Armour vs Synthroid

[LindaTX]

Worried about going from .025 mcg.  Synthroid to 30 mg Armour.   I've had tachy and a-fib which I hope will stay in the past.  Does this sound like a reasonable switch to you?  My only complaint at present is lack of energy.

[LindaTX]

Thanks, Barb...I didn't know that about the T3 issue with heart problems. I never had any problem with my current dose of synthroid, except for having fatigue, which I thought might be related to the low dose of synthroid, but i think I'm better off with it than changing things up. I do hate to take beta blockers.

[Barb135]

Didn't realize you had the heart issue going on; sorry, but I missed your post of the 17th.  Anything with a T3 component is usually contraindicated when heart conditions are present/suspected.

Yes, you cant try the tirosint or you can simply try adjusting your levels with the synthroid.  Many of us have to take beta blockers to keep heart rhythms steady. You might ask your doctor if that's a possibility for you.

[Brucergoldberg]

you can always try tirosint or a t4 compound if you find weird side effects with the synthroid. I personally couldnt tolerte it.

[LindaTX]

Ok, update....when I went last week for a follow-up to my ablation, my electrophysiologist did not want me on the Armour at all....said it is known to trigger arrhythmias, so he suggested I go back on the Synthroid, which I have dome.  Maybe I just need a good dose of Geritol...if they still make it.

[LindaTX]

I let my Internal Med Dr. talk me into switching from Synthroid....had no problems or side effects...thinking maybe I should have asked for .050mcg on the Synthroid instead.  I can't afford to deal with ANY side effects.  I just had a second ablation in May for heart arrhythmias.  I had taken myself down a notch on the Synthroid a year ago because I was having increased a-fib/tachycardia and blamed it on the dose. Just really don't want any arrhythmia episodes. I think I'm already experiencing those three side effects that Bruce mentioned.  I do have a stable thyroid nodule that was the original reason for prescribing the Synthroid in the first place about 3-4 yrs ago.

[Barb135]

It's typical to start a low dose and let your body become accustomed to the medication, then increase slowly.  

I agree that your FT3 is very low, but the T3 in the Armour will help bump it up; even small doses can help.  

[Brucergoldberg]

Thats a reasonable dose in my mind.  The armour will have 17 t4 and 4.5 of t3, but the t3 is stronger.  But its such a tiny dose, I dont think you will notice much difference.

Your ft3 is in range but its very low.  There is not enough to grab from.  Its like eating at macdonalds but you are only getting a kids meal worth of food but your body requires a nice healthy meal so that it is way low.  My guess is you will have to bump up and bump to a full grain rather quickly.  There will be side effects you are not going to like from the bump.  If your doctor changed you perhaps its because he recognizes that you are low on the ft3 which is not a bad thing.

Id stay on the armour for at least ten days and push through the side effects which may include headache, nausea and some anxiety.

[LindaTX]

Hi Barb, thanks for the reply.  They only tested my free T3 this time and it is 2.3  In June my TSH was 3.04.  They didn't check my FT4. I don't know why.  The ref range for the TSH was .36-3.74  For FT3 it was 2.3-4.4

[Barb135]

One grain (60 mg) of Armour has 38 mcg T4 and 9 mcg T3; 30 mg (1/2 grain), would be 19 mcg T4 and 4.5 mcg T3. Your needs would be based on current labs/symptoms, as well as how well you tolerate the med.

What are your current thyroid levels?  Please post TSH, FT3 and FT4 results.  Be sure to include reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and must come from your own report.