Aa
Naturethroid Dosage question
I recently started taking Naturethroid. My naturopath has me on 3 pills, each 1/2 grain. She said that this will be my highest dosage and she doesn't think I will need a higher dosage. I find this kind of strange since it's definitely less than the 150 mcg of synthroid I was on before....how is 3 pills of naturethroid enough? Can other people tell me what naturethroid dosage they're on or if they know the average dosage?
She also said that eventually, after I start taking more supplements and herbs (I have a lot of other health problems) I will no longer need to take a hypothyroid medication and will be cured. This sounds weird to me. Any thoughts?
Thanks.
She also said that eventually, after I start taking more supplements and herbs (I have a lot of other health problems) I will no longer need to take a hypothyroid medication and will be cured. This sounds weird to me. Any thoughts?
Thanks.
I was recently switched from a gradual release of 85mcg T4/40mcg T3 to 2.5 grains of Naturethroid... Like the original post I am struggling with his conversion. We switched because my levels had decreased in my last labs and I was not experiencing much relief from my symptoms... So now based in the conversion I am just not understanding how it will help...39+39+19.5+9+9+4.5=120....is that right Gimel? I am so confused. Been on this 8 days now and am gaining weight and the bags under my eyes are returning... How long would you guess it would take to know the real effect? Also I think it may be too much because for the past 3 nights I haven't been able of all asleep. Does having too much medication cause weight gain also? My last labs my T4 was close to 50% of the range and so was my T3. So my T3 had plenty of room for improve my but not suret T4 needed any work. I would post my reference ranges but I am in my phone and it is hard to do. I did post them on a prior post labeled Switxhing to Naturethroid and nervous.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
The naturopath's comment about dosing is arbitrary. Some do well on 1 1/2 grains, some need 3 grains. TSH is a very imprecise way to balance thyroid hormones; FT3 and FT4 will be much more revealing once we can interpret with ranges.
Are you splitting the daily dose and taking it in the morning and early afternoon? A lot of us do that with desiccated to avoid a single spike in T3, the active thyroid hormone. Dosing twice a day helps distribute the effect of T3 over the course of the day.
Were you tested for TgAb and/or TPOAb? These are the thyroid antibody tests which would indicate whether or not your hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto's (autoimmune disease)-- the most common cause of hypothyroidism in north america, and perhaps other industrialized nations.
In the vast majority of cases, for example Hashimoto's, hypothyroidism is a lifelong condition which requires continued medication and monitoring for the rest of one's life. This is a fact some naturopaths do not seem to want to accept, but it is the truth. Your numbers may normalize with medication, but nothing is "cured"-- if you stop taking supplemental hormone, the numbers will go back to where they were before. There are some cases of hypothyroidism caused by iodine deficiency, but these are few and far between, and there are conflicting reports about whether iodine supplementation helps or hurts those with Hashimoto's. Thus, it is important to be tested for the antibodies listed above. The presence of either above the normal range would indicate Hashimoto's as the cause. If that is not the case, then perhaps test for iodine, or consider that it is either a temporary case of thyroiditis that could possibly self-resolve (though this not as likely if you've had symptoms for a long time).
Are you splitting the daily dose and taking it in the morning and early afternoon? A lot of us do that with desiccated to avoid a single spike in T3, the active thyroid hormone. Dosing twice a day helps distribute the effect of T3 over the course of the day.
Were you tested for TgAb and/or TPOAb? These are the thyroid antibody tests which would indicate whether or not your hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto's (autoimmune disease)-- the most common cause of hypothyroidism in north america, and perhaps other industrialized nations.
In the vast majority of cases, for example Hashimoto's, hypothyroidism is a lifelong condition which requires continued medication and monitoring for the rest of one's life. This is a fact some naturopaths do not seem to want to accept, but it is the truth. Your numbers may normalize with medication, but nothing is "cured"-- if you stop taking supplemental hormone, the numbers will go back to where they were before. There are some cases of hypothyroidism caused by iodine deficiency, but these are few and far between, and there are conflicting reports about whether iodine supplementation helps or hurts those with Hashimoto's. Thus, it is important to be tested for the antibodies listed above. The presence of either above the normal range would indicate Hashimoto's as the cause. If that is not the case, then perhaps test for iodine, or consider that it is either a temporary case of thyroiditis that could possibly self-resolve (though this not as likely if you've had symptoms for a long time).
