation. So you may find you need to adjust your dosage. Greater actually used a process where they had an inner plug of concentrated thyroid powder surrounded by an outer shell that delayed absorption until later in the digestive cycle. Tru Thyroid does not use that technique, and is more akin to what you would have received if you chewed Thiroyd or took it sublingually.
So you should use extra care during the first several weeks to titrate your dose based on the new tablets. "
I have just started taking it, so won't be able comment on the quality of the product for a while yet. I should also point out that Thiroyd from Greater Pharma which they compare it to above is actually a little weaker than the new Tru Thyroid.
Each tablet of Thiroyd contains: equivalent of 35 mcg of Levothyroxine (T4) and 8.31 mcg of Liothyronine (T3).
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Thus, 2 tablets are hormone identical to 1 tablet of Thiroyd from Greater Pharma.
then why not use that as your guide and do a straight swap?
So if you were taking, say, 2 grains of Thiroyd then it would be 4 tablets of TruThyroid.
If you are worried that TruThyroid is actually stronger then drop the dose down by perhaps 1/2 a grain or 1/4 of a grain to start with and see how things go.
It could very well be that you're the first member to receive their TruThyroid and nobody else has any experience yet.
Many thanks for your input. After re-reading their emails and playing around with the figures in a spreadsheet I've decided to reduce my equivalent in Tru Thyroid by 1/4 of a grain and see how that goes.
Fingers crossed this marks the beginning of an improvement in NDT availability.
I hope TruThyroid works well for you. Perhaps you'd be good enough to post in a few weeks how everything is going, this could be useful for others thinking of changing to this brand.
"I've not been able to give it a proper trial yet. I did start it, then realised I've got a 6 monthly kidney function blood test coming up. My kidney function has massively improved on Thiroyd, so I thought it best now to wait until my blood test has been done."
I've now got to have the kidney function test repeated later this month (because it had deteriorated somewhat again), so I'm going to stay on Thiroyd until after that.
Hope the next kidney function test goes well have you tried much for that ? My mum has 1 kidney so she’s had lots of tests and tried lots of things to help that staying off caffeine drinking lots of water and not too much protein as it stresses kidneys. Also she had Reflexology and all together she improved her function considerably .
I’ve been taking Tru for a month now so I will test at some point x
There's no known aetiology for my CKD, other than my kidneys are smaller than expected, but then so am I (I'm 5ft 1.5ins and weight 7 stones), and possibly a genetic weakness with the kidneys. The only thing that's ever helped improve my kidney function over the last 8 years is taking NDT, and there was a really big improvement after I started taking it last year. As you probably know, being hypo downregulates creatinine and urea clearance from the blood, which are two of the main markers used to calculate kidney function. Has there been any indication your mum could be hypo?
Good luck with your testing, I look forward to seeing the results, hard to be patient isn't it!
I didn’t know that about kidneys I’ve told her to get tested but she’s only had tsh at docs tested and it was 1.6 so said was normal but she won’t test further as she thinks she’s ok .
Hope your test goes well and will let you know how Tru goes
I would wait the usual 6-8 weeks as is always advised on any change of dose or brand. The only thing I would say is that if you feel symptomatic then test at 6 weeks rather than wait 8 weeks.
I raised the small differences in breakdown with the supplier, they've quickly sent me two more emails copied below:
"That discrepancy is simply whether you consider 1 grain to be 65mg or 60mg. Properly, 1 grain is 65mg, and 1 grain does in fact have 38 mcg of T4 and 9 mcg of T3. All porcine USP desiccated thyroid powder is certified to the same standard defined in the US Pharmacoepia National Formulary 24. That is what the USP in USP thyroid powder means.
Greater Pharma elected to be more specific with their figures and simply multiplied their numbers by 60/65 (because they included 60 mg of NDT instead of 65 mg), which does in fact yield 35 for T4 (38 * 60/65 = 35.077) and 8.3 for T3 (9*60/65 = 8.3077). It is not a difference in concentration so much as it is just a difference in reporting. There is no government regulation that requires a drug manufacturer to report their T4 and T3 concentrations. Sriprasit also only contains 60mg if you read their label carefully. They are just playing fast and loose with the numbers.
There is no practical difference in concentration of hormones. All USP thyroid powder has the same concentration. It then just comes down to how much you put in, and how your digestive system makes use of it. 60mg is always 60mg. Concentration of hormone doesn't vary."
and:
"One other thing. Tru Thyroid actually contains 32mg of natural desiccated thyroid powder. We consider 1 grain to be properly 65mg. So technically, we should be slightly more than Thyroid-S. But this difference is really quite small."
I started out with a little less, 3.88 grain Tru vs the 3.125 grain of Thyroid S I was taking. This because of the need to split doses, I thought it was stronger. Now I reread the above and also heard some can get lost via the stomach. So you'd need more.
