Average armour dose

[mulligan2525]

Is there an average armour dose that most people feel well on?  I'm only on 75 mgs and I still have hypo symptoms.  Both my FT3 and FT4 are hovering under 50% in their ranges.  Does 75 mgs seem like a low-ish dose?

[ahmee]

I would definitely wait out that four weeks and see if you feel any difference at all. That will give the T4 some time to build up in your bloodstream (although judging by the labs you posted, your FT4 wasn't looking too bad). It will be interesting to see if the labs budge. Just to confirm, you are not taking your meds before the blood draw, right? It's best to have labs in the a.m. and take the morning dose after.

[mulligan2525]

I just read on another site that the average dose to feel well is 3-5 grains.  I'm only on 2 grains.  I guess I have a ways to go.  We'll see what my labs suggest in 4 more weeks.

So far this armour has done 2 things for me, Jack and sh$#!

[mulligan2525]

Well.......I'm up to 2 grains.  I still don't feel any better.  I will get labs in 4 more weeks and post the results to see what you all think.

My patience is wearing thin.  Lol.  Thyroid time is slow!

My appointment with Dr. Hotze went well.  They ignore TSH and will keep increasing my labs according to symptoms.  Yay!!!

[ahmee]

I agree with what others said in terms of "ideal dose not the same for everyone". Clinical response is definitely the most important factor to consider, along with blood tests. That being said, I've found that many people end up in the 2-3 grain range. I take 2.5 grains Naturethroid. My TSH is around 0 but my FT3 and FT4 are in the upper half of range. Body size doesn't seem to have much to do with dose either, as I am on the thinner side, of average height. Keep in mind too that some people may absorb more of the hormone easier than others. But from what I read on this board it seems that many doctors are afraid to dose higher than 1-1.5 grains, which is unfortunate because many folks seem to need more than that. I always dosed up in 1/4 grain increments and would recommend the same to anyone else.

[gimel]

Your Free T4 is adequate, but if still having symptoms, your Free T3 is too low.  I use this info a lot, but if your haven't seen it, I really recommend reading through it.

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

So I recommend discussing with your doctor an increase in meds.  As a first step I would ask to drop the 25 mcg of Synthroid and add another 1/2 grain of Armour.  By that you are would be reducing your T4 by about 5 mcg, and adding about 4.5 mcg of T3.  Then the Armour can be increased further as  needed to relieve hypo symptoms.

One thing further is that hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. If not tested for those, I urge you to do so.  

[mulligan2525]

Thank you.  I was just wondering if there was an average dose.  I too, feel like 75 mgs is kind of a starting dose.  I read some more today and it seems that many are on 2.5 to 3.5 grains.  I know Dr. Broda Barnes said, "the bigger the beast, the bigger the bullet."  I am small, so I was hoping 75 would be enough, but obviously it isn't.  Do most people increase by 1/4 or 1/2 grain at a time?

My labs

TSH 0.010
FT3. 3.12 (2.3-4.2). 43%
FT4.  1.09. (.76-1.46). 47%

I take 75 armour and 25 synthroid
None of my hypo symptoms have improved!

[gimel]

I'm currently taking 2.5 grains of Armour and 12.5 mcg of Cytomel.

Keep in mind that dosage is irrelevant.  Only the clinical response matters.

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

[canavywife]

I'm on 75 mg too, also still having lingering symptoms. Still impossible to lose weight on a very restricted and clean diet and 5x/week exercise. Still VERY cold with temps averaging 96.1-96.7 (I'm always cold and I live in So cal). I also still have some fatigue issues. MY TSH is within "normal" though, albeit the higher end of normal and because I have had some great resolution in some symptoms, my doc is feeling 75mg is still a good dose. Most people tell me it's a VERY small amount to take, I think most people take double this amount but again, trying to not read too much into labs and more into how I feel. I think an increase would still benefit me since I continue to have some lingering issues but not sure if I can convince the doctor of this.

[Barb135]

There is no "average" dose; it's all about what your body needs.  75 mg could be perfect for some, but too much or not enough for others.

If your levels aren't high enough to relieve symptoms, you'd need to increase it.  

What are the actual results of your most current thyroid labs?  Be sure to include reference ranges, which vary lab to lab and have to come from your own report.