This is lesson #9 in my thyroid beginner series and today it's all about NDT or natural desiccated thyroid!

So what is NDT?
Stands for Natural Desiccated Thyroid. This thyroid medication is porcine-derived which means it comes from the thyroid gland of pigs.

It contains both the active T3 thyroid hormone and the inactive thyroid hormone T4.

The ratio of T4 to T3 is around 76% T4 to 23% T3 which is roughly similar to the same amount that your thyroid gland produces naturally of 80:20.

NDT is felt to be safer and more natural than other synthetic hormones such as Synthroid or Levothyroxine and other people believe it's the best thyroid medication.

But is that actually true? There may be some truth to it, but your main goal should be to always find the best thyroid medication for YOU.

Some of the problems with NDT include:
- Many people take too much thyroid hormone which may cause issues
- Dosing is static which means you can’t tweak the T4 and T3 concentrations.
- May lead to variations in free T3 & Free T4 levels.
- Symptoms arise from the use of T3 which can be difficult to manage in some patients.
- May be hard to break down for some patients in the intestines due to fillers or dyes.
- May lead to immunogenic reaction (may not be ideal for patients with Hashimoto’s)

So with that in mind, who should use NDT? I've come up with a quick list below:
- Those who have failed T4 medication.
- Those with low free T3 levels (usually need a T3 medication).
- Those who are post-thyroidectomy.

This isn't an all-inclusive list but it should really help to get you started and determine if NDT is right for you!

Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/

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Disclaimer:
Dr. Westin Childs received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic medicine in 2013. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Childs is no longer practicing medicine and does not hold an active medical license so he can focus on helping people through videos, blog posts, research, and supplement formulation. To read more about why he is no longer licensed please see this page: https://www.restartmed.com/what-happened-to-my-medical-license/

This video is for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Childs and you. You should not make any changes to your medications or health regimens without first consulting a physician. If you have any questions please consult with your current primary care provider. Restart Medical LLC and Dr. Westin Childs are not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this website or video.
#thyroid #hypothyroidism #hashimoto's