Switching from Synthroid to Armour

[DaniAnne1018]

Synthroid just simply stopped working for me.  Ive been alternating between 150 - 175mcg daily.  My last lab values plummeted.  I have hashimotos hypothyroidism, so the medication completely replaces thyroid hormone for me.  I asked my doctor to try Armour.  He ordered 180mg for me since they dont come in 175's.  According to the converstion chart, this is double my former dose.  180mg = 300mcg of Synthorid.  Yikes!  I'm not looking to have a heart attack here!  Needless to say I will not be taking this medication before having my doctor take a closer look at this medication and how much I should actually take.  Anyone have a similar experience?   Time to see a specialist...

[DaniAnne1018]

Thank you and yes I was thinking it might be best to go back to an Endo. I will continue to educate myself further on my condition as well as refuse to accept sub par care from a physician. I like the idea of taking small multiple dosages of Armour throughout the day considering its release time. The way I feel will be a good indication as to what does and does not work for me. I've been on Armour for 10 days and splitting my dosages throughout the day to equal out to what would be .175mcg of Synthroid. I have better clarity, less brain fog and far less fatigue. What I do have often though now is searing headaches upon waking and dizziness. The headaches fade with Tylenol and my morning coffee but the dizziness is worse than I had before Armour. Time will tell.

[gimel]

Unfortunately most hypothyroid patients do need to become knowledgeable about the problem and also be their own best advocate.  When you say you will go to a specialist, I assume that to mean an Endocrinologist. Being an Endo does not guarantee a good thyroid doctor.  Many of them specialize in diabetes, not thyroid.  Also, many have the "Immaculate TSH Belief" and only want to use TSH to diagnose and medicate a hypo patient.  Of course that does not work.  Many others rely on "Reference Range Endocrinology", by which they will tell you that a thyroid test result that falls anywhere within the range is adequate.  That also does not work for most hypo patients.

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

[DaniAnne1018]

Thanks for your response.  I know it is going to take some time before I feel better.  I look forward to that. In the mean time I will continue to be my own best health advocate.  My doctor really disappointed me.

[DaniAnne1018]

I appreciate your response.  I had to wait to get on my desktop to respond as my "smart phone" would not let me do so.  I decided to switch to a different doctor because my doctor's office has become far to busy to deal with anything more than routine "in and out" ...also the advise about not taking the Armour before labs was good advise.

[dgmootry]

Hey again, I also wanted to let you know, that is if you didn't know, when you go to have your labs done, make sure you don't take your meds prior, I always try and have a early blood draw and then take my morning meds afterwards, even if you ask your doctor and he says it doesn't matter, it does matter, debbie

[gimel]

There are actually two different conversion factors used by different sources.  One says that a grain of Armour ( 39 mcg of T4 and 9 mcg of T3) is equal to 100mcg of T4.  The other source says that one grain is the equivalent of only 75 mcg of T4.  The difference is due to the assumption about the factor used to convert the T3 to equivalent T4.   The factor varies between 4 and 7.

With either factor, your doctor way over medicated you by ordering 3 grains.   Depending on which factor you choose, the 3 grains are equivalent of either 225 or 300 mcg of T4.  Way too much.   A good amount for you to start would be 2 grains; however, be aware that due to how quickly the T3 acts, compared to T4 med, you should not make the switch all at once.  That would also cause short term over medicating as well.  Although a bit difficult to be precise with splitting dosages,  if it were me, I would try to switch only one quarter of your dose each week.  The 4 weeks would give your body time to dissipate some of the large T4 dosage you have been taking.  

[dgmootry]

Hey just want to give you a heads up on taking Armour, just in case your Doctor doesn't let you know about splitting your dose,most of us who take a med with a T3 component find that splitting the dose into multiples over the course of the day works best.  T3 is fast acting, so it gets into your blood quickly, peaks after a few hours, then is gone.  Once it's gone, you have nothing to go on, since FT3 is the actual hormone used by individual cells.  If you split your dose into multiples, you keep the T3 level in your system more consistent throughout the day. Considering the high dose you will be taking, splitting it would be a good idea, just a thought, I'm on Armour too, and it works great for me. Also make sure you don't take your Vit/minerals 3 to 4 hours prior to taking your Armour also stay away from Soy.