European Thyroid Association guidelines

[Hashi_since_age9-1988]

I came across this today - might be interesting to see how it compares to British Thyroid Association guidelines. Had a quick look and they are more open to T3/T4 combination treatment but in a cautious way. Seems like they are ahead of the uk.

eurothyroid.com/guidelines/...

[PinkNinja]

Thanks for posting! At least this gives people something to work with when negotiating their treatment. Europe seem to acknowledge that a few people need more than just T4 monotherapy and the document includes the research to support this.

Given that the minister for health told one member in writing that their doctor can use whichever guidelines he sees fit, this would be a valuable on for people to have access to.

Hopefully UK guidelines will change one day too!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to PinkNinja]

Note that one of the authors is none other than Dr Mark Patrick John Vanderpump - much mentioned around the web. NHS and private consultant. And very involved with BTA and BTF.

I would not be very positive about this as its conclusion is:

Conclusion: L-T4 + L-T3 combination therapy should be considered solely as an experimental treatment modality. The present guidelines are offered to enhance its safety and to counter its indiscriminate use.

His website is:

markvanderpump.co.uk/

Rod

[PinkNinja in reply to helvella]

No, it's not very good, but perhaps it is a start? It at least suggests that this treatment can be considered for those few for whom T4 doesn't work well. Most GPs currently won't consider it even where their patient are still clearly unwell on T4 only.

We need a hypothyroid doctor who doesn't get on with T4 to get involved with this. I bet there aren't many though.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to PinkNinja]

Oddly, I have indeed come across one (well, he didn't appear to be getting fully well on his levothyroxine). But not the sort of person who would have been useful in this regard!

Being ultra-positive, great oaks...

[PinkNinja in reply to helvella]

I think I am probably a teensy bit deluded and executing heaps of wishful thinking, but you never know

[shaws Administrator]

Dr Mark Vanderpump - I need say no more.

[shaws Administrator]

Well my Endocrinologist can certainly say that I did so much better with T3 added.

This is a link re the UK's guidelines

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/About_...

[PinkNinja in reply to shaws]

Aha! So this is a very, very slight improvement on the UK guidelines that state that thyroxine should be the only treatment for hypothyroidism. At least the European guidelines state that T4+T3 combination therapy can be tried where T4 only isn't working. Or am I just clutching at straws?

[Numberone1]

My endocrinologist has referred to this report in his findings out of interest.