Need the test results and their reference ranges in order to best assess your status. Please try to get another copy, or phone and get the same info on results and reference ranges.
The TSH is 6. I lost the paper and don't remember the results for the others. Shouldn't the TSH be below 2? It doesn't sound right to me. I also have body aches and black circles under my eyes. I assume my thyroid might be too low. What do you think?
Not clear on the TSH result. Also, please post the reference ranges for the Free T4 and Free T3. Finally, are you still having any hypo symptoms?
Sorry I haven't responded. I've been on the naturethroid for about a month or month and a half. My doctor ran my blood and here are my results:
TSH and Free T4: 6.2
Triiodothyronine Free Serum:4.0
She claims that the Triiodothyronine Free Serum is optimal and that although the TSH and Free T4 look high, it's not a big deal and it's something that will always fluctuate. What do you think about this? Is she right? I feel pretty worried that the TSH is so high since it should be below 2.....
She still wants me to take 1.5 grains of naturethroid and didn't say I should increase at all.
Thanks so much,
Daniela
TSH and Free T4: 6.2
Triiodothyronine Free Serum:4.0
She claims that the Triiodothyronine Free Serum is optimal and that although the TSH and Free T4 look high, it's not a big deal and it's something that will always fluctuate. What do you think about this? Is she right? I feel pretty worried that the TSH is so high since it should be below 2.....
She still wants me to take 1.5 grains of naturethroid and didn't say I should increase at all.
Thanks so much,
Daniela
The conversion factor for T4 to NDT med varies, according to the several sources. The disagreement is due to the assumption of the effect of T3 versus T4. Some say that it should be assumed to be a 4 to 1 ratio. Other places say that it is more like 6 to 1.
Since a grain of NDT contains about 39 mcg of T4 and 9 mcg of T3, then with an assumption of only a 4:1 effect, that would equate to 75 mg of NDT (39 + 9 times 4 =75). This means that for each 75 mcg of T4 you were replacing you would use 75 mg of NDT. If you assume the higher effect of T3 over T4, then that equates to one grain of NDT replacing 100 mcg of T4.
So, your doctor used the 100:1 conversion and for your 150 mcg of T4, he switched you to 1 1/2 grains of NDT. Not unusual, but you may find it to be less than you need. I think your doctor is off base in saying that you would not be given any higher dosage. How can she know that dosage is all that you need to relieve symptoms? She doesn't know. She is just making an arbitrary decision based on factors other than how you will feel. I also find it strange that she stated that after taking more supplements and herbs you will not need thyroid meds any longer. What was the identified cause for you being hypothyroid?
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation. The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment. In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
So, if you have been tested for Free T3 and Free T4, please post results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report, so that we can better assess the adequacy of your testing and treatment. Also, if tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, please post those as well, along with ranges.
Since a grain of NDT contains about 39 mcg of T4 and 9 mcg of T3, then with an assumption of only a 4:1 effect, that would equate to 75 mg of NDT (39 + 9 times 4 =75). This means that for each 75 mcg of T4 you were replacing you would use 75 mg of NDT. If you assume the higher effect of T3 over T4, then that equates to one grain of NDT replacing 100 mcg of T4.
So, your doctor used the 100:1 conversion and for your 150 mcg of T4, he switched you to 1 1/2 grains of NDT. Not unusual, but you may find it to be less than you need. I think your doctor is off base in saying that you would not be given any higher dosage. How can she know that dosage is all that you need to relieve symptoms? She doesn't know. She is just making an arbitrary decision based on factors other than how you will feel. I also find it strange that she stated that after taking more supplements and herbs you will not need thyroid meds any longer. What was the identified cause for you being hypothyroid?
A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation. The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment. In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
So, if you have been tested for Free T3 and Free T4, please post results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report, so that we can better assess the adequacy of your testing and treatment. Also, if tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, please post those as well, along with ranges.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
