Synthroid T4 Toxicity?

[goodandevil]

Hi,

I feel good on synthroid; I take a very low dose- maybe 6 mcg. Im on cypro as well. I bave some strange symptoms, primarily dizziness, perhaps a little weakness, and maybe vision trouble and a blurry left eye, which is astigmatic. Overall, im feeling much better emotionally, but im concerned that synthroid only might be causing me problems. Is synthroid dangerous for males? Im not sure which publication to trusg, so I thought it best to ask here.

 

[sele]

I was on Synthroid for several years. T4 alone is stressful for the body. Usually we have trouble converting it to T3 in the liver.
BTW, which publication are you referring to?

 

[tara]

My understanding (as a non-expert) is that for some people, the thyroid gland does not produce enough T4, but the body (esp. the liver) has no trouble converting the T4 to the active T3. For such people, T4 only supplementation can be helpful, if the dose is right.
Other people have trouble converting T4 to T3 at a suitable rate, and they can have trouble with T4 only supplements.

If your low dose of 6mcg/day T4 seems to be improving your symptoms, then it may well be that you are making good use of it.

 

[goodandevil]

Sorry for tbe.late reply. I believe I was referring to opponents of synthrojd, snd tbe caveats that must've been litigated into the official literature. So long as I.convert t4 well, it's hard to imagine anything being detrimental abojt syntbroid, nkw tbat I'm aware kf all tbe benefits.of well-functioning thyroid. Thank yih for yihr reponses.

 

[LucH]

post 93257 I feel good on synthroid

As you know, synthoid is only T4.
Even if you convert very well T4 into T3, the active form, you overload your liver (work for conversion), and there are other useful ingredients in natural desiccated hormone (NDT).
There are other sites, for conversion, not only in liver ...

NDT has the following compounds:
T4
T3
T2
T1
calcitonin
deiodinases 1 to 3 (enzymes)

Excerpt1:
The liver is an important site for activation of the thyroid hormones from the weaker T4 to the more potent T3. The type 1 deiodinase which activate thyroid hormones are mainly found in the liver and kidney and together accounts for approximately 30-40% of extrathyroidal production of T3.

Excerpt2:
The level of active T3 hormone in the brain is determined by brain deiodinase 2 (D2) enzymes which convert T4 to T3 hormones.
Source: James Yang, MD MPH

Note: Not all the T3 conversion comes from liver. There is also direct conversion in peripheral tissues.
Usually 7 to 20 % of thyroid hormone is T3 (active form).
Most of this is produced in peripheral tissue being converted from T4 by an enzyme that cleaves one of the iodine atoms away. A small portion is made directly in the thyroid gland.

Excerpt3:
[highlight=yellow]The process of conversion starts with the deiodinase enzymes[/highlight]. Deiodinase comes in a few flavors: D1, D2, and D3 as they are designated. When taking Synthroid® (T4 alone), a hypothyroid patient is dependent of their own body to produce in adequate supply and in proper enzymatic metabolism the deiodinase enzymes that will convert T4 to active T3.
Source: Thyroid Replacement Therapy: Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT)
ENZYMATIC METABOLIC PATHWAYS OF THYROID HORMONES
By Yusuf (JP) Saleeby, MD.

See details in the following doc (enzymatic pathway):

LucH

 

[Daimyo]

I will add that synthetic T4 =/= natural T4. Synthetic stuff is called levothyroxine, the natural thing is tyroxine. Levothyroxine is an isomer of tyroxine.

 

[goodandevil]

post 98495

post 93257 I feel good on synthroid

As you know, synthoid is only T4.
Even if you convert very well T4 into T3, the active form, you overload your liver (work for conversion), and there are other useful ingredients in natural desiccated hormone (NDT).
There are other sites, for conversion, not only in liver ...

NDT has the following compounds:
T4
T3
T2
T1
calcitonin
deiodinases 1 to 3 (enzymes)

Excerpt1:
The liver is an important site for activation of the thyroid hormones from the weaker T4 to the more potent T3. The type 1 deiodinase which activate thyroid hormones are mainly found in the liver and kidney and together accounts for approximately 30-40% of extrathyroidal production of T3.

Excerpt2:
The level of active T3 hormone in the brain is determined by brain deiodinase 2 (D2) enzymes which convert T4 to T3 hormones.
Source: James Yang, MD MPH

Note: Not all the T3 conversion comes from liver. There is also direct conversion in peripheral tissues.
Usually 7 to 20 % of thyroid hormone is T3 (active form).
Most of this is produced in peripheral tissue being converted from T4 by an enzyme that cleaves one of the iodine atoms away. A small portion is made directly in the thyroid gland.