My Tru-T also arrived (13 days from ordering to receiving it). I have some TR to to finish up so I won't be starting mine just yet. The supplier does appear to be very helpful.
I received my order of Tru Thyroid several months ago and gave it a fair trial, and even tried changing certain things around to see if it would work better, but I still didn’t do well on it. It made me feel worse and worsened my digestive and constipation issues.
I used to take Thiroyd by Greater Pharma for several years and while it was no miracle medication for my hypothyroidism and never even came close to completely eliminating all my hypo symptoms, it still helped me feel somewhat better and did not give me any bad side effects.
I have been waiting to see what others think of Tru Thyroid and how they do on it because I am very curious to know if it’s a quality issue or a “one size does not fit all” issue.
I use the <supplier details removed> Don't know if they have any at the moment though. Good luck! Ann
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Hi can you also PM me and let me know the vendor you used? I'm curious as I am in US and all the sites I've found that sell Thyroid-S are saying February for delivery.
Yes, I noticed that too and also emailed to ask about it. I was informed that it’s because they’re not producing such large quantities just yet and everything is still tentative.
Curious about how people personally feel about Tru Thyroid compared to Thyroid S? .My employer has taken ndt for decades and has been talking Thyroid S for many years. As everyone is fully aware Thyroid S is about impossible to obtain (she has paid and been on back order for months through various outlets) At this point I think I'm going to order some Tru Thyroid for her and see how it does. Another subject of internal debate is so I just order one bottle or multiple I feel 1 may be a waste considering shipping (located in the US) is the cost of 1/2 a bottle. When she would buy it in the past she generally bought at least a years supply. Although I know this is a long shot but.... if anyone can PM me with a suggestion on a Thyroid S vendor that is shipping or will be shipping soon that would be so greatly appreciated (I need her to be optimal, so we can both have a little sanity in this crazy world). Thanks in advance for response, advice, or even positive thoughts.
I personally prefer the original Thiroyd by Greater Pharma to both Thyroid S and the new Tru Thyroid NDT. Though if I had to choose between Thyroid S and Tru Thyroid, I would choose the former. I found Tru Thyroid harsh on my digestive system, even though it’s supposed to be easier to digest without any coating, lol.
Thank you for replying with your personal experience.
I found an online auction for Thyroid-S. The seller has pretty decent feedback/reviews and other listings are current. So I made an offer and attached a message that I didn't think the site would let it stay up much longer and asked them to make me an offer and I would buy it. The price I paid was a little to good and it is being shipped/sold within the US. but I figure it is worth the gamble and I should know if it was a smart or a foolishly optimistic decision in the next few days.
I am very happy to report that that it was one of the best split decisions I've ever made. That will hopefully work until another source or manufacturer is going and that works.
I've not been able to give it a proper trial yet. I did start it, then realised I've got a 6 monthly kidney function blood test coming up. My kidney function has massively improved on Thiroyd, so I thought it best now to wait until my blood test has been done.
Hi, I had a bad experience with Tru Thyroid, unbeknown until I had my bloods taken by gp, my t4 dropped from 12 to 4 , and TSH went up from 0.003 to 1.77, the weight has piled on 1stone in a month , I was told by manufacturer they had not put a disintegrant in so the tablets were not dissolving just sitting in the gut , these were from a batch ordered in March and since been told they now have the inter grant in , from April onwards , I am taking 6 x 1/2 tabs but the weight is still going up and I have constant headaches and fatigue
I got my Tru in and the Thyroid S order will hopefully ship this month. Will start Tru tomorrow. Funny detail, my cats like the smell of Tru, probably because it has no coating. They never bothered with Thyroid S - I keep it in a pill box in a tupperware box, so it's safe anyway.
That’s so funny 😄, never thought it would be such a hit amongst cats but, yes, the pills do have quite a pungent smell (similar to that of wet cat food!)
Hi, I was on 4 grains Thiroyd (previously 4.5 grains but needed to save some) was feeling okay, felt definitely better on 4.5 grains. I took 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. I have now received Tru Thyroid and taking 2 grains of Thiroyd in the morning and 4 Tru Thyroid in the afternoon - only a couple of days so will update you in a couple of weeks but so far I feel better than before.
I took 1 gr of Thyroid S and 4 tablets of Tru this morning and feel overstimulated. I was on 3.125 grain of Thyroid S. Will take all Tru from now on and will lower with a quarter or half grain tomorrow. Maybe take in 2 doses. I never split dose with Thyroid S. Will be stuck on Tru for at least 2 more weeks.
yes I understand, I'm on Thiroyd too and I'm interesting in all this Tru-thyroid stuff. I just wanted to tell 1tab of Tru is 0,5 grain, of course 2 tablets are equal 1 grain it doesn't matter what kind of ndt. So it's good news that Tru is stronger then Thiroyd, if you say.
