Levo to NDT

[RoseStar]

hello,

I have made the switch from 125mcg Levo to Roseway compound NDT 1 grain capsules (38mcg levo and 9mcg lio). Got to move up to 2 grains after 7-10 days. What equivalent dosage of NDT will I likely need? Wonder whether it will be 2 or 3 grains

[pennyannie]

Hello RoseStar -

Suggest you increase from 1 grain by 1/4 grain increments weekly or fortnightly -

I measured clinical symptoms of blood pressure, pulse and body temperature as I went through this experiment - am & pm - and whilst my blood pressure and pulse remained constant I tracked my temperature slowly rise from 35.4 to 36.6 where it tends to hover most days now some 7 years on.

There comes a week where you don't feel as well as the previous - so drop down to the previous weeks dose - stay on this lower dose for 8 weeks letting the NDT bed in to your body and then run a blood test to see what is going on internally.

If your T3 has moved with your T4 likely lower than when on Levothyroxine - and you feel improved and good - this is your dose on NDT at this point in time.

If you get to 2 grains you hold this dose for 8 weeks and then run a blood test to see what is happening internally - and if your T3 hasn't moved much from your bench mark reading from before starting NDT - with your symptoms not relieved - maybe NDT is not the best treatment option for you.

If your T3 has moved , you feel improved, but not quite ' there ' yet - restart increasing again from 2 grains in 1/4 grains repeating the build up to where you likely go a little too far - and then you drop down that last 1/4 grain and stay on the lower dose running a blood test after around 8 weeks having let the NDT bed in to your body.

Having Hashimoto's you are liable to erratic own thyroid hormone production so it's a bit more of a challenge and I've just realised you are taking capsules - so I'm not sure how this works and if you can order smaller dose capsules or can split capsules into smaller doses to enable you to go low and slow increasing your dose.

No thyroid hormone replacement works well until the core strength vitamins and minerals of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are up and maintained at optimal levels.

[helvella Administrator]

There is no certain conversion of doses between levothyroxine and desiccated thyroid. However, my document does try to show the possibilities.

helvella - Desiccated Thyroid Equivalence

A short document which explains how you can approximately convert dosages of desiccated thyroid and levothyroxine.

Direct link to document:

dropbox.com/scl/fi/t9mei9mf...

Last updated 28/12/2024

Link to blog:

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[PixieElv]

You are on 125mcgs now, right? So on 1 grain will undermedicated. So you might start to feel it.

I switched from 275mcg Levo to 2.5 grains overnight and I had no issue.

I appreciate we are all different and this might not be right for you, so I urge caution. I did this on recommendation and under the supervision of my Endo.

Best of luck

[RoseStar in reply to PixieElv]

I tried 2 grain yest and felt awful 🫣 think I need to work up slower as per the post above. Trouble is I have 1 grain capsules

[pennyannie in reply to RoseStar]

Do Roseway make up smaller doses - 1/4 or 1/2 grain capsules ?

[nightingale-56 in reply to pennyannie]

 pennyannie , Roseway go right down to 1/8 grain. It really is the worse way to make thyroid medication (in capsules), but the only way I can tolerate any thyroid medication at the moment.

I take mine, out of the capsule and in water. It dissolves quite well, but I wouldn't like to try and divide the very small amount (which may end up with no NDT in it), into a smaller amount to take. You really have to get another prescription and get Roseway to make smaller amounts. Capsules are not so adaptable as tablets.

[RoseStar in reply to nightingale-56]

Thanks. I have just paid over £100 for 100 1 grain capsules so not sure I can pay out for more as I wouldn’t know if I need quarter or half grain capsules

[pennyannie in reply to nightingale-56]

Thank you - though sorry this is your situation at the moment - and hopefully to be revised in due course.

[RoseStar in reply to nightingale-56]

What dosage do you divide up?

[nightingale-56 in reply to RoseStar]

I don't divide up the capsule dose. I order direct from Roseway in the amounts I need, after having gone up in doses of very small increments. My doses are:- 0.65 mcg at 8 am, 0.50 mcg at 3.30 pm, and 0.50 mcg at 11 pm, all doses being supplied by Roseway in separate tubs. I wouldn't even try to split doses.

[PixieElv in reply to RoseStar]

Ah, that’s tricky then. I’ve seen some people dissolve in water and drink one Half one day and the other the next day? I don’t know what that does to efficacy though

[nightingale-56 in reply to PixieElv]

PixieElv it seems to work quite well, as my blood levels are quite stable since I have been taking Roseway NDT (2 years now).

[Ardsgem in reply to nightingale-56]

I’m thinking of using Roseway for NDT. Do you know what fillers are in their compound and is it cheaper than Armour?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Ardsgem]

It is probably best you contact them directly rather than relying on members to pass such information on. It's not the same as a manufactured medicine where you can cross-check with published information. And there might be options and alternatives.

[nightingale-56 in reply to Ardsgem]

Hi Ardsgem , The filler I have in my Roseway NDT is ground rice, I don't think they do any other. It is in a porcine gelatine capsule, but I empty this into a glass and add a small amount of water to dissolve it. It dissolves quite well. I am pretty sure that it is cheaper than Armour, which I cannot take. Still quite expensive though, and of course, trial and error as to what dose is good for you. I only seem to need just over 1 1/2 grains. Roseway tailor the amount in 1/8 grains to suit you as it is not possible to split doses.

[radd]

RoseStar,

Manufacturers claim 1 grain of Armour to be biologically equivalent to 100mcg T4 but I found it to be about 75mcg.

If you haven't medicated T3 before, I would suggest raising more slowly than doubling your dose from 1 grain to 2 grain. This will allow a slower raise in T3 levels and more likely tolerance, and allow you to ascertain your sweet spot which could well be around 1.5 or 1.75 grains. You don't want to go over.

[RoseStar]

I bit the bullet and ordered some 1/4 grain capsules. Thank you everyone