Is anyone here doing well on Armour Thyroid?

[Jackie419]

Just curious if anyone here is currently on Armour and doing well on it. If so, did you take it before the reformulation? Thanks!

[clarebear931]

Thank you - yes had low ferritin (below range) but now got it up to 95. Haven't had vit D or B12 tested recently, so will bear those in mind thanks.

I had similar cortisol results to you (low, low, low, high) and adopted Paul robinson's method for helping adrenals by taking a dose of NDT during main cortisol production window. It has really helped me. Prior to that I was on 1.25 grains and couldn't raise did to horrible side effects. This method really helped me - might be worth a go. I found the STTM T3 only Facebook page forum a great help with this, as Paul was often on there himself, along with Janie Alexander Bowthorpe.

[Jackie419]

I am beyond happy for you to hear what you said about the doc saying the TSH would be useless and going by the ft3 and ft4....do you know how lucky you are?? Some of us wait in vain for that kind of thing :)

Your headache should subside also. I am on 3 grains of NP. Like i said above, i have been blaming thyroid med or deficiencies i had on my high rt3, then found out i have some adrenal probs and i had posted this about armour before getting adrenal results. i was grasping at straws and working on all of this on my own so i was going to eliminate the thing that changed in the past year and that was the NP.

Keep in mind, if for some reason you don't feel better at 3 grains, i learned the hard way to get vitamins etc tested. We hypo patients can end up with very low Vit D, B12, Magnesium levels that make us feel awful also. If you havent had those things tested, I would advise that you do, that way you're assured to be feeling better sooner than later!

[clarebear931]

My endo was useless to start with - told me I didn't have a thyroid problem even with a TSH of 18.0 as ft3 and ft4 were just in range :-( Any way when TSH went up to 59.0 and free Ts went below range he relented. He had never prescribed desiccated thyroid before - it's pretty much taboo in England and doctors can get struck off for prescribing it - but I managed to persuade him into a trial. For some very lucky reason  he said TSH would be useless on Armour (hooray), so we are going by ft3 and ft4 :-) GP not so happy though.

I have had a headache ever since last increase to 3 grains, but better today - hopefully that's it now...

How much NP are you taking?

[Jackie419]

It hasn't been too long since you upped your dose. I'm not used to those kind of ranges, but those numbers don't look half bad! You ft3/rt3 ratio is pretty good as well...that extra 1/2 grain ought to do ya! Just takes a little time to get the effects from the increase. You are incredibly lucky if you have a doctor who doesn't freak out about your tsh, mine has been suppressed for years also.

[clarebear931]

My last labs were on 2.5 grains in April - TSH <0.02, ft4 16 (12-22), ft3 5.8 (3.1-6.8). These were done 8.30 am and I had missed the previous 5pm dose and 5am dose. I was feeling ok when these labs were done, but started to get a few symptoms back soon afterwards. I increased by 1/4 of a grain for 2 weeks and then another 1/4 10 days ago. Will need to wait 6 weeks for new labs. Think I have out the wrong thing re rt3 on your other post - my ratio was 18 - maybe it was meant to be over 20- sorry have forgotten.

[Jackie419]

Glad to hear you're doing well! How long ago did you get up to 3 grains, and when was your last test? If you have labs, post those and their reference ranges. I was on armour for a long time, and was undermedicated (unknowledgeable doctor) my weight went up and down. If you just recently got up to 3 grains and if your levels are getting good you may be close to shedding some pounds. Would have to see your labs.
Thanks to all who have posted! It seems chewing them makes a big difference. I just do a split dose but found i did better when seperating the doses by 8 hours (I have to take vitamins in between)
I am seriously considering going back to Armour when I get my adrenals and high rt3 under control. Thanks!

[clarebear931]

I too am doing very well on Armour, although it has taken me 16 months to raise my dose to 3 grains (180mg), where I am now. Until I got to 2 grains I still had bad vertigo and anxiety, but these seem much better now. I have adopted the CT3M approach, and take 1.5 grains at 5am, 1 grain at 11am and 1/2 a grain at 5pm. I chew the tablets up as I heard this wax better. I still can't believe his much better I am now. Two weeks ago I managed a 6 hour walk in the Brecon Becons in Wales which included climbing 4 peaks :-) still waiting for the weight loss to start though...

