Re: Commencing NDT- Help Please

[Guest guest]

Hello Han,

I am considering changing from combination T3/T4 therapy to Natural ThyroidReplacement and I would appreciate help with a few questions.I have read the files on this which are very helpful and detailed but I needclarification on a few points please.I currently take T4 50mcgs and T3 20mcgs Prior to that I was on T4 only 100mcgsfor about 15yrs.

Is Armour Thyroid and Efra brand names for the same drug?

Erfa is generic Armour. Its formulation is the closest to the old formulation of the original Armour, it is produced in Canada, I believe, and made from USP powder. Although called on this website `Armour Thyroid', it is Erfa.... confusing, I know. You might find more detailed info on this site -

http://www.valuepharmaceuticals.com/Armour-Thyroid.php

I know it is down to trial and error and observing symptoms but can anyone suggest a starting dose for me?Does 60mgs of Efra = 1grain? (this confuses me!)

Yes, 60 mgs of Erfa equals 1 grain.

Would I need to start on a small dose to begin with, say 30mgs a day?

In view of the fact that your body is already used to receiving and utilizing T3 and you have been taking thyroid medication for about 15 years, I can't see any necessity for you to start with ½ grain (30 mgs). I reckon you could do a straight swap, stopping both T4 and T3 one morning and go to 1 grain (60 mgs) the next and see how it goes – but it is your choice. If you wanted to play it safe, start with ½ grain and see how you feel on it after a couple of days or so ... you can always up the dosage. You would judge by how you feel, but my guess is that after about 3-4 weeks on 1 grain (perhaps earlier) you will be `ready' for an increase to 1 ½ grains. Thereafter keep going up by ½ grain every 4 weeks or so and when you get slight hyper symptoms reduce the dosage back to the previous level. Forget about making any `comparison' with your current T4/T3 dosage. NDT is different. For instance, my limit used to be 125 mcg Levo. Now I take 2 grains NDT & 12.5 mcg T3 in addition on most days – but I vary my T3 dose in accordance with my activities. On some days I need it, on others I don't.

Does NDT need to be taken on an empty stomach?

Yes - same as with Levo. The reason for that is that the T4 in the NDT will bind with iron and/or calcium from food – and that would reduce the effectiveness of the T4 part in the NDT.Is it more effective taken sublingually?

Some people say it is. I have tried both, and can't detect any difference. So I usually swallow it – try both and see what you think.

Good luck ,

[Guest guest]

Han

I think the advice from not to start too low is right.

I was on 20 T3 and 50 T4 for a while and then I decided to try Erfa just about

15 months ago.... I started off on half a grain and it was awful, I felt

really bad and had massive bags under my eyes... I think starting low was a

bad idea as I was used to t3 and t4.

So I gave up and went back to more or less t3 only..... Then I decided to try

NT again late last year but I started on 2 grains.... which seemed to be

fine..... I Did much better with it than before.....and have now upped to 3

grains....

Hope this helps

.

> In view of the fact that your body is already used to receiving and

> utilizing T3 and you have been taking thyroid medication for about 15

> years, I can't see any necessity for you to start with ½ grain

> (30 mgs). I reckon you could do a straight swap, stopping both T4 and T3

> one morning and go to 1 grain (60 mgs) the next and see how it goes

> – but it is your choice.

[Guest guest]

Is Armour Thyroid and Efra brand names for the same drug?

They are both natural thyroid extracts containing T4, T3, T2, T1

plus calcitonin. Erfa Thyroid is the Canadian licensed thyroid extract and

Armour Thyroid is manufactured by Forest Drug Co. in the US.

I know it is down to trial and error and

observing symptoms but can anyone suggest a starting dose for me?

Considering you are already taking a combination of T4 and T3

and been taking T4 for a long time, if this was me, I would start on 1 grain

(60mgs) of thyroid extract and stay on it for 7 days and then increase by

another half grain (30mgs) and stay on that for three weeks, increasing by

another 30mgs (if no adverse effects) after another three weeks. You increase

this way until you start to feel the effects of hyperthyroidism (i.e.

palpitations, sweating, dizzy, spaced out etc) a couple or so hours after

taking your last increase. Don't take any more that day, and the following day,

go back, to the dose you were taking previously and that is the dose your body

requires without any further increases. Take your thyroid extract twice a day,

an hour before food and well away from drugs containing iron or calcium.

