How do I switch to Levothyroxine from NDT, do I have to do an overlap so my levels don’t go too low?

[Ratkinson]

I want to switch back to levo as I can’t get the dose of NDT right and I feel constantly dreadful, I know I can just start taking my old dose of levo, but do I still need to keep some NDT to make sure I don’t go too hypo as what I’m adding in is slow acting? Thanks

[Hidden]

Feel dreadful on NDT how? What are your symptoms exactly? What symptoms make you want to go from NDT to levo? Why did you switch to NDT in the first place? Which brand(s) of NDT have you been taking? Did a doctor prescribe NDT? Did a doctor put you on levo before you went on NDT? Do you have any lab results to post here?

[Ratkinson in reply to Hidden]

Muscle pain, shoulder up to neck, headache, muscle twitching, hung over feeling/ flu feeling. Went from levo because high T4 ( endo wanted to reduce) but low T3. Low ferritin - on ferrous fumerate. .

On Erfa prescribe by a private endo as my NHS one can’t.

I’m panhypopituitary, secondary Addisons, diabetes insipidus, on growth hormone and HRT . Any change to any of my replacement hormones impacts on the others . I’m pretty sure I’m going low on my steroids because of the T3. I’m having to take extra HC to compensate - or it could be that I need more NDT , but I can’t tell for sure. All I know is I feel worse than I feel worse than before I started taking it and want to go back to the levo and maybe add-in T3 at a later stage.

Labs reported in previous post

[Ratkinson]

Thanks for replying, I’ve been trying to split into 3 doses a day, but really struggling with getting the timings right for that- I do use an alarm , but still find I’ve eaten or drunk too close to taking them so I’m probably not absorbing evenly.I feel I need more than the 2 grains I have got to ( still waiting for bloods on that) but my pulse and BP have increased so that worries me. (Pulse 90). As I say the symptoms I’m getting are possibly a combo of low thyroid and low cortisol, but I just feel in a real muddle trying to fiddle with several dosages. It’s not like I just feel not quite right it’s more like I can’t function some days at all - on those days I need to up my steroid ( I can’t risk not to) but I think it’s probably my T3 at fault.

Just feel in a bit of a mess!

[Hidden]

I've just looked at your previous posts and can't see any results.

Can you post them again? Without actual results and ranges it's very hard for anyone to be able to give you any specific advice.

[Ratkinson in reply to Hidden]

No I can’t see them either ! - anyway here they are, taken on 1 1/2 grains , I’m up to 2 now.

.

[Ratkinson in reply to Ratkinson]

Ferritin was 45 , going up, butI know still low.

[Hidden in reply to Ratkinson]

I'm on Armour and a touch of T4, and your results above are way, way too low. I would feel really sick with these, my tsh is also suppressed as well as yours.

[Ratkinson in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, I’m going to aim higher, but take it slow!I forgot to say my TSH is always <0.1 as what I have left of my pituitary gland ( had a tumour on it) doesn’t function anymore.

[Hidden in reply to Ratkinson]

Please take it slow for sure, I am the same, increasing only bit by bit. I understand, I have central hypo, so we can shake hands 😊 my tsh never recover even when ft3 ft4 are low and below range. Apparently this is the effect of taking high doses of Armour for a long time, pituitary gland stops producing TSH.

[Ratkinson]

Thank you , I definitely think twice a day dosing will be better for me. I shall give it a go, thanks. I’m just reading “ Tired thyroid “ by Barbara Lougheed which I’m finding useful.