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566103 tn?1228385767

Synthroid vs Amor Thyroid

I take synthroid now, but I see as I go through the forum that some of you take Amor thyroid. Does it act like synthroid? What does it do? thanks
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393685 tn?1425812522
I am more of an advocant of finding a med that helps the patient and not just "staying within the box" of the "norm"

Most doctors will not RX it because their "pockets" do not get full off off Forest Labs/Armour - vs- Abbott Labs/Synthroid.

I don't know any reputable drug site that do not list both meds and even a few others that have not been mentioned here.

Everyone is "made" different so we need to find the right therapy to help us get well.

It doesn't hurt to try things - if they don't work then return to the other.

Making sure you log your medical history is key when thinking of changing things up.

This way you can look back and see progress or decline on your health and make appropriate decisions. Keep track of labs and symptoms - meds and dosages- and supplements you take to assist your meds. Check your basal temp everyday for low to normal readings.

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458072 tn?1291415186
Most drs won't even prescribe armour. Some drug sites, don't even list it.
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213044 tn?1236527460
Synthroid is a brand name (one of several) drug that uses levothyroxine salts as the active ingredient. Levothyroxine is the generic form of the drug.

It is a synthetic form of thyroxine, or T4 for short. Your body takes the T4 and converts it to T3 as it is needed.

Armour is made by desicating and grinding up thyroids from swine, which is biologically similar to humans. It contains T4, and it also contains T3 (triiodo-something). It contains more T3 than a human thyroid in working order produces, so it gets a little complicated here.

Some people have trouble converting T4 to T3 in sufficient quantities. For these people, Armour gives them the T4 and the T3 that they need. The T4/T3 ratio is not perfect, so hormone levels can look a little odd, but if it is taken in the right dosage, it works quite well.

If you do not have a conversion problem, Armour may give you too much T3.

If you do have a conversion problem and Armour does not appeal to you, there is also synthetic T3, called Cytomel. Some people take a combination of Levothyroxine and Cytomel.

Most people are able to take a levothyroxine product and convert T4 to T3 properly. This is actually the best approach if it will work for you. Taking a T4 drug allows for a more even release of T3.

If you take T3 (in Armour or Cytomel) a good bit of that T3 enters your system immediately, giving you a rush and a slight over-abundance of T3. It is quickly used and then the T3 level drops. Then your body converts the T4 to T3. It's a little bumpy, and your levels are a bit more extreme in the high/low each day.

Some people love Armour. Some people need Armour, like it or not. Most of us are taking synthetics. However, Armour has been used for decades before synthetics came along.
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