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Switched to Armour - feeling terrible
Hi everyone,
I did a search but didn't find what I was looking for. I just switched from 75 mcg of synthroid to 60mg of Armour. We played with the synthroid for a little as I was feeling pretty good on 50mcg then the fullness in my neck, fatigue and weight gain came back. She upped my dose to 75 and my heart was racing with palpitations so we started with the Armour 60 mg. My heart was still racing and I couldn't sleep and ALL of my hypo symptoms came back so as of today, she changed my dose to 30 mg on mon wed fri, then 60 on the others days. I woke up feeling the worst i've felt in awhile. Should I give the Armour a chance?? Is this normal to have symptoms come back when switching? Now it's only been 7 days that I have been on the armour but I didn't think all of my symptoms would come back. I forgot how terrible I felt prior to the synthroid.
I appreciate any advice.
Thank you
I did a search but didn't find what I was looking for. I just switched from 75 mcg of synthroid to 60mg of Armour. We played with the synthroid for a little as I was feeling pretty good on 50mcg then the fullness in my neck, fatigue and weight gain came back. She upped my dose to 75 and my heart was racing with palpitations so we started with the Armour 60 mg. My heart was still racing and I couldn't sleep and ALL of my hypo symptoms came back so as of today, she changed my dose to 30 mg on mon wed fri, then 60 on the others days. I woke up feeling the worst i've felt in awhile. Should I give the Armour a chance?? Is this normal to have symptoms come back when switching? Now it's only been 7 days that I have been on the armour but I didn't think all of my symptoms would come back. I forgot how terrible I felt prior to the synthroid.
I appreciate any advice.
Thank you
So studying for my nursing boards, which I am taking in 1.5 weeks and trying to decide between 2 new full time nursing jobs (after not working for 4 years because I have been in school... not a good idea?? Oh and having a 2 year old and a 5 year old. LOL no I'm really stressed to the max and not feeling well on top of it is just the icing. I wish I could change something... thanks again for your input. I've really learned so much from this forum.
Yes, Its both. When starting new thyroid med, since it takes a while to work, you WILL have thyroid symptoms. Symptoms of hypo and hyper. This happens to many people here.
Its an uncomfortable waiting game, its just part of the deal. The only thing that realy helps is to take it easy if possible, no skydiving, no starting a new job ect
Its an uncomfortable waiting game, its just part of the deal. The only thing that realy helps is to take it easy if possible, no skydiving, no starting a new job ect
Could this be the Hasimoto symptoms coming back and not necessarily the meds? I am new to this as I was diagnosed a few months ago. I remember this is exactly how I felt when I was experiencing the hyper symptoms prior to meds so I just don't know if it's too high of a dose causing me to feel hyper or if it's the Hashimoto's symptoms creeping back up
I think I'm going to take just 30mg of the armour for a little and see how I feel. If still feeling hypo, I'll take 45... because that would be my divided dose for the week rather than alternating 30 and 60mg. My heart is still racing and today was the first day on the lower dose.
My doctor started me on 30 mgs and then only raises 15 mgs every 6 weeks! Maybe it's due to my crappy adrenals. Lol.
Next time he's adding in some synthroid! Yippee!
Next time he's adding in some synthroid! Yippee!
Oy, ok, thanks for the input. I'll try calling the office to see what she says about that. I just want to feel better. I was finally making progress, then bam.... Hashimoto's really stinks.
Yes, thats it.
Example: I take 2 1/4 pills per day; equals 135mg. Im on Erfa deccicated, it splits better.
Its best to start low and get FT3 and FT4 tested every three weeks for about 9 weeks , if ins covers your labs, this should be no problem.
The Armour directions on the PDF on their site specifically states to start low and increase 15mg per week till optimal. Yet Drs are cluless on how to start on Armour, or any deccicated.
Example: I take 2 1/4 pills per day; equals 135mg. Im on Erfa deccicated, it splits better.
Its best to start low and get FT3 and FT4 tested every three weeks for about 9 weeks , if ins covers your labs, this should be no problem.
