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The difference between taking Synthroid & Cytomel vs. Armour Thyroid or Nature Thyroid
I am very curious to know what the difference is between taking a T3 and T4 Med vs a Dominately T3 med that has T4, for a person who does not convert well??? Some of you may know my history and bottom line i am struggling with being healthy again. I have many health issues steming from removing of my Thyroid. My endo isn't helping me as I pour out my heart to him, explaining my symptoms (all hypo and then some), while on Synthroid (alone). I have received many comments and advice from people on this site and I have done research (via books and online) as well in order to educate myself on my condition. I understand that Armour Thyroid is basically obselete but there are lots of people who do well on it verses just a T4 med (Synthroid). My levels (FT3) are always low in range, indicating a conversion issue, no matter what strength of Synthroid I am on. I am currently on 88mcg and my hypo symptoms are crazy although my TSH (The Swearby Hormone...lol) is in range but depending on my dosage, it ranges. My FT3 is always low in range whereas my FT4 is upper range.
Would love comments in regard to the difference and always side effects of Armour Thyroid...Thanks in advance.
Would love comments in regard to the difference and always side effects of Armour Thyroid...Thanks in advance.
Last time I went to pick up my liothyronine(7.5mcg twice a day), it was too early and they said insurance wouldn't cover it yet. It's usually $10, but would have been $89 without! I pay $21 for synthroid. I'm not sure how much it is without insurance.
blsdnvd- I take 150mcg Selenium a day. It has seemed to help a little bit with my hypo symptoms and my eyes. Is your current dr going to let you add a T3 med?
I know how exhausting it is to find a dr who will listen to you. I just had an appt with a new endo. I waited a month to see her and I could tell in the first 5 mins that she was more narrow minded than my current dr. I had articles printed off with a few important things highlighted. She told me the info was incorrect and that TSH is more important than FT3 & Ft4. She said less than 1% of her patients are on a T3 med & she was surprised that I had seen so much improvement with the addition of T3. She also said my symptoms could be from being hyper. I know they aren't....I was hyper for years! I get so drained & frustrated dealing with all this. Why should it be so hard to get proper thyroid treatment?! I'm keeping my appt with my current endo, but will keep looking for a new one.
blsdnvd- I take 150mcg Selenium a day. It has seemed to help a little bit with my hypo symptoms and my eyes. Is your current dr going to let you add a T3 med?
I know how exhausting it is to find a dr who will listen to you. I just had an appt with a new endo. I waited a month to see her and I could tell in the first 5 mins that she was more narrow minded than my current dr. I had articles printed off with a few important things highlighted. She told me the info was incorrect and that TSH is more important than FT3 & Ft4. She said less than 1% of her patients are on a T3 med & she was surprised that I had seen so much improvement with the addition of T3. She also said my symptoms could be from being hyper. I know they aren't....I was hyper for years! I get so drained & frustrated dealing with all this. Why should it be so hard to get proper thyroid treatment?! I'm keeping my appt with my current endo, but will keep looking for a new one.
The dosage was decreased based on my TSH level...it was low in range and also remember that my doc doesn't even look at the FT3 level, so that doesn't matter to him. That's why i need to find another doctor. Re: FT4.Those are the ranges on the labs (t4 free calculated), my gp requested these labs. Notice how my TSH is much higher than it was on 88mcg, either way, I feel crappy. I have extreme fatigue and many other hypo symptoms, feel like i'm not on any medication.
I went to my Cardiologist for follow up today and sat there for two hrs to find out that his assistant was covering and my mood changed drastically. I felt as if, why even speak, because he doesn't know anything about my history, but what's on my chart. I have a extra beat and it show on my ekg everytime and i've had every test under the sun, everything came back normal..so this assistant want me to do another stress test and I immediately told him no, not now...there is no way i can do that crazy test without passing out. I'm so frustrated about everything. Then, I tell him that the problem doesn't lye their, it's all due to my thyroid issues and once that is corrected, everything else will get better and he says: I believe you...so, why order the test!!!. Sorry for venting, but i feel better now... :))
I went to my Cardiologist for follow up today and sat there for two hrs to find out that his assistant was covering and my mood changed drastically. I felt as if, why even speak, because he doesn't know anything about my history, but what's on my chart. I have a extra beat and it show on my ekg everytime and i've had every test under the sun, everything came back normal..so this assistant want me to do another stress test and I immediately told him no, not now...there is no way i can do that crazy test without passing out. I'm so frustrated about everything. Then, I tell him that the problem doesn't lye their, it's all due to my thyroid issues and once that is corrected, everything else will get better and he says: I believe you...so, why order the test!!!. Sorry for venting, but i feel better now... :))
i thought it was weird when i was on tirosint that i picked up my first box which was .13 and the cost was 12.99
then i went back 3 months later and picked up the larger dose and it was 12.99
then i picked up .75 and it was 12.99
I wish that i could take t4. I wish.
