The difference between taking Synthroid & Cytomel vs. Armour Thyroid or Nature Thyroid

[blsdnsvd]

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.

[flyingfool]

Tirosint is a   pure T4 med.  It is in a liquid capsule form.  It has  no fillers or dyes.  So many people who are sensitive to the fillers and dyes in the powdered pills and can not tolerate those find that Tirosint works for them  better.

Also there seems to be better absorption with the liquid caps than the powdered pills.  Therefore for the same effect you may have to reduce the dose of Tirosint versus Levo or Synthroid.

[Brucergoldberg]

I did notice that there are 2 manufacturers on my bottles.  That spooked me a bit.  I'm taking a 1 grain from one mfg  and 1/4 grain pills (for dosing) from another.

its funny how a lot of the fillers that are in the meds are the same fillers in my kids candy.  

[LazyMoose]

I'm surprised that insurance Rx helps out with the cost of Nature Throid. Off brands of any med usually fall under the "not preferred" category, and they jack the price way up to make you think twice about it.

I was actually on two different manufactures of generic natural thyroid (made by Time Caps and Major) after Armour stopped shipping in '09 and before my trial with Nature Throid. They worked better than Nature Throid, but the FDA made both jump through so many hoops that it wasnt worth it for them to keep making the stuff.

Armour was bigger and was apparently able to still be profitable after the FDA messed with them, and made them reformulate - just my guess. Then the FDA made Nature Throid reformulate also in '10. None of them had micro cellulose filler before the FDA messed with all of those. They absorbed better with the old filler.

Erfa still uses dextrose for filler, like the US brands used to, that is the difference. And that is why it can be swallowed or taken sublingually and with the same effect (food doesn't seem to effect it sublingually) . You could probably snort the stuff too LOL!

[blsdnsvd]

Also, Is Tirosint a T3 med alone??..Sorry but I don't have the energy to read the entire post, i'm about to fall asleep on the keyboard!  In desperate need of some engergy pronto!

[blsdnsvd]

Thanks for the responses...i will talk to my TSH Endo on my next visit and i will leave with some results, even if it's to never see him again....

[blsdnsvd]

As requested, these are my comparison labs.


I am posting labs from july, end of sep, and end of dec of 2011. Please comment.

July (on 100mcg synthroid)
TSH                          0.44                0.40-4.50
FT3                           2.5                  2.3-4.2
FT4                           1.1                  0.8-1.8            
T3 Total                      96                  76-181  

September  (decreased to 88mcg based on labs)  
TSH                          1.45                0.40-4.50
FT3                           2.6                  2.3-4.2
FT4                           1.2                  0.8-1.8            
T3 Total                      79                  76-181

December (88mcg) Labs requested by gp
TSH                          3.80                0.40-4.50
FT3                           NA (did not test, even when I requested)                          
FT4                           2.5                   1.4-3.8      
T3 uptake                   31                    22-35

My TSH is flip flopping and from the previous two tests, my FT3 is low in range, what about my FT4, is that at an optimal range, and how does T3 Total and Uptake play a part in how I feel??? Help. I'm trying to be a professor in this subject so that I won't feel helpless with my symptoms and actually do my part in doing something about it. Also, Does Selenim help with any hypo symptoms??? I understand that it does.

Barbara