Thyroid hairloss

[Sumi24]

Thyroid runs in my family. I am 71 years old female who has been taking synthroid for over 15 years and levothyroxine generic for one year. My thyroid hairloss is so bad that small patches are now bare scull in places. This week I switched to Armour in the hope of getting my hair back. Sideeffects shows hairloss for a few months? What should I expect from Armour 30 mg daily. I was on levothyrixine 75 mcg 2 days and 50 5 days. I have disturbed sleep and prediabetic, aic 6.3. T3 and t4 r in range. Blood test August,15 tsh 1.21 t4 1.3.
Thanks

[gimel]

I am not surprised that you are still suffering with hypo symptoms.  The dose you are taking is not very much.  You need to insist on being tested for both Free T4 and Free T3 each time you go in for tests, and you need to pursue getting to the levels I recommended previously.  Also, did you request Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin?

The effect from NatureThroid is no different than Armour Thyroid.  It is not the med, it is the dosage that is the problem.

[Sumi24]

My tsh was too high so the doctor increased my Armour dose to 45mg( costing me a lot for 15 mg tablet)
I feel low at times, depressed and crying
Is this normal
Is nature thyroid different than Armour?
Thanks

[gimel]

No that is not normal.  Your thyroid meds were apparently too low before the switch to Armour, and the new dosage was even lower than prior.  So you need to increase your dosage gradually with a target of getting your Free T4 to middle of the range, and your Free T3 into the upper part of its range, as needed to relieve your hypo symptoms.

Also don't forget to test for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin and supplement as needed to optimize.  

[Sumi24]

I am having night sweats with Armour 30mg, also breakouts on my face. R these normal?

[gimel]

From your description of symptoms I expect that you are still hypothyroid.  The dosage you are taking was fairly low, and now the doctor has switched you to Armour, but the dosage is too low.  Many doctors misunderstand and think that the equivalent dose of Armour is one grain (60 mg) for each 100 mcg of T4 med. Unfortunately that is incorrect.  The real equivalent is one grain for each 70 mcg of T4, so your new dosage is a reduction, when you needed an increase and I expect that you also need to raise your Free T3 level.  

So you need to talk to the doctor about getting tested for Free T3, and make sure they do that every time you go in for tests.  Also ask for an increase of the Armour to 60 mg daily.  A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypothyroid patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T4 and Free T3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.  

Also hypo patients are frequently to low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.  Low levels can cause symptoms that mimic hypothyroidism.  Low D and low ferritin can adversely affect metabolism of thyroid hormone.  And importantly for you low ferritin can also cause hair loss.  D should be about 55-60, B12 in the upper end of its range, and ferritin should be 70 minimum.  You need to get all 3 tested and then supplement as needed to optimize.  

When you have additional test results, please post them, along with reference ranges shown on the lab report and we will be glad to help interpret and advise further.