Thyroid hormone extract

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Thyroid hormone extract, also referred to as natural dessicated thyroid

(NDT), is a usually porcine extract, although sometimes it is bovine. It

contains thyroxine (T4) and a small amount of triiodothyronine (T3). For

someone who does not have a low ratio of free T3 (FT3) to reverse T3

(RT3), it should be the medication of choice.

There are many brands, and individual preferences vary. Different

brands of thyroid hormone extract are made with different fillers which

may account for one working better for an individual than another. The

original brand, Armour®, has been reformulated in recent years and is

not as well liked as it once was. Other brands that are reported to work

well are Nature-throid®, Erfa and Thyroid-S.® Thyroid-S may be a bit

higher in T3 than others

Most of the products are prescribed by “grain.” One grain is 60 or 65

mg, depending on the brand. Each grain contains approximately 9 mcg

T3 and 38 mcg T4. Most people need around three grains to feel their

best, but it is not uncommon for an individual to need as much as five

grains and others may need less.

Thyroid hormone extract is prescribed based on the need for

exogenous thyroid hormone. It is started with a low dose such as .25 or

.5 grain and increased at two to four week intervals. The T4 in it builds

up slowly and accurate testing usually requires being on a dose for

approximately six weeks.

Thyroid hormone extract can be taken sublingually. It can also be

crushed before being taken sublingually or swallowed. When

swallowed, it is taken without food and one hour before or two hours

after eating or drinking anything except non-fluoridated water; some

recommendations require only 20 to 30 minutes before eating. Taking it

sublingually negates the requirement to take it away from food.

For best results, it should be dosed at least twice a day, waking and six

hours later or waking and bedtime.

A note about synthetic T4

The thyroid treatment of choice among mainstream medical

practitioners has for many years been synthetic levothyroxine or T4

(brands Synthroid®, Levothroid®, Tirosint®, Unithroid®, Levoxyl®,

Novothyrox®). The drug was introduced prior to the FDA requiring

testing and approval was “grandfathered.” It has never been proven in

any long-term study to resolve hypothyroid symptoms. Although it may

be a somewhat effective treatment for some hypothyroid individuals,

anecdotal evidence indicates it is rarely optimal and we do not

recommend its use.