The Armour directions on the PDF on their site specifically states to start low and increase 15mg per week till optimal. Yet Drs are cluless on how to start on Armour, or any deccicated.
Oh oh oh, I just re-read after you corrected yourself "You can alternate T3 doses that much each day. Figure your weekly dose divide by 7, and get a pill splitter to make the correct daily dose. I can split them into quarters and use that entire split pill in the same week - that makes up for the slight difference in splitting" So you are just saying to split it all up for the week and take the same amount every day? Yeah, I have to buy a splitter because I tried splitting it this morning and it ruined the other half.
Ok, I'm sorry if I am missing what you guys are suggesting but, what do you think I should do? Take the lowest dosage of 30 every day they increase later if it feels necessary? (Since you are saying not to alternate 30/60....) Or should I go back to synthroid?
Type error :
You can alternate T3 doses that much each day.
Meant to type: You CAN'T alternate T3 doses.....
You can alternate T3 doses that much each day.
Meant to type: You CAN'T alternate T3 doses.....
I get hyper type symptoms every time my armour dose is raised. It usually only lasts a week or two and then goes away. I experience anxiety, heart palps, increased muscle aches. I just treat the symptoms to get me through the adjustment period (Motrin, Xanax, Benadryl). Both of my Frees are below midrange so I know I am not hyper.
Very common question here.
To much changing in so little time.
Many people feel worse when changing to a med with T3 in it for a few weeks. It takes the body that long to figure out what to do with it.
You can alternate T3 doses that much each day. Figure your weekly dose divide by 7, and get a pill splitter to make the correct daily dose. I can split them into quarters and use that entire split pill in the same week - that makes up for the slight difference in splitting.
Even the T4 in deccicated still takes some time for the body to start using it.
Due to availability issues in the past I have changes thy med many times, each time was like starting over.
Give it time, I never felt human till 1-1/2 months, then better at 3 months, best at 6 months.
To much changing in so little time.
Many people feel worse when changing to a med with T3 in it for a few weeks. It takes the body that long to figure out what to do with it.
You can alternate T3 doses that much each day. Figure your weekly dose divide by 7, and get a pill splitter to make the correct daily dose. I can split them into quarters and use that entire split pill in the same week - that makes up for the slight difference in splitting.
Even the T4 in deccicated still takes some time for the body to start using it.
Due to availability issues in the past I have changes thy med many times, each time was like starting over.
Give it time, I never felt human till 1-1/2 months, then better at 3 months, best at 6 months.
Sounds like a LOT of changing of med dosages and types of medication in a fairly short period of time. Your body has no clue what is going on because of this man made hormone roller coaster. Just my opinion.
My opinion is that I would have taken a different approach. Since you were apparently feeling slightly Hypo on 60 mcg synthroid and Hyper at 75. I would have thought of lowering back to 60 mcg synthroid or even a bit lower and simply added a small dose of synthetic T3.
Switching over to a completely different medicine when it appeard that you really had the dosage pretty well established a lower and upper limit would not have been my first choice.
i also wonder about alternating dosage days with NDT because on the days you take the 60 mg you get twice as much T3 than on the days you take the 30 mg. The T4 is less of an issue because it takes WEEKS to build up so there is plenty of half life to average out. But T3 is used in HOURS, so I'm not sure what kind of roller coaster that will cause. maybe nothing. I'm sure other people must have experience with alternating dosages with NDT.
My opinion is that I would have taken a different approach. Since you were apparently feeling slightly Hypo on 60 mcg synthroid and Hyper at 75. I would have thought of lowering back to 60 mcg synthroid or even a bit lower and simply added a small dose of synthetic T3.
Switching over to a completely different medicine when it appeard that you really had the dosage pretty well established a lower and upper limit would not have been my first choice.
i also wonder about alternating dosage days with NDT because on the days you take the 60 mg you get twice as much T3 than on the days you take the 30 mg. The T4 is less of an issue because it takes WEEKS to build up so there is plenty of half life to average out. But T3 is used in HOURS, so I'm not sure what kind of roller coaster that will cause. maybe nothing. I'm sure other people must have experience with alternating dosages with NDT.
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