Advice please - Is this potential dose increase a bad idea?

[Overlooked]

Just wanted to ask for opinions and wisdom regarding my NDT dose.

Never had thyroid treatment before, and just got prescribed 50mg NDT as a trial by my doctor.

Being super cautious, I decided to start at 1/4 of that dose (12.5mg) per day, then build up by another 1/4 each week until I hit the prescribed 50mg. The idea was to ease into NDT for the first time, and hopefully give my body the best chance of avoiding any negative reactions to the new hormones.

So, I'm into the second week, taking 25mg NDT, and seems to be going ok, no negative reactions.

Question: Could I jump from 25mg NDT up to the full 50mg NDT at the end of this week (ie. skip the planned 37.5mg dose, and just go straight up to 50mg)?

Or is an increase of 25mg NDT too much in one go?

Would appreciate any advice or experience with this. Thanks.

[joey82]

I don't have any increase with NDT, but it would be worth tracking your signs before making an increase. Blood Pressure, Heart Rate & Basal Body Temperature.

[Overlooked in reply to joey82]

Thanks, joey82. I have been tracking signs so I can see any changes.

I need to increase the dose anyway, because I have to get up to the 50mg that the doctor prescribed.

I just wonder if it would be ok to jump by 25mg next week, rather than 12.5mg. I wonder if doing it in 12.5mg increments is possibly going too slowly?

[joey82 in reply to Overlooked]

I would always choose caution over speed. From experience its never wise to rush things. I've made that mistake plenty of times. Good luck. Joe

[Overlooked in reply to joey82]

Ok, thanks for that. It is probably the wise choice 🙂.

[waveylines]

Are you moving across from levothyroxine....if so how much levo were you on? Its difficult to say without that information.

[Overlooked in reply to waveylines]

Hi Waveylines, thanks for your response. As mentioned in the original post, I have never been on any thyroid treatment previously. Doctor just started me on 50mg NDT, but I thought to ease into it by cutting the dose and building up over the first few weeks.

I'm just wondering if it's really necessary to keep building up at such a slow rate (12.5mg increases per week), or if it'd be ok to do a 25mg increase?

[waveylines in reply to Overlooked]

Is there a reason why your doctor went straight for ndt? People normally start on. Levothyroxine. Many do well on it.

[Overlooked in reply to waveylines]

I don't know why the doctor went with NDT rather than Levothyroxine. I've been trying to get a doctor to take me seriously for over 2 years with regards to my thyroid levels and symptoms, and this is the first time I was offered to try any sort of thyroid treatment.

I have done a lot of reading about thyroid function and treatment, and am happy to go with NDT if that's the option I have been given.

[waveylines in reply to Overlooked]

Maybe he's a rare breed and has recognised you are a poor converter. 😊😊😊

[Farrugia]

Hello Overlooked - I would stick with the slow weekly increase because once you over do it and get unsettled it can be harder to get back on track and know what's going on. It will only add another week till you get to the recommended dose. I'm on Armour NDT and I find a quarter of a tablet (about 15mg) can make massive difference. When I first started I often got a headache each time I increased the does which then settled after a few days.

Good luck

[Overlooked in reply to Farrugia]

Thanks, Farrugia. I think I was getting a little impatient, and wanted to get on with (hopefully) feeling better. I appreciate you bringing things into perspective, and sharing your experience.

I think I'll stick with low and slow 🙂.

[waveylines in reply to Overlooked]

It's the vest way forward as it's the first time you've had any thyroid replacement. You will get there. 🙂🙂🙂

[Overlooked in reply to waveylines]

Thank you for the encouragement!