Synthroid to Levoxyl switch-opinions please

[kitty9309]

I am switching from Synthroid to Levoxyl because:

A.) I am hoping my big, fat tongue is due to something in the Synthroid and

B.) It is cheaper and I have no Rx insurance.

I saw another thread about a Medication Rant and was curious. I saw at least a couple of people say they like Lexoyxl better.

What about it did you like better?

Is your dose of Levoxyl equivalent to the dose of Synthroid you were taking? I read on another forum that Levoxyl is better absorbed and I wonder if this means a dose adjustment.

[kitty9309]

I'm still searching for more on the ratios.

I did find this which may contradict the above:

"Thyroid gland produces all of body’s T4 (about 80-90 mcg/d), but only 20% of body’s T3 (~8 mcg). 80% of T3 is produced by peripheral deiodination of outer ring of T4 (by type I 5’-deiodinase, mainly in liver and kidney, little in heart). Total production of T3 is about 32-35 mcg/day."

http://www.endocrinology.med.ucla.edu/Thyroid.htm

Now I am getting confused.....

[kitty9309]

Hi. Here is a link to one reference about it:

BTA Statement
A. Armour Thyroid contains both thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) extracted from the thyroid gland of pigs. One grain, about 60 mg, of desiccated pig thyroid extract contains about 38mcg of T4 and 9mcg of T3, a ratio of around 4 to 1. The normal concentration of these hormones in the human thyroid is, however, at a ratio of 14 to 1. In other words, Armour thyroid extract contains excessive amounts of T3 relative to T4 when used to replace thyroid hormone in man. Moreover, as pig thyroid contains other substances apart from T4 and T3, Armour Thyroid is not a pure preparation of thyroid hormones. Historically, extracts of animal thyroid glands were the only way to treat thyroid underactivity, but since the 1950s pure synthetic thyroid hormones have been available in tablet form (thyroxine sodium [T4] and liothyronine [T3]).

This is from this site:

http://www.british-thyroid-association.org/bta_Armour_T4_T3.pdf

No problem on the Levoxyl. I just saw a conflict brewing and wanted to get back to my original question.

[AR-10]

Well, maybe I jumped the gun on natural/organic.
Does Armour contain fillers?

The point I was making was made quite clearly. I will refrain from calling Armour organic, as natural seems apropriate if it contains no fillers at all.

shauneegirl, unless I am banned from the site, I will respond to whomever I wish, and I will ignore whomever I wish. We try to get along here. I've had enough of your attitude already, so I will only respond to your posts when they need correcting and nobody else steps up.

I wasn't talking to you up there anyway. I was talking to Stella. I can do that, can't I? I have been for months, and she hasn't objected yet.

Kitty, I am sorry that this has drug your question off topic.

Thypatient, where did you get the smiley? :o)

[shauneegirl]

Hi Kitty 9309.  I was just curious, you mentioned Armour doesnt have the right ratio of t3/t4 as we need.  I still dont feel right, and that may be why.  But where did you find this?  My endo feels I have a total t-1 through t4 issue, but my meds really aren't helping as much as I feel they should.  Although my symptoms are better, I think its the other things I do to support my thyriod, not the so much the meds.  I am still cold all the time, still fighting my weight, and it sucks..... I so wish I was normal again.  I cant lose weight to save my life!
Oh and I stand corrected, I didnt take  Levoxyl, I took Synthoid.  Sorry - I had to look it up on my logs......

[kitty9309]

Thanks for your experience with Levoxyl.

You are right about the name. Many people think it is generic.

I will swallow it with lots of water.

I am glad to know that your dose is equivalent to the others.

I hope to do well on it. I realize switching may not do anything except save me money.

The tongue is not a physical bother to me. It just started around the time of starting Synthroid, but I really can't say it is related unless I get off of it.

To all:

All I was looking for was information from those who switched to Levoxyl.

Armour is natural . It comes from pigs. It just doesn't have the same ratio of t3/t4 as humans need.  It's great that some people do better on it.

99% of all people convert t4 (levothyroxine) to t3. Conversion problems are very rare, but they do exist.

[Thypatient]

Perhaps I should've said 'all natural.'  ☺