Excerpt3:
[highlight=yellow]The process of conversion starts with the deiodinase enzymes[/highlight]. Deiodinase comes in a few flavors: D1, D2, and D3 as they are designated. When taking Synthroid® (T4 alone), a hypothyroid patient is dependent of their own body to produce in adequate supply and in proper enzymatic metabolism the deiodinase enzymes that will convert T4 to active T3.
Source: Thyroid Replacement Therapy: Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT)
ENZYMATIC METABOLIC PATHWAYS OF THYROID HORMONES
By Yusuf (JP) Saleeby, MD.

See details in the following doc (enzymatic pathway):

LucH

Thank. You for the comprehensive reply. I have armour on hand, maybe ill try that again; I feel so good onthe synthroid when things are working! Im suspecting that my b100 and le suoer k complex may be causing me problems, bht I will give the armour a shot. Do you know if selenium.buttresses deiodinase levels? Thank you again =)

 

[jb116]

post 98662

post 98495

post 93257 I feel good on synthroid

As you know, synthoid is only T4.
Even if you convert very well T4 into T3, the active form, you overload your liver (work for conversion), and there are other useful ingredients in natural desiccated hormone (NDT).
There are other sites, for conversion, not only in liver ...

NDT has the following compounds:
T4
T3
T2
T1
calcitonin
deiodinases 1 to 3 (enzymes)

Excerpt1:
The liver is an important site for activation of the thyroid hormones from the weaker T4 to the more potent T3. The type 1 deiodinase which activate thyroid hormones are mainly found in the liver and kidney and together accounts for approximately 30-40% of extrathyroidal production of T3.

Excerpt2:
The level of active T3 hormone in the brain is determined by brain deiodinase 2 (D2) enzymes which convert T4 to T3 hormones.
Source: James Yang, MD MPH

Note: Not all the T3 conversion comes from liver. There is also direct conversion in peripheral tissues.
Usually 7 to 20 % of thyroid hormone is T3 (active form).
Most of this is produced in peripheral tissue being converted from T4 by an enzyme that cleaves one of the iodine atoms away. A small portion is made directly in the thyroid gland.

Excerpt3:
[highlight=yellow]The process of conversion starts with the deiodinase enzymes[/highlight]. Deiodinase comes in a few flavors: D1, D2, and D3 as they are designated. When taking Synthroid® (T4 alone), a hypothyroid patient is dependent of their own body to produce in adequate supply and in proper enzymatic metabolism the deiodinase enzymes that will convert T4 to active T3.
Source: Thyroid Replacement Therapy: Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT)
ENZYMATIC METABOLIC PATHWAYS OF THYROID HORMONES
By Yusuf (JP) Saleeby, MD.

See details in the following doc (enzymatic pathway):

LucH

Thank. You for the comprehensive reply. I have armour on hand, maybe ill try that again; I feel so good onthe synthroid when things are working! Im suspecting that my b100 and le suoer k complex may be causing me problems, bht I will give the armour a shot. Do you know if selenium.buttresses deiodinase levels? Thank you again =)

Absolutely consider your B and K supplements. Fillers can cause issues for sure or seemingly innocuous factors in complexes such as B complex where there is typically PABA included in the complex.

 

[LucH]

post 98662 Do you know if selenium buttresses deiodinase levels?

Iodothyronine (T3) needs selenium through conversion by deiodienase (enzymes).
Excerpt 1
"Iodothyronine deiodinases are unusual in that these enzymes contain selenium, in the form of an otherwise rare amino acid selenocysteine."

Exerpt 2:
The iodothyronine deiodinases, D1, D2, and D3, all contain selenium (Se) in the form of selenocysteine at their active sites, and they play crucial roles in determining the circulating and intracellular levels of the active thyroid hormone T3.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10875250

Note: We can stock selenium (half-life) for quite a long time

 

[goodandevil]

post 99165

post 98662 Do you know if selenium buttresses deiodinase levels?

Iodothyronine (T3) needs selenium through conversion by deiodienase (enzymes).
Excerpt 1
"Iodothyronine deiodinases are unusual in that these enzymes contain selenium, in the form of an otherwise rare amino acid selenocysteine."

Exerpt 2:
The iodothyronine deiodinases, D1, D2, and D3, all contain selenium (Se) in the form of selenocysteine at their active sites, and they play crucial roles in determining the circulating and intracellular levels of the active thyroid hormone T3.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10875250

Note: We can stock selenium (half-life) for quite a long time

Thank you! Very interesting. I take l-selenomethionije every other day. Some days I feelgreat, and sometimes nI don't. Thank you for this useful info. Do you lnow the half life? Y

 

[LucH]

post 99499 Do you lnow the half life?

for seleniomethionine, +/ 100 days, depending on your stock (when replenished).
I take 200 mcg twice a week. More if detox (up to 400 mcg for a detox cure).
Other forms like selenite, much more shorter ( 7 - 15 days), and not so bioavailable.

