armour thyroid taken WITH food??

[Terri627]

I am soooo confused. I was told to take my medication on an empty stomach. Now I am reading to take it along
with food. Anybody know what I should be doing? I feel like I am going backwards all of the sudden in my search
for clarity. I have been REALLY dizzy lately. It is interfering with my work. I keep feeling a really noticeable pulse, for
lack of a better word, in my body and head. Kind of like someone has turned the bass up too high on my car stereo. But it seems to be a part of the dizziness, and happens all of the time, sitting, reading, changing the position of my head or eyes, or not doing anything. Also kind of feels like I've been dropped really quickly. I feel terrible and  my appt is at the end of this month! I don't know how I can last with this feeling! I know I sound dramatic, but I feel desperate now!

[LazyMoose]

Old posts will pop up if you goggle a similar question on a search engine.  Links to related posts appear from MH sometimes after you create a post of your own.

Posts never go away, just get buried.

[FTB4]

Why is this post here from 2009?

[JJB2008]

Hi, I my thyroid taken out in Oct and Sept.2010. The Dr. put me on synthroid which I couldn't take. Had terrible sinus, tired and blood work numbers all over the place. I finally got the Dr. to let me try Armour. In one week time, my sinus cleared up! I was feeling better! I have been titrating my medicine myself. I take 1 grain in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. I've only been on this medicine for about 3 weeks now. I started off with 1 grain and worked up. But yesterday, I got SO TIRED it was unreal just all of a sudden. I'm wondering if I went up on the medicine too fast for my body or if I have a adrenaling gland problem. Has anyone ever had this? I also have a tingly feeling in my lips sometime.

Thanks!

[yvih]

Hi - I'm wondering if things have changed at all regarding how to take Armour since it's new formula?  With food?  Before food?  After food?  My doc told me to take it before food in the morning.  Just want to be sure it's still necessary since lots of info online says both.  You guys here seem to be more on an expert level than most docs.  
Thanks!!

[Kimemitch]

Okay, so I learned something new again today. I was thinking about asking this very question as I was confused as to when to take armour.I thought I had to take all thyroid an hour before food.   Since I am still feeling so tired maybe it will help if I actually swallow the armour with food.  I am willing to try anything.  I take 25mcg Levo, so I will continue to take that an hour before, but then take the armour after I get up and have something light. Sublingually caused hyper effects for me, mainly it causes heart flutters.I am so glad for these boards!

[Zealous7]

I noticed heart palpitations and fast heart beat as well when I tried it sublingual! I have no desire to try it like that again!

[6079]

Thanks.  I was told the same thing and also feel dizzy waiting out that 30 minutes before eating.

[stella5349]

It depends on how you are taking the medication. If you are swallowing the Armour than taking it with a small meal ( breakfast snack ) is OK

If you are taking Armour sublingually, then it doesn't matter ifyou take it with food or not. The stomach is not used this way and goes into the blood stream.

If you are feeling the "highs" and "crashes" being on the medication, most likely it has to do with the way you are dosing it to yourself. If you are taking Armour once a day - in the morning - then you can experience a spike within a few hours and then a crash in the afternoon. Splitting the dosage works good to control this. A higher dosage first thing in the AM is fine, and then another dosage about 4 hrs later keep you even through the day. Divide the recommended dosage in a 3/4 - AM to 1/4  afteroon dosage and that should spread out the meds more evenly through the day.  

[Terri627]

Thank you, I got your message! I'm definitely going to try it this way, I couldn't possibly (I hope) feel any worse. I think. Hope this message gets to more people on this medicine. And, since I do work in the
pharmacy, I will be sure to discuss this with our pharmacists, so anyone else can get the info they deserve! This is so frustrating, why does the medical profession seem to be against us? I mean of course, most of them and not me :)

[redheadaussie]

Hi, I amswered you privately, but will post here as well for others.
Armour is to be taken after food, usually half hour. SYHTHETIC replacement hormone must be taken before food.
Armour has T3 in it which needs to bind with food to be absorbed. Synthetic ones are only T4 so must not be taken with food.

Confusing, but actually really simple.

Having the Armour without food you are more than likely not getting the T3 into your system and feeling lousy!

Cheers!

[Mythought]

Actually, the above answer is not correct.  Armour Thyroid should be take a 1/2 hr to one hour BEFORE eating.

[Mythought]

Actually, the above answer is not correct.  Armour Thyroid should be take a 1/2 hr to one hour BEFORE eating.