Yesterday I took 2 grain in the am and 1 gr at night. No overstimulation. I did feel great moodwise that first day. The second day was wobbly moodwise.
Well, I do hope it works out for you and that the unstable moodiness is just a temporary side effect of your body adjusting...but if you do experience the return of symptoms or the worsening of some, please do let us know!
Thank you. I hope it will at least tide me over until my TS order is in. But it will probably take a while to get used to it. I don't know when to take the 2nd dose. My sleep wasn't good when I took it before bedtime, but that can be coincidental. I don't feel a dip during the day or something.
Not bad, but I think I am taking too little. I still need to take 2 doses, but hopefully found a new method to helpt with that. I put a dose in a veg capsule and coated it in beeswax. Then it should not open in the stomach and not cause overstimulation. Also, it should be more potent if it is released later in the digestive system.
Please explain why getting it to the digestive system is important. I have taken Armour thyroid for years 60mg. I have no idea if it is just going to my stomach or beyond into my digestive system.
I live in Puerto Rico and have had no problems getting it, but I am concerned now that it might not be available here anymore.
I seem to be fine on it except that I have put on a lot of weight and can't seem to lose it, more exercise would no doubt help! Also, some days I have to take a nap in the afternoon. Other than that, none of the big problems I have seen others report in this forum.
Tru thyroid is much less expensive than Armour, so would be great for me even with the shipping if it works as well.
I am nervous to change after all these years, but I might not have a choice.
From what I understand, it's the difference between coated and uncoated tablets. Thyroid S is coated, Tru and Thiroyd are not. That means coated tablets are not dissolved in the stomach like the uncoated ones. Also, the coating binds the hormones. Apparently, this makes the uncoated tablets work faster and with more chance of overstimulation. I never needed to split doses with Thyroid S.
But it also seems some of the hormones get lost in the stomach, rather than taken up by the body. So then you would need more.
I can now sleep on a before bed time dose of 1 grain, by the way. So that one time was coincidental. From 2.25 grains on, I get overstimulated. But maybe now I coated the tablets myself as it were, not anymore.
Are your labs still the same? That could point to underdosing, perhaps.
Would you mind private messaging where you got it? I’ve taken Thiroyd for years and am so bummed I can’t get it anymore. Also can’t find Thyroid-s as it appears nobody can. I’m in the US and doctors here are pretty unhelpful with this (at least the ones I’ve tried). I’ve been taking Thyrogold and it is just not cutting it. Desperate to find something new. Thank you.
I'm so glad that I came across this thread, if rather late in the day!
I've just ordered 800 Tru Thyroid tablets and hope they arrive OK. On their website it warns that it may take 8 weeks by boat, but I'm assuming now there are more flights that it will come by air mail as yours has. I'm looking forward to experimenting with them!
I have been taking a mixture of Levo and Thiroyd tablets but was starting to get low on the latter, so you can imagine my relief on finding your post.
It just sounds like they haven't updated their website re delivery dates now that air mail is up and running again, so I'd hope it would be with you within a few weeks.
You probably haven't seen my update above:
"I've not been able to give it a proper trial yet. I did start it, then realised I've got a 6 monthly kidney function blood test coming up. My kidney function has massively improved on Thiroyd, so I thought it best now to wait until my blood test has been done."
I've now got to have the kidney function test repeated again in August, so I'm going to stay on Thiroyd until after that.
Update 1 month in. I solved the overstimulation by putting the tablets in a capsule and sealing with beeswax. Now I can take the entire dose in one go and my cats don't smell it anymore 😁. Also, I had some bloating and bad taste in mouth. I think that will resolve as well in this way. My dose is now the same in grains as Thyroid S. TS still not shipped, but Tru will last me 10 months . Mood is stable.
That's great, delighted to hear some positive feedback. What were you taking before? Apologies if I have missed that. How did you manage to convert the dosage out appropriately? Is Tru stronger or weaker that what you were on? Thanks
I´d be interested to know what you found out (if you contacted seller). I´m in Sweden and never order from countries outside the EU to avoid problems with customs...they seem to open all shipments from outside the EU. Even supplements are confiscated sometimes.
Update taking tru Thyroid for a while: mood, sleep, temperature good. However significant digestive issues, bloating, water retention and I've gained weight as well. Not sure what to do. Maybe I'll try taken sublingually or putting them into a coat. Could someone pm me where they are getting thyroid-s please?
No GI issues, but I am gaining even more weight now and sleeping more so I have gone hypo. I will have to stop Tru Thyroid and move on to Metavive or Raw Thyroid Thyrogold.
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