Armour Thyroid Treatment

[btr789]

Hi everyone,

After a year on T4 meds (115 mcg daily), I switched to Armour 5 weeks ago due to lingering symptoms (fatigue, joint/muscle pains, dry skin, etc.).

I began with 60mg of armour (1 grain), and stopped taking the T4 med completely. 3 weeks afterwards, the results were (no improvement with symptoms) -

TSH - 0.34 (0.55 - 4.78)
FT3 - 4.57 (3.5 - 6.5); which is 42% of the range.
FT4 - 11.12 (10.3 - 19.7); which is 8% of the range.

Raised to 90mg of armour (1.5 grain). 2 weeks afterwards, the results are (again, no symptom improvement) -

TSH - 0.05
FT3 - 5.34 ;  61% of range.
FT4 - 10.53 ;  4% of range.

I should note that my Iron, B12 and Vit D levels are great (upper part of the range). No RT3 test available where i'm at.
Should I continue raising the dosage? If so, should I raise by 15mg or 30mg? In how many weeks should I retest?

Thanks!

[btr789]

Or maybe it has to do with Armour? and the fact I swallow it instead of taking it sublingually? Maybe Erfa would've done a better job.

[btr789]

1) I only took it after the blood test, so that's not a problem.
2) I don't split the dose. I probably should. But I read that splitting the dose only affects the energy levels throughout the day but doesn't affect the removal of long term symptoms, which I still suffer from.

Well, since I still experience symptoms, it can either be that my FT4 is too low or that my individual FT3 levels should be higher still in the range, right?
I can't rule out adrenal fatigue, since i've never done a saliva cortisol test, only by blood (where the results were fine, I guess).

[flyingfool]

Another important question(s):

1) did you take your Armour before the blood was drawn?  T3 gets into your blood rapidly and peaks after about 4 hours. So if you took your Armour the FT3 level could be artificially high based upon taking the T3 prior.

2) do you split your Armour dose in two taking one in the morning and one in the early afternoon. This will help even out the T3 in your blood so that as the morning dose begins to taper off the afternoon dose ramps up.

Rule of thumb found here is FT4 to be 50% of range and FT3 to be upper half to upper 1/3 which would be (50% to 67%).  But many think FT3 should be closer to the 60 to 67%.  So you are right in the ball park.

Like barb says. It is pretty common for people on dessicated to remain low in the FT4 range since dessicated has such a lower portion of T4 in it compared to T3.  

This low FT4 level is tolerated just fine by some, others as Barb stated seem to need a balance and thus will need to also take a T4 only medication to supplement the Armour and bring up the FT4 level to relieve symptoms in those people. Maybe you are one of those people.

[btr789]

Thanks for the quick reply.
I'll ask my doctor regarding the addition of a T4 only med. It's a good idea. In regards to the FT3 - I know that some people feel best when FT3 is at the top of the range, so 61% might not be enough, correct? (esp. young adults).
Though I do understand that with the addition of T4 med, the FT3 may get a bump as well, right?

[Barb135]

Many people on desiccated thyroid med find FT4 too low in the range and have to supplement with a T4 only med; you might consider trying that, to increase your FT4 level, rather than increasing the Armour anymore, since your FT3 is already at 61% of the range, which is rule of thumb.   There has to be a balance between FT3 and FT4, you can't have one really high and the other really low.