I,too, have hypothyroidism and I have been taking the Nerve Support Formula. I've been having symptoms of my thyroid being low and was on the verge of calling my doctor when I just happened across some important information. That Support Formula has R-Alpha Lipoic Acid in it. R-Alpha Lipoic is often used to help Peripheral Neuropathy. But - it also lessens your body's ability to convert T-4 to T-3. My doctor knows that I'm taking that formula but didn't warn me about the consequences to my thyroid levels. The information I've found says that I can continue taking the formula but my doctor needs to adjust my thyroid medication. I'll be calling my doctor this morning about this.

Plus, as you probably know, low thyroid levels can cause peripheral neuropathy. So keep a close eye on your thyroid levels.

The formula has helped me in a limited way but not a great deal. But perhaps the effect on my thyroid levels has caused that limitation. So I plan to get my medication adjusted and continue the formula for a while longer to see what happens.

I was wondering what you think of Phosphatidyl Complex. I saw it in one of those combination nerve support supplements and also a few posts on brain health. The blurb about it on the supplement page said "Phosphatidyl Complex contains lipids that comprise 76% of the myelin sheath" which I found interesting. Have you researched this supplement?

Also, I'm curious if any enzymes like bromelain have any effect. Thanks!

To the best of my knowledge, there is only a study on animals showing ALA...mixed version of lipoic acid... had an effect on T4 conversion.

R-lipoic does not appear yet in studies in humans demonstrating this effect.

People with thyroid issues, may just need adjustments periodically.
Low zinc and selenium are also factors in the enzymes that convert T4 to T3 in tissues. You can get low in zinc if you take acid blocking drugs, or ACE inhibitors for blood pressure.

Since ALA has been used for over a decade in Europe, human studies have not been done or anecdotal papers have not appeared in regards to humans having this effect with the supplement.

What lipoic acid may do however, is lower biotin utilization because it shares a cofactor transporter in the body. So chronic use of lipoic may need biotin to be added daily...preferably taken at a different time of day.

Years ago, started with Hyperthroid; doctor prescribed Tapazole. Eventuall went into remission for a couple of years. For the past 8 or 9 years have been hypothroid and take synthroid daily. But, every since I was found to have throid disease; have had bloodwork done every 4 -6 months, and a doctor visit the following week. The only time, since being hypothroid, I had reading change was when I used a generic instead of the brand synthroid. I read, on the internet, that in the case of hypothroid DO NOT use a generic. While everything shoudl be the same; it is not. I asked my doctor not to raise my prescription; but to put "Brand Only" on my prescription and started using Snythroid daily. Went back for bloodwork three months later and everything was within normal range again. Did not change doseage; only the Synthroid Brand. This had been a few years now and still within normal and no prescription change.

Just a little "did you know" using a generic could change outcome of blood test.


(Gerry)

bump for new members:

Gerry,

This is an old post but I thought of sharing my experience on generic Synthroid. For reasons I dont understand and neither my endocrinologists (including my endoc back in my country), whenever i shift to the generic version, my thyroid function will be out of range. My doctor here in the US commented that he has some patients like me who do not respond well with the generic Synthroid.

Mary