also i looked at my naturethroid. The 1/4 grain bottle says "rlc labs"
the 1 grain says "western" on it, but the pills say "rlc"
bruce
then i went back 3 months later and picked up the larger dose and it was 12.99
then i picked up .75 and it was 12.99
I wish that i could take t4. I wish.
also i looked at my naturethroid. The 1/4 grain bottle says "rlc labs"
the 1 grain says "western" on it, but the pills say "rlc"
bruce
COMMUNITY LEADER
Bruce - I know you weren't harping at me; I was merely explaining why I haven't tried dessicated med.
Strange - at my pharmacy, the cost of the Tirosint varies, depending on the dosage, and because it's not a generic, it's not on the list of preferred medications for my insurance.
LazyMoose - yes, my bottle simply says Liothyronine SOD. The bottle I'm using from now was manufactured by Paddock Labs. The new bottle that I'll start on in a couple of days is manufactured by Mylan. I've never noticed a difference between the generic and cytomel; nor have I been able to tell a difference between manufacturers.
blsdnsvd -- why was your dosage dropped from 100 mcg to 88 mcg, when your FT3 and FT4 were still so low in their ranges? Also, please check the range for the Dec FT4 - it doesn't look right.
Total T3 is pretty much obsolete and doesn't tell diddly squat; that's why we ask for Free T3. T3 uptake is also pretty useless. You could actually save money by leaving off the Total T3 and the T3U, and get FT4 and FT3, which are the tests that tell exactly what's going on.
In my opinion, you're still hypo.
Strange - at my pharmacy, the cost of the Tirosint varies, depending on the dosage, and because it's not a generic, it's not on the list of preferred medications for my insurance.
LazyMoose - yes, my bottle simply says Liothyronine SOD. The bottle I'm using from now was manufactured by Paddock Labs. The new bottle that I'll start on in a couple of days is manufactured by Mylan. I've never noticed a difference between the generic and cytomel; nor have I been able to tell a difference between manufacturers.
blsdnsvd -- why was your dosage dropped from 100 mcg to 88 mcg, when your FT3 and FT4 were still so low in their ranges? Also, please check the range for the Dec FT4 - it doesn't look right.
Total T3 is pretty much obsolete and doesn't tell diddly squat; that's why we ask for Free T3. T3 uptake is also pretty useless. You could actually save money by leaving off the Total T3 and the T3U, and get FT4 and FT3, which are the tests that tell exactly what's going on.
In my opinion, you're still hypo.
[ "I'm taking a 1 grain from one mfg and 1/4 grain pills (for dosing) from another." ]
- just remember there are differences in manufactures of natural thyroid.
So you're on Nature Throid, and the other must be Armour or Acella NP which sometimes just says "Thyroid" on the script bottle. These are the only three prescription natural thyroid meds available from US pharmacies at the moment.
You, your Dr, and the pharmacy will need to remember to not get these mixed up in the future as the strengths can very in effectiveness among brands of the same grain / size. Sometimes pharmacies will sub Armour for Nature Throid and Acella without telling you, as they assume its all the same - this can mess you up, watch out for this.
I remember NT and Armour did not split well (crumbled) after their reformulations.
- just remember there are differences in manufactures of natural thyroid.
So you're on Nature Throid, and the other must be Armour or Acella NP which sometimes just says "Thyroid" on the script bottle. These are the only three prescription natural thyroid meds available from US pharmacies at the moment.
You, your Dr, and the pharmacy will need to remember to not get these mixed up in the future as the strengths can very in effectiveness among brands of the same grain / size. Sometimes pharmacies will sub Armour for Nature Throid and Acella without telling you, as they assume its all the same - this can mess you up, watch out for this.
I remember NT and Armour did not split well (crumbled) after their reformulations.
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