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Levothyroxin vs. Armour Thyroid

I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism when i was 21 years old. my doc put me on levothyroxine at 75mcg. im 30 years old now and after all these years of taking it she has never changed the dosage, which is still 75 mcg. more than any other time in the last 8 years, ive started within the past few months experiencing major physical changes (increased hair loss, sexual appetite decreased, unstable periods, easily exhausted, profuse sweating, sun sensitivity, migraines, memory loss, insomnia, sugar cravings and much more). well, i went to my doc and had a blood test done. after all these years, my blood test levels always came back as "completely normal and fine" but i felt so miserable, so this time my blood test actually showed that my levels had changed quite drastically. i suggested to my doctor that i wanted to change from levothyroxine to armour thyroid and she tried to very convincingly persuade me to stick with the levo but increase the mcg to suit my body's needs...i pushed for the armour thyroid and she declined to switch it. i now am stuck with taking levothyroxine 100mcg, and i have to go see an endocrine specialist to even get approved to take the armour thyroid. ive read nothing but 100% good things about the armour thyroid...so why is my doc putting a fight about it? i know my body better than anyone (aside from God who created me and knows every hair numbered on my head) but yet im being denied what i feel is going to be the solution to my health problems. what can i do, especially if the specialist recommends putting me on a different medicine once i see him next week? is there any other medicine besides armour thyroid that is so highly recommended for hypothyroidism? this is all new to me and my doc is absolutely clueless on how to fix the problem yet she put me on the meds (armour) that i believe will fix my body. im so frustrated!!! ive developed kidney stones and pancreas blockage over the past few years simply due to depriving my body of what it needs: a different medicine.
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Avatar universal
Before further discussion please tell us about any symptoms you have.  Also please post your latest thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  What thyroid med are you on and what daily dosage?  Also, what is the Armour dosage?
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Avatar universal
Update on armour?? I am switching and would like to know what to watch for as far as symptoms.!
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Avatar universal
thank you for your response. i dont have the slightest clue unfortunately about my levels before, after or during medication. this is an area that i definitely need to brush up on. i will update everyone on the changes (either positive or negative, if any) after my month is up from being on the Armour. i know that just after a short period of time being on my new medicine...i can already feel more strength coming back to me and im less exhausted all the time for no reason, which is a plus:)
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Avatar universal
It's still a good idea to get into the habit of asking for a printed copy of all your labwork. If you change doctors for any reason, you then have your entire history in your possession.  If you make notes on your lab reports (what your meds, dose and symptoms were before the labs), you will be able to determine the levels that are best for you.  

Did your doctor tell you what your FT3 and FT4 levels were?  This is very important, especially when changing meds or starting meds with T3 in them.  

It will take about a month before you can evaluate your current dose.  If symptoms remain, you might have to increase or decrease a bit (fine tuning).  It almost always takes longer than we want it to (yesterday, please!), but there's no avoiding that.  

Best of luck with your meds change, and please give us an update on how you're doing.
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Avatar universal
thanks for the insight you gave me. alof of the information can very well indeed be overwhelming, but im appreciative of whatever information you wish to pass onto me. i had just recently went to see an endocrine specialist that specializes in thyroid problems and he ok'd putting me on Armour. for the first time in my life, i actually heard a doctor say with my own ears that hes not about making a buck like most doctors, but rather that hes concerned about my body and wants to do whats going to help me the most. after several years of not knowing anything about my blood tests being taken, the specialist told me in terms i could understand that a normal thyroid level is a 1 or 2 but mine was a 6...which explains alot and he agreed. ive only been taking the Armour for a few days now. he has me on 60 mg tablets once daily, which i take the second i wake up in the morn and apart from all other meds (vitamins and herbs). i will hopefully be able to update my progress after a month or so from being on this new medicine to report the positive changes to give encouragement to others about it. the specialist said it might take a whole month before i start feeling "normal again".
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798555 tn?1292787551
"ive read nothing but 100% good things about the armour thyroid"

- Then you didn't read the info about the filler changes and the effects of it not working as well as the 'old Armour'.

The 'new' Armour is not necessarily a "cure all".  As stated above, its best to try synthetics first based on the free T3 and 4 levels AND how you feel. Keep in mind there are several brands and generics of synthetic thyroid replacements. I am on dessicated brand # 4, it was a last resort.  The reformulated ones did not work for me. This is why I say try all synthetics first. Remember changing thyroid med takes time, not an easy fix.
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Avatar universal
You ask a very complicated question with no quick and easy answer.

Many doctors refuse to prescribe Armour (dessicated porcine thyroid), which is unfortunate, because many people do not do well on the synthetics and have to take dessicated (there are other brands besides Armour).  However, if your doctor is not used to prescribing it, you probably would fare better with a doctor who knows more about it.  Many endos don't use dessicated, either, so if you are going to see another doctor, you might call the office and ask if he prescribes it before making an appointmnet.

The choice of which meds to take is very individual...some people do just fine on T4-only meds (once their levels are properly adjusted); slow converters often need to add some T3 to the T4 meds, either as a synthetic T3/T4 combination or as dessicated.  However, personal choice is not the only consideration.  

You really have to look at your thyroid labs to determine which is right for you.  Your doctor should be testing free T3, free T4 and TSH regularly.  It's best to get into the habit of picking up a printed lab report for your records so that you can determine the best levels for you.  If you do not convert T4 to T3 well, then dessicated might be right for you.  However, if your conversion is good, and you just need to increase FT4 levels, the high T3 content in dessicated might not be right for you.  Another option is a synthetic T3/T4 combination (e.g. levothyroxine and Cytomel).  Since these are separate tablets, the T3/T4 balance is adjustable for you individually.

Do you have the results and reference ranges from your recent labs?  Ranges vary from lab to lab so have to come from your own lab report.

As I said, this is a very complicated subject, and I've barely touched on it because I don't want to overwhelm you with too much information.  Please feel free to ask more questions if you'd like more in-depth information.

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Avatar universal
correction to above paragraph: *yet she REFUSES TO put me on the meds (armour) that i believe will fix my body*
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