Conversion rate from NDT to T3

[serenfach]

As I now cannot get any NDT (which I feel well on) I am looking at alternatives. I can get T3, so what dose do you think I should take?

I am currently on 2.5 NDT (Thyroid S). I really really do not want to go back on Thyroxine as I was never well on that, despite the GP constantly upping the dose. Thanks.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Serenfach

Before changing to T3 only, have you thought about trying Metavive? It's a thyroid glandular with no declared hormone content but some members are doing well on it (some not) so it might be worth considering. It's available in the UK, only one supplier easily found on Google.

[serenfach in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks, I will look it up. The thought of going back to how I was on just T4 is just too awful!

[reliablerebel in reply to serenfach]

I have switched successfully from thiroyd to metavive11. Its easily available in the uk. I know it works for a good share of us, but like everything, it does not suit all. Defo worth a try!

[serenfach in reply to reliablerebel]

Thanks for this, I am going to put my big girls knickers on and give it a try!

[reliablerebel in reply to serenfach]

I wish when I started on metavive that I had bought both metavive1 and metavive11. Metavive1 is half the strength of metavive11 and makes tweaking the dose up/down much easier. They are capsules with powder. I know some who open the capsule and split the powder, using spare gel capsules they buy on amazon. But too much fiddle for me. I was on 3 thiroyd, now settled on 2 metavive11. I tried three metavive11 and ended up overmedicated so dropped down. Recent bloods were good. But I have ordered metavive1 to see if I can increase a small bit. I feel great on the metavive. I waited the full six weeks once I had settled on a dose before checking bloods. I was dying to check sooner though!!

[Eddie83]

Don't understand your post. You said you feel well on NDT, but not Thyroxine. NDT is a combination of T3(liothyronine) and T4(thyroxine), plus a few other things like T2 that might, or might not, affect how you feel. NDT contains T3:T4 in a 1:4 ratio. 2.5 grains of NDT is equivalent to 22mcg T3 and 95mcg T4. So why don't you try thyroxine 100mcg + liothyronine 20mcg? (I am currently on thyroxine 100mcg + liothyronine 10mcg. I use two Levoxyl 50mcg tabs for my thyroxine, as I need GF meds, and feel Levoxyl is purer than the Synthroid distributed in the USA.)

[Eddie83]

P.S.: you said you don't feel well on thyroxine-only. Did your doctor not take FT3/FT4/rT3 tests when that happened, in an attempt to find out why? Inability to convert T4 has many possible causes, but I know from my case that a major cause is gut disorders. (I had gluten enteropathy for many years.)

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Eddie83]

Reverse T3 tests are effectively not available in the UK. Should someone wish to pay for a private rT3 test, I believe all the companies that offer it send the samples to the USA.

Indeed, even in the USA, they have this statement (or similar):

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by ARUP Laboratories. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved or cleared this test; however, FDA clearance or approval is not currently required for clinical use. The results are not intended to be used as the sole means for clinical diagnosis or patient management decisions.

[serenfach in reply to Eddie83]

The GP was not bothered. He would not do T3 levels, so I had a private test which showed no matter how much T4 I took, my T3 was rock bottom. I changed GPs and was given some T3 alongside T4 and felt like I had shrugged off a cold wet heavy overcoat, almost overnight. Then they stopped the T3. I went on to NDT and not only threw away the overcoat, but found some brain cells. Of courrse the GP was not happy, but it is not his body.

So. like many here, I have taken matters into my own hands. The lack of NDT for many of us is a real problem. Most GPs will not prescribe T3 as it is expensive and they think we should be well on T4 alone.

If it were not for this forum, I would still be in a dark place, not being able to work or think, and I know I am not alone. The help, advice and care in this forum has probably saved my life.

[Eddie83]

Agreed! The stupidity of cookie-cutter T4 thyroid treatment is unfathomable. It really is malpractice.