Question about Armour

I've been on Levothyroxine for 3 years and even though my numbers were normal, I felt like ****. My doctor decided to switch me to Armour and I wanted to know if it's helped people? Anybody have luck losing weight on it? Thanks

[Dnarose]

Armour has made a huge difference for me.  I was first put on Levoxyl, which did nothing for my symptoms, but gave me great labs.  I eventually added Cytomel o the Levoxyl and it helped with about 75% of my symptoms. After 2 years I decided I wanted to try Armour.  Armour helped with 95% of my symptoms. Make sure if you go on it that the doctor adjusts it by free t4 and free t3, not by TSH.

[Dnarose]

Just wanted to add, it did not help me lose weight. What I have found is any weight gained by this condition has to be lost with diet and exercise.  What does happen with Armour is the eight gain stops when you get a midrange FT4 and high in range FT3 and you have more energy to exercise. The extra energy will let you be more active, which will result in weight loss.  A rare few will lose just by switching to Armour, but its not the norm.

[stella5349]

Is that the only concern you had with symptoms that made you decided to switch?

was the weight gain?

[Nikki725]

No it wasn't the only symptom. Even though my labs looked good, I'm tired alll the time, no energy and just overall not feeling good. I started the Armour because I have a 3 year old and need something that will help with the energy and to help me feel somewhat like a normal 24 year old should.

[stella5349]

How long has it been since you made the switch to Armour?

Do you have your specific labs available to post? and what dosage are you on now?

What dosage were you on with Synthroid also?

Are you taking any additional meds or supplements?

I am just trying to get a feel for what has all been happening here with you .

[Nikki725]

I just finally made the switch to Armour today. For the past 3 years I've been on half of 75mg of Levo and 5mcg of Cytomel everyday. Labs put me at 1.8 which is normal but it hasn't taken care of the symptoms. For just starting Armour, I already feel better, no more being cold and tired. Hope it stays like this.

[stella5349]

Usually it is about a 48 hr difference in symptoms. I would think your doctor put you at about a 30 or maybe 45 mg grain of Armour .

I'm I close?

TSH labs of 1.8 on Armour may still keep you a bit hypo in symptoms. You may find getting lower on that around .5 may be what really helps you.

If you get a chance - take a look at the Health PAge for Armour here. It may help you unerstand the med more and how you can get the full benefit.

You can click on the Health Page icon on the top of theis page.

[Dnarose]

If you can get the doctor to adjust your dosage of Armour by free t4 and free t3, you will feel so much better.  Once T3 is added, it supresses the TSH, so the TSH should not be used to adjust the dosage.  All my thyroid tests are normal, except for my TSH which is 0.02.  Luckily the doctor knows I am not hyper because all my other tests are normal and I have no hyper symptoms.

[Nikki725]

Yep I'm at 30 mg of Armour right now plus 5 mcg of Cytomel. Feeling pretty good, only side effect is being sort of itchy. I've heard people with Hasimoto's feel this way sometimes. Overall very happy with the Armour. The Dr is doing a blood check in 4 weeks to see if we need to up the dosage. Thanks for the support everyone!

[Dnarose]

Just curious as to why you are on Cytomel too?  Are your free t3 levels extremely low?

[MKlacza]

I was told that being on both Cytomel and Armour are not encouraged..

[stella5349]

It doesn't seem right to have a T3 meds in addition to the T3/T4 combo