switch to armour thyroid?

[marigaux]

Hello
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in February and was started on thyroxine, which was built up to 150mcg which I have now been on for about 3 months. In all the last 7 months I experienced no improvement whatsoever, so I saw a private doctor about 4 weeks ago who added liothyronine; 20mcg for 3 weeks followed by 40mcg. It's increased my pulse a bit but not too much, although I'm feeling even more nervous (which is a problem for me anyway). I am wondering about armour thyroid as I have actually taken it before, albeit not very successfully, as a few years ago I saw Dr Peatfield in the UK as I suspicioned that my symptoms were caused by my thyroid. He started me on armour and after 2 weeks on 2 grains I noticed a definite improvement - my head felt clearer and I no longer needed to sleep in the afternoons. But it only lasted a few days and then I was back to square one again. Further increases in dose did nothing but give me palpitations, although I remember increasing the dose fairly quickly by say a 1/2 grain every 3 or 4 weeks.
As I'm now on the same ratio of T3 and T4 as in armour, I'm seriously considering trying it again. Do you think it could be an improvement on what I'm taking now or will it not make much difference? What dose of armour would you suggest? And why do you think armour stopped working when I took it before?
many thanks!
J

[Devrapunzel]

I am on Armour and love it!  It made such a difference for me. I made the switch from Levothyroxine/Cytomel.  I gradually switched over and eventually was on 3 grains of Armour only.  As you mentioned in your last post, the T3 was too much.  My Free T3 level was creeping way too high and out of range while my Free T4 was creeping too low and beneath the range.  I've been told that it is more typical for T3 to get too high since the T3/T4 ratio in Armour is higher than what most supplement using Levo./Cytomel.  So, yes, it is "more typical" to add T4 to Armour than T3, but everybody is unique.  Anyway, I ended up supplementing the Armour with T4 so my current dose is 2 grains of Armour and 88 mcg. Levothyroxine.  I feel great!

Hope that helps!

Dev

[Dakarihhontye]

A related discussion, How does one find a Doctor who listens? was started.

[marigaux]

To Dev - Doc has now started me on armour in addition to thyroxine so I'll be on a similar regime to you.

Thank you everyone for your input!

Jade

[Addie35]

I am on 3 grains of Armour but multi dose ie 1 grain before each meal because T3 peaks in about 3-4 hours and drops further down at about 6hrs. This way I don't get all of the T3 peak at 3-4 hrs and no more support the rest of the day. I also take it sublingually which goes right into the blood stream and then by passes any digestive issues and I can eat right away if I want to. Also, time away from calcium and iron is also not an issue.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

My experience reflects that of the literature/research -- that the addition of T3 to T4 usually does not improve things in the long run although some patients feel an initial benefit.  There are exceptions of course.

[marigaux]

Thanks Margaret, yes I have a really good Doctor, it's Dr Skinner. It's interesting that you added T3 to Armour, when I thought if anything it was too high in T3! I know a lot of people need to add T4 to it. I've been on the STTM website in the past; they are a bit too obssessed with armour and also with cortisol - which I was also on, although Dr Skinner said I didn't need it, so I came off it and found out he was right.

best wishes
Jade
I'd be interested to hear from Dr Lupo if he is around?

[Harmie]

Hi Marigaux!
Yes, try the Armour, but also be aware that you may be one of the people, like me, who needs more T3, and therefor must add Cytomel to the Armour dosage.  Armour stopped working for me this week, and I figured out on my own by research, that I could possibly need T3, and started taking Cytomel 25 mg Am and 25 mg PM with my 3 grains of Armour, and IMMEDIATELY felt better.  This could be your situation, as well.  Another component is that your adrenal glands have kicked in to support your thyroid, and that you'll need to support, and heal them by taking something like ISOCORT (Google and you can buy it) for awhile.  I would stay on 3 grains with Armour until your body tells you it's either too high or too low.  The thing to remember is to treat the symptoms rather than the blood tests, as your body in that one second that the blood is drawn, is not the whole picture of your thyroid levels.  A very good website to find out more about Armour and the adrenal issues, is called, "Stop The Thyroid Madness" which helped me piece together what I was missing, and what the doctors seriously didn't know.  I've so far had 3 different doctors since my total thyroidectomy in July, and each gives their own version of hormone replacement.  I choose to take a little from each and then do what's best for me.
I hope you succeed in finding a doctor that will help you in the UK.  I am in Virginia, and have no clue of how UK doctors view Armour.  But most Hypothyroidism is a lack of T3...have you had a thyroid scan to rule out nodules?

Best & Hugs,
Margaret