[dgmootry]

I split them now, because I noticed I had almost hyper feeling, alot of energy up until 5:00 then I would get this uneasy feeling in my legs and I would just get so tired all at once around that time. Now if I get my 1/2 med by 7:00am and then take the second half at around 1;00 an hour after lunch i feel more energy balanced. I had a cold for around two weeks and I was told this would effect my meds, so I'm hopeing this is the reason for the very dry tops of my feet. whats funny is lately I've kind of missed my 1;00 dose and took it later in the day, and it seems like my water retention hasn;t been as bad, plus the heat we've been getting here isn't bothering me as much, kind of wondering if maybe splitting them farther apart is a better idea, I know last night I didn't take it till 8;00 at night, and I had energy up until that time, I don't know, I guess this is all guess work to see what works, good luck, I think we all need it.

[Jackie419]

Thanks for your input! Just want to hear if some folks are doing well on it. I was on Armour from diagnosis in '07 until early '11. I had a lot going on but at the time I thought the reformulation made it poison to me. I may have been wrong and was thinking about trying it again and wanted to hear from some people that are on it and doing well...so that's just what I wanted to hear!
Lately I have been suspecting the NP Thyroid I am on, but it may have been my adrenals all along and I was busy blaming the thyroid meds...
thanks for posting :)

[Ericamegan]

Sounds Like you are still hypo.  When I first made the switch to Armour, after about 4 weeks I needed an increase.  Yes, make sure they are testing Free T3 and Free T4.  I didn't feel well until my FreeT3 was above mid-range.
Do you have your latest labs?

[Ericamegan]

I take Armour thyroid and feel great.  I break up the pill with my teeth before swallowing.  I started on it last April and before that I was on synthroid and cytomel. My energy is up, weight is down and things have seemed to balance out for me.

[Jackie419]

Sounds like you have multiple things going on as I do. What was the pellet that they gave you? I have been on progesterone cream to offset having estrogen and not much progesterone on my own.
You're right about at the time when you should be checking your thyroid levels and possibly increasing your Armour dose if the levels are still low. Hopefully they are checking your FREE t3 and FREE t4. You don't want to be on too low a dose for too long---you may need more so try to stay on top of testing! Good luck to you :)

[hope2cope]

I just started Armour 60mg 4-11-13. I feel very tired. I could sleep all day. These are the same symptoms I had prior to taking Armour. My dx of hypothyroidism was discovered through a complete hormonal blood test. I had a complete hysterectomy 8 yrs ago and was not on any HRT. My labs showed my hormone levels were all screwed up. I had a bioidentical hormone pellet inserted under my skin on 4-11-13. Was also given estroidal (sp?) cream. Its been a month. I've gained 8lbs, no energy, no motivation, my hot flashes have ceased, as tired as I am I still have nights where I lay awake. Hopefully I'll start feeling a whole lot better in the next couple of weeks.

[Jackie419]

Thanks for posting...I tried Erfa, didn't like it. THOUGHT I liked NP (desiccated also) but I just haven't been right since starting it over a year ago. Can't be absolutely sure NP is contributing to my problems but thinking about switching so that I can find that out.

You started on a very low dose and not too long ago, so give it some time and make sure your doc tests you regularly until you get your levels right. I am hearing that people taking armour are absorbing it better if they chew it or crush it up....yuk, i know...i think i would just split them myself.

[dgmootry]

I'm on Armour, just started it about 3-29-13 it is a whole lot better then Levoxyl, I'm still trying to get level though. I'm on 45mg but I still retain water and my tops of my feet are still very dry, but I feel good, as far as energy goes. What is Np is it also from pig thyroid? I would love to try Thyroid by Erfa I hear it has very little fillers and binders, I still don't understand why Armour added more to it, if it was doing well for everyone. Well so far Armour seems to be my best choice.

[Jackie419]

I am on NP now also, but I just haven't been right since being on it and have a high RT3. No help from doctors and trying to go at this from a different direction. Thanks for posting.

[Jackie419]

I know! I am seriously considering switching back to it and looking for others thoughts on how they do on the reformulated these days. I look forward to the day when I hear how fantastic you are doing, that day will come :)

[leilajax]

LOL, Jackie!  I'm surprised no one commented.  I thought many many on here were doing great on armour.  Odd!

[Jackie419]

I'll take that as a "no"