Does 60mgs

of Efra = 1grain? (this confuses me!)

Yes, and the same with Armour. Thyroid extract is a very old

drug (used over 100 years) and in those days, grains was used as a measurement.

Would I need to start on a small dose to begin

with, say 30mgs a day?

See above recommendation for you.

Does NDT need to be taken on an empty stomach?

Yes.

Is it more effective taken sublingually?

Yes, but Armour Thyroid was reformulated a couple of years ago

so that it can no longer be taken sublingually. You need to put it in your

mouth, chomp it up and then swallow it down with plenty of water. However, the

Erfa 'Thyroid' is designed to be taken sublingually where it is absorbed

directly into the blood stream.

(Sorry for all the questions, they are probably

well answered already in the files, but this feels like a very big step for me

and I would appreciate any help you can give).

I have attached the document 'How to Treat with Natural Thyroid

Extract' document.

Look in the FILES section and scroll down to the FOLDER

'Internet Pharmacies' to see where you can buy natural thyroid extract. There

is also a couple of generics, Thyroid-s and 'Thiroyd'. Both have excellent

reports.

Be sure that your adrenals are well supported before starting.

Some people stop thyroid hormone replacement for at least a week and supplement

their adrenals with Nutri Adrenal Extra during that time, and then start their thyroid

hormone replacement.

Luv - Sheila

Thanks

Han

1 of 1 File(s)

HOW TO TREAT WITH NATURAL THYROID EXTRACT.doc

[Guest guest]

Hi

Thank you so much for your clear and helpful information. I will keep the forum

posted on how I get on, I have everything crossed!

Han

> Is Armour Thyroid and Efra brand names for the same drug?

>

> Erfa is generic Armour. Its formulation is the closest to the old

> formulation of the original Armour, it is produced in Canada, I believe,

> and made from USP powder. Although called on this website `Armour

> Thyroid', it is Erfa.... confusing, I know. You might find more

> detailed info on this site -

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing your experience , very helpful. I will post how Im

getting on, fingers crossed.

Han

> I think the advice from not to start too low is right.

>

> I was on 20 T3 and 50 T4 for a while and then I decided to try Erfa just about

15 months ago.... I started off on half a grain and it was awful, I felt

really bad and had massive bags under my eyes... I think starting low was a

bad idea as I was used to t3 and t4.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Hannah, first ,yes Armour and Erfa need to be taken on an empty stomach and no food for an hour after- to allow the T4 content to absorb. No, you can't ake Armour sublingually since the reformulation- someone else will confirm if the is also the case with Erfa.Both Armour and Erfa are natural dessicated thyroid meds, but are made by different companies and have different fillers. Erfa is generally regarded as stronger with a slightly higher thyroid content. 60mcg = i grainwith your current 50/20 T4 / T3 dose you could start with a grain and a half which would be 57mcg T4 and 18mcg T3 and adjust from there- you are taking a bit more T3 at present so this will probably feel like a reduction, but we have to start somewhere, you may also have to add in T3 at a later date to compare directly with what you are currently taking. > thyroid treatment > From: hannahleahy@...> Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:09:30 +0000> Subject: Commencing NDT- Help Please> > I am considering changing from combination T3/T4 therapy to Natural Thyroid Replacement and I would appreciate help with a few questions.> I have read the files on this which are very helpful and detailed but I need clarification on a few points please.> I currently take T4 50mcgs and T3 20mcgs Prior to that I was on T4 only 100mcgs for about 15yrs.> Is Armour Thyroid and Efra brand names for the same drug?> I know it is down to trial and error and observing symptoms but can anyone suggest a starting dose for me?> Does 60mgs of Efra = 1grain? (this confuses me!)> Would I need to start on a small dose to begin with, say 30mgs a day?> Thanks> Han> > > > ------------------------------------> > TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical practitioner before changing medication.> >

[Guest guest]

Thank you , I appreciate your comments always helpful.

Han

>

>

> Hi Hannah,

> first ,yes Armour and Erfa need to be taken on an empty

stomach and no food for an hour after- to allow the T4 content to absorb.

> No, you can't ake Armour sublingually since the reformulation- someone else

will confirm if the is also the case with Erfa.