Help with switching to Armour

[nellster]

Hi all.  I have sitting in front of me a prescription for Armour!  Yet, I am so fearful now to start it as my Dr prescribed a dosage of 0.25Gr(15mg).  I have been on 137 of synthroid....is this dose af Armour comparable to my 137 of Synthroid?  I have searched other sites and can't seem to find a comparison.

You would think that after months of trying to get on Armour I would be leaping towards the bottle.  My HYPO nerves have me dealing with what might not be an adequate dose.

any ideas?

Thanks,
Patty

[nellster]

Hi Stella.  My last TSH was 1.17, Free T3  was 303.  I am waiting on new results, I'll post when they come in.

I so appreiciate your responses!  So helpful to me!

Patty

[stella5349]

I would also urge blood work two weeks after you start the Armour - not wait the 4 to 6 weeks as normally.

[stella5349]

Here I go analizing again.


You were on Synthyroid .137 right?

well................. maybe................... b/c of the T4 still pooling around waiting to be converted into T3 that is why he may have offered this lower dosage.

He is betting you will convert the T4 synthetic Synthroid into T3 while on the small dose of Armour to keep you around the same TSH level.

Then retest you in 4 weeks to see where you are at -- and by then the Synthroid will be totally out of your system so the Armour will be upped then.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm .................... just a thought - but run that past him - what was your last TSH? and FREE T3

If you were still miserable on .137 Synthroid - I would think symptomatically - a 1/2 grain in combination with the pooling Synthroid would be better than just 1/4 graain as your Rx ssays.

You may feel some hyperness in about 2 days after the introduction of the Armour T3 - but that passes in about 2 weeks.

This would be close monitoring on YOUR part IF this is the path your doctor is following.

[nellster]

hi.  thanks for your information.  yes, problems with synthroid.  Stella, thanks, I viewed your journal.  I am holding off taking it and calling my Dr today.

[peggy64]

This is very surprising as most drs don't use armour. Why did he change you from synthroid? Any problems with that?

[stella5349]

if you wish - see my journal on Armour dosages.

[stella5349]

No - this grain amount does not compare to the .137 mcg of Synthroid.

One grain 60mg's of Armour is about 100mcgs of Armour.  Your doctor could have started you at 90mg's to be close to equal to Synthroid.

I feel even 60mg's would be Ok since most start a new med on a loswer dose to see if the patient responds.

You are on - if you take it almost 75% less in medication than before.

I don't see any relief of symptoms for you at the level I would call back and ask if this was a mistake and maybe see if 60 mgs would be better. Request to split the dose 2x's a day (am and again around noon)