LucH

 

[youngandold]

6 mcg is an increxdibly low dose so it can NOT cause significant effects.
Endos say that most people won't feel anything even on even the starting dose of 25 mcg. Personally I didn't.

 

[answersfound]

post 110625 6 mcg is an increxdibly low dose so it can NOT cause significant effects.
Endos say that most people won't feel anything even on even the starting dose of 25 mcg. Personally I didn't.

Yep. There is no way OP got any improvement from 6 mcg. The recommended dose for a 70 kg person is atleast 100 mcg. Maybe he meant 60 mcg?

 

[youngandold]

Yes OP please clarify.

Maybe it is 0.6mg equal to 60 mcg?

 

[Giraffe]

post 112185 Yes OP please clarify.

Maybe it is 0.6mg equal to 60 mcg?

0.6 mg = 600 mcg

 

[DaveFoster]

6 mcg is an increxdibly low dose so it can NOT cause significant effects.
Endos say that most people won't feel anything even on even the starting dose of 25 mcg. Personally I didn't.

Yep. There is no way OP got any improvement from 6 mcg. The recommended dose for a 70 kg person is atleast 100 mcg. Maybe he meant 60 mcg?

I got significant estrogenic symptoms, hypertension, and anxiety from around 40 mcg T4 that lasted for almost two weeks, so 6 mcg can definitely cause some symptoms.

 

[Vanced]

Synthroid contains Povidone iodine. I absolutely feel completely toxic on Synthroid, it makes me very sick indeed and its something in the ingredients as I don't feel this way on other T4 like levothyroxine.

 

[messylttlfoodie]

Synthroid contains Povidone iodine. I absolutely feel completely toxic on Synthroid, it makes me very sick indeed and its something in the ingredients as I don't feel this way on other T4 like levothyroxine.

We're currently witnessing my elderly mother in law having a psychotic episode ever since she's been to the doctor and apparently they switched her to levothyroxine sodium (which is Synthroid, but not called that in UK), and told her to take 150mcg before breakfast on an empty stomach, and she's hallucinating badly ever since. She had a similar reaction recently to the once a week alendronate she was taking, which we got her to stop and we gave her Vitamin D3 + K2, marine coral calcium powder along with B12 which has worked amazingly well. But now she's back to seeing people and animals and doesn't know where she is or how to get to the bathroom, looks like a zombie, and has crazy flu like symptoms with a flemny cough and snot, and hoarse voice. It's heart breaking. I'm convinced it's toxicity from the Levothyroxine Sodium. It's too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence. But we're juggling this weird dynamic of family politics and father in law and brother in law being morons who keep messing with her health and whisking her off to the "doctor", even though she was doing fine ever since husband and I intervened, but they're so dead set on "it's dementia, it's dementia!!!" they had to drag her to the doc, and ever since she's back, she's been psychotic again (hope at least they'll learn something from this, though probably won't)

We're now gonna try adding zinc, magnesium, and selenium, along with B6 and B9. We have to do it this way because we cannot help any other way (ie diet changes, lifestyle changes). I would love to just get her to eat the right foods or take whole food supplements but it has to be in the form of a drink we give her, as has worked so well prior.

Also my research showed that in 2023, there's been a sharp rise in reports of hallucinations in women over 60 who've been taking levothryoxine sodium for less than a month.
Every year prior it was in the dozens, then 2023 suddenly it's in the 200s. I mean, come on!!

 

[Peatress]

@messylttlfoodie please do your best to challenge the dementia diagnosis. I posted these on another thread earlier this year - I suspect people with other conditions are being misdiagnosed.

NHS England » NHS launches new dementia diagnosis drive

www.england.nhs.uk

Debi Evans Blog: 3 January 2023

Debi Evans continues her weekly blog of startling events in healthcare. What awaits our elderly in 2023?

www.ukcolumn.org

From the blog

The NHS has announced that thanks to a new specialist service to be rolled out in 2023, hundreds (more like thousands, I say) will be checked for dementia. According to experts, the pandemic has significantly impacted those with dementia and the effects it has had on their families. A new trial targeting care home residents (those guinea pigs again) is underway.

Specialist nurses and other healthcare professionals will assess all residents who are not exhibiting any symptoms of dementia to ensure they are not being neglected. GPs will play their part and will share lists of their patients who reside in care homes. Memory tests and full face-to-face assessments will be carried out to determine whether they have early signs of dementia. All with the best of intentions, of course.