An awful lot of recent posts and replies seem to be getting confused between milligrams and micrograms. For the most part, we here will understand even if you do confuse them.
But it does help you to look better informed to a doctor if you get them right. That is, this post is meant to be HELPFUL - not CRITICAL.
I'll post a couple of scraps from my Vade Mecum.
helvella's Vade Mecum document is available here:
helvella - Vade Mecum for Thyroid
The term vade mecum means:
1. A referential book such as a handbook or manual.
2. A useful object, constantly carried on one’s person.
Oh my goodness - I came soooooo close to posting something like this - thank you very much indeed!!! 🙏
I understand how folks can make a transcription error when "micro" actually needs a Greek script and has a "Latin substitute" of "mc"... a slip up and missing out the letter "c" is so easy and yet SO important. 😊
Except when quoting, I try always type out the full word. That is what many official bodies say is the correct or best approach.
Most people type 'mg' instead of (at least) 'mcg'. Expecting mu: µ?
The other problem is, for example, the pill bottle has things like 0.15 mg or 0.05 mg.
Then people are double confused between mg and not mg. And then if anyone corrects the spelling, then it seems more like pedantism.
I think in the UK we use micrograms for all dosages of levothyroxine and liothyronine. (If anyone thinks I am wrong, please correct me!)
Ideally, we should avoid decimal points in dosages. (Some countries even use 12 or 13 instead of 12.5 - and similarly up the range - to avoid the need for decimal points.)
The word microgram in full is preferable to any abbreviation.
I emphasise µ as it can be important to know what it means - whether or not the person ever uses it. I'm certainly not expecting everyone to suddenly start using µ. But nonetheless it seems reasonable to explain how it is possible to use it.
If anyone does need or want to type µ - this link gives numerous ways of doing so on Windows or Mac:
Or just copy it from this reply!
I used charmap the other day to find the micro sign and copy it. For some unknown reason on my PC it came out as m when I pasted it into a reply on this forum. I did a web search for the "micro" symbol, and then copied and pasted from there. That worked okay.
It was this reply where I kept getting m rather than µ :
statins should my son stop them now he is hypo hashi please advise 
List of Allergies and Painting
Levothyroxine 25 micrograms - Teva problems
Statins and Malcolm Kendrick's: The Great Cholestrol Con!
Test results and sore throat
