levothyroxine and metavive?

[aw10477]

Hi - I just wondered if anyone takes levothyroxine and metavive together. I take levothyroxine for Hashimoto’s. It’s ok but I don’t convert from T4 to T3 that well - I wondered if a small dose of metavive in addition would help? I’m on a 100 of levo and was thinking of adding a very small dose of metavive

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

Can you add your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

Important to maintain GOOD vitamin levels for good conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

Also as you have Hashimoto’s are you on gluten free and/or dairy free diet

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

If vitamin levels are optimal but Ft3 still low have you considered getting T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

Here’s link for how to request Thyroid U.K.list of private Doctors emailed to you, but within the email a link to download list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3

Ideally choose an endocrinologist to see privately initially and who also does NHS consultations

thyroiduk.org/contact-us/ge...

Increasing numbers of U.K. patients are getting T3 on nhs

[aw10477 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon,

Thanks for your reply.

Below are my thyroid and vitamin results. My thyroid tests are ok ish but not ideal and I am looking to improve T4/T3 conversion.

FT3 - 3.9 (normal range 3.1-6.8)

FT4 - 23.7 (normal range 12-22.0)

TSH - 0.296 (normal range 0.27-4.2)

T4 - 143 (normal range 59-154)

Folate - 31.7 (normal range 10-45)

B12 - 545 (normal range 248-569)

My ferretin is a little high

Vitamin D - 102 (normal range - 50-250)

I am gluten free and dairy free and follow a pretty strict diet (AIP based) - I have reversed many symptoms and things are pretty stable but it’s a tough call and very restrictive but I’m used to it. I do get allergies if I eat high histamine foods but have it under control now as I know what foods to avoid.

I have tried to get T3 but unsuccessfully from my GP as they only prescribe levothyroxine - I have been looking at metavive ad a possible way to increase T3 in addition in a small dose to improve conversion.

Thank you for the list - I will have a look.

Sent from my iPhone

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to aw10477]

Was last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

If yes, you need small reduction in Levo before adding T3 (or Metavive)

GP can’t initiate T3

You will need to see an endo for first 3-6 months trial

Over 66,000 prescriptions for T3 in England in last year…..and number steadily increasing

Searchable by ICB or GP practice

openprescribing.net/analyse...

As you need to gluten and dairy free it’s highly likely that you will need added T3

[aw10477 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you - the test was done at 11 and I had taken Levo at about 6.30 am so it was not 24 hours earlier. Next time I have a test which will be October I shall follow your advice and do 24 hours after.

Can I ask - how much metavive you would recommend - I have the 40mg tablets. I was thinking of just maybe splitting one in half to make a small dose of 20mg and see if it helps? Or maybe reduce levo slightly as you say and take 40?

Thanks this is all very helpful.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to aw10477]

So Ft4 result was false high as last dose levo only 4-5 hours before test

TSH would have been higher at 8am

I would retest correctly on just levo before changing anything

Just TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 test - £32

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

[aw10477 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks I’ll get retested 24 hours after taking Levo

[Jamima]

Hi aw10477 - I’ve used Levo and metavive, albeit in a lower dose than yours. I preferred it to Levo and t3. I added just 1 metavive I to a dose of 50 Levo and felt quite well. I don’t get on with Levo so eventually stopped it and now use metavive only.

[aw10477 in reply to Jamima]

Hi jamima

Thank you for your reply. Very useful / I am going to try adding a small dose of metavive I think to see if it improves conversion from t4 to t3. The levo does seem to work for me but it’s far from perfect so am looking for alternative routes - my first option was possibly adding the metavive to see if it helps.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

If you do this then you probably need to make your GP aware as your TSH will likely drop which will in turn trigger your GP wanting to drop your Levo dose.

[aw10477 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thanks - I am going to add a small dose of metavive I think to see if it helps/I will be having my next blood test next month so will talk to my GP then regarding any adjustments.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to aw10477]

Have you tested to see if you are converting yet? You need a TSH, FT4 & FT3 test, can buy privately.

Also have you tested key vitamin levels ferritin, folate, B12 & D3?

When hypo we get low stomach acid which means we cannot absorb vitamins well from our food, regardless of a great diet. For thyroid hormone to work well we need OPTIMAL levels of vitamins.

Have you recently or could you ask your GP to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3? Private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

There is also a new company offering walk in& mail order blood tests in London, Kent, Sussex & Surrey areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...

Only do private tests on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid postal delays.

[aw10477 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hi

Yes I had a private test recently-

FT3 - 3.9 (normal range 3.1-6.8)

FT4 - 23.7 (normal range 12-22.0)

TSH - 0.296 (normal range 0.27-4.2)

T4 - 143 (normal range 59-154)

Folate - 31.7 (normal range 10-45)

B12 - 545 (normal range 248-569)

My ferritin is a little high

I take a B12 and D3 supplement plus selenium and zinc. I think my vitamin levels are not too bad aside from high ferritin which I am looking into not quite sure how to solve that - the thyroid is not converting that well currently- again looking at ways to improve this

Thanks for your advice- very helpful

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to aw10477]

If ferritin is high then ask for an iron panel to make sure that serum iron isnt too low.

How much vit D is in your supplement? Most people need a minimum of 3,000iu to get their level to optimal.

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £31 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

[aw10477 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thanks for the info.

My vitamin D levels are optimal now (I do take a 3000 iu supplement)

I’ve never had an iron panel done but I’ll look into that

[Lynneypin]

as Slow Dragon says, wait until after your next test before adding Metavive. I used it for a while and it made a big difference to my blood results. (I take ndt now)

[aw10477 in reply to Lynneypin]

Thank you. When you took metavive were you on levothyroxine? I’m not sure I want to switch from levothyroxine currently but keen to get my T4/T3 conversion working. Metavive is quite easy for me to get where I am located - thanks

[Lynneypin in reply to aw10477]

No I was on a low dose of ndt and needed more so added metavive to try to keep the costs down. But it made too big of a change so I just grit my teeth and buy more ndt. 😂

There are others on here that use it. I remember having a chat with someone who only uses metavive- try searching for metavive.

[aw10477 in reply to Lynneypin]

Thanks I’ll keep searching

[HighlandMo]

I’m sure Metavive will help you - I’ve used only it for many years - but it will not help you convert the T4 in Levo to T3.