NDT what is it?

[Petgirl2]

I' d like an alternative to levo,preferably a vegan choice if possible.

I got no offerings here,perhaps if I new the alternatives, I could discover sources myself,then suggest changing to it with my doctor.

many thanks

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I'm afraid I cannot see where you are located? It would help if you added that to your profile.

In order to establish whether a product is vegan, I think you'd have to contact the manufacturer in many cases. You cannot know how they source some ingredients - such as magnesium stearate. (Though some are obviously not vegan.)

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

I have created, and try to maintain, a document containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines in the UK and, in less detail, many others around the world. It is sectioned by UK - rest of the world, and by T4, T3, desiccated thyroid, etc.

And do keep up to date. I edit it frequently- sometimes trivially, sometimes extensively. If your copy is more than a few weeks old, please download it again. (You must download - not just view in a browser- for the Table of Contents to work.)

From Dropbox:

dropbox.com/s/wfhrlmb5983co...

From Google Drive:

drive.google.com/file/d/11z...

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

NDT stands for Natural Dessicated Thyroid. Basically the dried thyroids of pigs. I'm not aware that plants have a thyroid to be able to dry out, and for us to take in replacement for our own thyroid hormones. Maybe lactose free T3 might work?

[Petgirl2 in reply to Jaydee1507]

thank you,

[RedApple Administrator]

Petgirl2, 'Your post title asks 'NDT what is it?'

NDT is Natural Desiccated Thyroid, which is usually derived from pigs. This means that NDT cannot be a 'vegan' medication.

Synthetic levothyroxine (frequently referred to as T4), is the nearest you will get to vegetarian or vegan replacement thyroid hormone.

[Petgirl2 in reply to RedApple]

thank you

[rachelleigh]

stopthethyroidmadness.com/v...

Hi Petgirl2 - I was curious about your question and googled a little - I came across the link above and thought it might be helpful...

[Petgirl2 in reply to rachelleigh]

thanks that's a good read. Haven't been given or told about any alternatives, was worried as tge apparent side effects on your heart etc with levothyroxine are supposedly high.

I think also if I could get the natural option and live better, I think I would. As I'm not vegan, I do try to take a no animal option, but only to reduce the strain on meat"industry" as opposed to ridding of it completely.

thank you for your research.

[rachelleigh in reply to Petgirl2]

You're welcome! It seems there aren't many GP's or endocrinologists in the UK who will prescribe anything other than Levo though. I source my NDT privately - initially from overseas, now on prescription from a private doctor. Do feel free to send a private message for info if ever needed (we are not allowed to discuss these things on the forum).

Best of luck!

Rache

[Petgirl2 in reply to rachelleigh]

thank you, I was diagnosed when I lived in Germany, I now live in Portugal

[TSH110]

I’m afraid it isn’t vegan - Levothyroxine and liothyronine are your only options.

NDT is the ground up thyroid glands of pigs (usually) or occasionally cattle. So it is not vegan at all I’m afraid.

Synthetic thyroid hormones are your only option and I can’t say with any surety if they are even vegetarian let alone vegan, but they ought to be the best choice to avoid taking any animal derived byproducts like the levels you’d find in NDT.

I take NDT but wish I had been ok on Levothyroxine as I’d rather no animals were used to make my medication. I try and console myself knowing these pigs are not killed just for their thyroids that’s just a minor byproduct, but other products like meat are more profitable. They use every last bit of a pig to make all kinds, including NDT.

I feel loads better on it which is a bit gutting as I was a strict vegetarian for 30 years before I ended up taking it. But it is the closest thing you can get to what our thyroids once made to keep us healthy.

You may find this an interesting read:

tpauk.com/main/article/trea...

[Petgirl2 in reply to TSH110]

thank you