Swtiching from Synthroid to Armour?

[Sarah1945]

Hi Everyone,

I'm thinking about changing from Synthroid to Armour.  Has anyone done this?  If so, did you feel better on the Armour?  Did you stop the Armour cold turkey or wean yourself off before changing?  I have tried Cytomel in addition to Synthroid but felt hyper on it so I'm worried about taking Armour.  I am extremely sensitive to Synthroid.

Thank you in advance.

Sarah

[Sarah1945]

Thanks so much for your excellent input and information.  I really appreciate your help.

Sarah

[gimel]

You were considering changing from Synthroid to Armour, but we still don't know why.  What symptoms were you having that prompted you to consider the switch?

Just looking at your test results, the Free T3 result indicates that you would most likely be still hypothyroid.  I say that because the range is so flawed, due to the method used to establish, that most members say that symptom relief required Free T3 in the upper third of its range, and Free T4 around the middle of its range.  Scientific studies have shown that Free T3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while Free T4 and TSH did not correlate at all.

So, if still having hypo symptoms, the low Free T3 is the most likely cause.  Also, for full effect from thyroid hormone, it is important that Vitamin D be around the middle of its range, and ferritin should be around 70-80 for women.  It has also been reported that sometimes hypo patients with low ferritin will have strange reactions to increasing their med.  If not tested for those, it would be a good idea.  I'd also include Vitamin B12 which also needs to be in the upper part of its range.

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation.  The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment.  In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

[Sarah1945]

Hi Gimel and flyingfool,

Thanks so much for your input and responses.

I tried a very tiny dose of Cytomel (in addition to  Synthroid)  working up to 2.5 daily mcg. (in two doses of 1.25 mcg each).  I was OK for a few days but then felt terrible i.e. hyper after a couple of weeks on that dose. Alas.

My sensitivity to Synthroid includes many of the classic adverse side effects of the drug...i.e. feeling hyper, palpitations, emotionality, etc.  It's usually horrible for several weeks on the smallest increase but then eventually stabilizes.  It's a horrible experience.  I sometimes take a Beta Blocker to help with these side effects.

Free T3 - 2.3 Ref. Range (2.4 - 4.2)
Free T4 .9 (Ref. Range - .6-1.2)

Everything else has been checked out and is normal.

Thanks so much for your help.  I really appreciate it.

Sarah

[gimel]

Need answers to questions about symptoms you have that make you think you should consider switching.  Also, what reactions do you get when increasing dose of Synthroid.  What was your actual Free T3 and free T4 results, along with ranges, please?

[flyingfool]

Armour is a large portion of T3.  

With your FT4 already mid range and your FT3 low in range and feeling Hypo, I would recommend that adding synthetic T3 in extremely small dosage increases due to your sensitivities may be the best way forward for you.

When you took the Cytomel before did you split the dose taking it at least two times if not even three times during the day to achieve the full daily dose?  If not I would suggest that you give that a try.

My wife recently went off of straight T4 and switched to Armour.  She had been in the past on T4/T3 combo and felt much better than T4 only.  But she decided to make the switch not quite 2 weeks ago.  So it is a bit too early to tell and I do not think that she is on the proper dosage yet.  If fact after 2 weeks her TSH went UP from 2.31 to 3.44 which is surprising with the addition of the T3 in the Armour I had expected the TSH to be supressed as it had been in the past when she was on the T4/T3 combo.  She seems to feel a little better but not greatly better.  I think she needs an increase in her Armour.  But that is expected.

[Sarah1945]

Thanks, Gimel.   I have struggled for years with adverse side effects from Synthroid.  I have an extreme sensitivity to Synthroid and have had a reaction to Cytomel as well i.e. become hype and experience many of the listed side effects of Synthroid.. Every time I increase my dose, I have a horrible experience until the medication stabilizes.  My Free T4 is midrange and the FreeT3 is low and my TSH is close to 6.  I've been thinking that maybe I'd have a better response to Armour but it terrifies me, particularly since I also seem to have a poor response to T3.  I appreciate your input.

Sarah

[gimel]

Why are you considering switching to Armour?  What, if any, symptoms are you having?  Please post your thyroid related test results and their reference ranges, as shown on the lab report.  What is your daily dosage of Synthroid?