Levothyroxine Alternative

[Spottyskin]

Has anyone taken an alternative meds to Levothyroxine and if so what?

[greygoose]

The only alternatives to levo are T3 - levo is T4 - or NDT, which contains both T4 and T3 (and I include the glandulars in that catagory although they are not real NDT).

I started on levo only, added T3, then went on to NDT. But, the only thing that has made me well is T3 only.

But, if by 'alternative', you means herbs or vitamins or something, then no, there is no alternative. You can only replace a hormone with a hormone. You have to take some form of thyroid hormone replacement: T4/T3/NDT.

[Spottyskin in reply to greygoose]

Thanks, it is conventional meds.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Thousands upon thousands of U.K. members take other options

Usually

Levothyroxine plus T3 (liothyronine)

Difficult to get T3 prescribed on NHS, but not impossible

Though there’s a post code lottery….so can depend where you live

NDT - Natural Desiccated Thyroid (pig or cow thyroid)

Virtually impossible to get prescribed on NHS

Can see on your previous posts you had thyroid cancer and RAI

Very common to not have adequate conversion of levothyroxine (Ft4) to active hormone (Ft3) after RAI

First step is to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done

See EXACTLY what’s going on

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if under medicated or poor conversion

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Before considering adding T3 or trialing NDT you need to get vitamin levels tested and optimal

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 and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

When on T3 or NDT - day before test split daily dose into 3 smaller doses, spread through the day at approx 8 hour intervals, taking last dose 8-12 hours before test

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

List of private testing options

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue

Itchy skin/blisters suggests gluten intolerance

Request coeliac blood test BEFORE considering trial on strictly gluten free diet

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

All the options are in my document which I linked to in a reply to you a couple of months ago.

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

[Spottyskin]

Since my last post I managed to change from Teva brand to Zentive Oral solution in the hope that this would stop the itchy spots that have now started to migrate on other parts of my body once again. Could now be that I my body does not tolerate Levothyroxine and it is a cumulative effect.

I have a consult with my oncologist on Monday for results of dynamic risk assessment results and to discuss what change has occured if any on the change of brand.I am lucky that the level of medication has been fine and don't have any issues except for spots/itchy hives but it is now a year and need a resolve.

I saw a dermatologist who advised that they would never get to know which of, if it was the excipients in the meds what I was reacting too. I am going to see if I will get referred to see the endocrinologist. now. My Oncologist had been in contact with him re the severity of the reaction I had on the tablets earlier in the year. I have reduced my Levothyroxine to 75ml. I started on 125 reduced to 100 in August to see if this helped, my Oncologist wanted to reduce the dose further to 75ml because of the long term effects of taking a high dose. I started this a week ago with no effects so far.

Looks like T3 may be the way forward.

My results are as follows:

FREE THYROXINE

16.0 pmol/L (9.1 - 17.6)

TSH

23.00 mU/L (0.35 - 4.90)

VIT B12

286 ng/L (187 - 883

FERRITIN

134.0 micro g/L (5.0 - 204.0

FOLATE

7.9 micro g/L (3.1 - 20.0

VIT D

76 nmol/L (50 - 200)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Spottyskin]

Well obviously you need TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 tested together

Monitor My Health Is cheapest

Always test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

When was last dose levothyroxine before test

TSH obviously ludicrously high and extremely under medicated

Are you male or female

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

Folate, B12 and vitamin D too low

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[Spottyskin]

I am a 67 year old female. 64.4 kg,

I don't talk any supplements.

48 hours was the last dose of Levothyroxine, however thinking about it I had had injections on the Monday and Tuesday to elevate my thyroglobulin level and bloods on the Friday for the Dynamic Risk Assessment I assume this would have altered the TSH result perhaps making it higher than it would be?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Spottyskin]

Usually it takes 4-6 weeks for TSH to alter

75mcg levothyroxine is only one step up from starter dose

Guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight is approx 1.6mcg levothyroxine per kilo per day

48 hours is too long between last dose levothyroxine and test ….so you’re perhaps not utilising levothyroxine

Next step is to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Request coeliac blood test if not already tested

Suggest you consider starting vitamin D and daily vitamin B complex to improve levels