Synthroid vs. Armour

[Guest guest]

I've been doing some research on Armour and it looks like the most

logical step is to get off synthroid. Guess I'll have to wait until

TSH levels are normal and then ask the doc about it. Hope she doesn't

give me a hard time. If I were to have T3 and T4 checked at same time

my TSH is monitored, that would seem like the appropriate action to

take. With new labs, it would be easier to make an informed decision.

If however T3 was off, it would probably be in my best interest to

make the switch. Definitely need to start taking notes. Question - Do

you have to stop taking synthroid completely before you switch to

Armour or can you gradually decrease synthroid as Armour is increased?

I did come across the conversion table. Synthroid is only T4, while

Armour is T3 and T4 - correct? So if my body has a difficult time

converting T4 to T3, synthroid is severely lacking - correct? I'm

starting to get a bit of a handle on it. Sometimes it feels like I'm

an abnesia victim putting together my family tree lol. Good night all

" My people perish for lack of knowledge. " Hosea 4:3

[Guest guest]

I've been doing some research on Armour and it looks like the most

> logical step is to get off synthroid. Guess I'll have to wait until

> TSH levels are normal and then ask the doc about it. Hope she doesn't

> give me a hard time.

This is really a personal decision as well as a decision for what works

for you. Some do well on Armour, others do well on Synthroid and still

others need a combination of the two..

I am not against Armour but honestly do not see it as the wonder drug,

one size fits all type of medication.

What you need is labs done every 6 weeks.. TSH to keep the doc amused..

FT4 and FT3 so we know how the labs actually say you are doing.. and a

list of symtpoms..how do you feel?

The thyroid works by producing mainly T4 and a little T3.. the body

then converts T4 to T3 on a as needed basis..

Now just as your thyroid can be messed up. So can this conversion

process. Some people do well on T4 only and can convert it to T3

provided the doc has them on a high enough dose of T4 that they have

enough to convert..others can be on a really high dose of T4 and the

body does not recognize it..they need the direct T3 from Armour because

of conversion issues...

There is 3 main thyroid drugs..

Synthroid and generics, equivilants etc.. these are synthetic T4

medications..

Armour..a natural source of desicated pig thyroid that contains T4 and

T3.

Cytomel..a synthetic T3 only medication.

The problem with Armour although pig is as close to human as they can

get the ration of T4/T3 is higher..1/4.. the ratio for the human

thyroid runs about 1/10..

T3 is the med you feel..but you can not expect the T3 to be high if the

T4 is in the basement..so what you really need to do is look at the

ratio of T4 compared to T3..if the T4 is high but the T3 is in the

basement then Armour is the way to go..if the T3 is higher in the range

then the T4 then you might find Armour might be too much.. in this case

try increasing the T4 to the top end of the range and then see how the

T3 follows..

None of the meds is a one size fits all..you really need to look at

labs, compare them to how you feel and decide what works for you.. a

few people combine the different meds..it has to be what

works..unfortunately even according to Synthroids set standards most

docs under medicate on the T4..

The standard for full replacement is 1 mcg per lb..you can guess how

close or how off you are on this by your wieght..and they also state

the the T4 should be kept in the upper half of the range..although most

people who have posted they feel well do better with it closer to the

upper 2/3 end of the range if not near the top or just over..

You gotta do what is right for you..make sure you are getting the most

out of your Synthroid.. one hour before anything.. no dairy, calcium or

iron for 4 hours and 200mg of Selenium daily to help with issues of

conversion..

Look at your labs..get copies of all your labs.. when did you feel

good..when did you feel like crap? make notes on them , see if you see

a pattern..

Kats3boys

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeff, My name is Karol. I was on synthroid for about 4 years and could not get level. After 4 years of feeling like I was going crazy I did about 3 months of research on the Armour before I ever ask my Dr. about is. There are web sites that even have the charts of the change over from synthroid and others to Armour. I have been on Armour now for a little of 2 years and from the time I changed I felt better. One Med for one may not be right for another but if you do not feel well I would give it a try. You know your body better than anyone. If the Armour is not good for you, you can always go back to the synthroid or they can try something else. I was on 90mg of Armour for about a year in a half and then had to go to 120mg. Was at 120mg for about 6 months or so and we have just started rotate 90 one day 120 next, we will see how

this works. It just seemed as 90 was to little and 120 was a little to much. I am to have lab work at the end of April so I keep you Posted if you would like. Good luck and just learn you body and what is right for you. KarolJeff Wade wrote: I've been doing some research on Armour and it looks like the most logical step is to get off synthroid. Guess I'll have to wait until TSH levels are normal and then ask the doc about it. Hope she doesn't

give me a hard time. If I were to have T3 and T4 checked at same time my TSH is monitored, that would seem like the appropriate action to take. With new labs, it would be easier to make an informed decision. If however T3 was off, it would probably be in my best interest to make the switch. Definitely need to start taking notes. Question - Do you have to stop taking synthroid completely before you switch to Armour or can you gradually decrease synthroid as Armour is increased? I did come across the conversion table. Synthroid is only T4, while Armour is T3 and T4 - correct? So if my body has a difficult time converting T4 to T3, synthroid is severely lacking - correct? I'm starting to get a bit of a handle on it. Sometimes it feels like I'm an abnesia victim putting together my family tree lol. Good night all"My people perish for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:3

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[Guest guest]

Hi Jeff,

I certainly think you should get your T3 checked.

My doctor insisted my levels were OK (TSH at 0.9, T4

at mid-range) even though I still felt far from well.

I kept asking for the T3 test and eventually had one;

it showed very low T3 levels. Now I take 125mcg T4 and

20mcg T3 (sometimes 30mcg T3). The T3 turned my life

around.

Obviously there are a lot of people who prefer Armour,

we are all different, but the combined synthetic works

for a lot of us.

--- Jeff Wade bennydabum2003@...> wrote:

> I've been doing some research on Armour and it

> looks like the most

> logical step is to get off synthroid. Guess I'll

> have to wait until

> TSH levels are normal and then ask the doc about it.

> Hope she doesn't

> give me a hard time. If I were to have T3 and T4

> checked at same time

> my TSH is monitored, that would seem like the

> appropriate action to

> take. With new labs, it would be easier to make an

> informed decision.

> If however T3 was off, it would probably be in my

> best interest to

> make the switch. Definitely need to start taking

> notes. Question - Do

> you have to stop taking synthroid completely before

> you switch to

> Armour or can you gradually decrease synthroid as

> Armour is increased?

> I did come across the conversion table. Synthroid is

> only T4, while

> Armour is T3 and T4 - correct? So if my body has a

> difficult time

> converting T4 to T3, synthroid is severely lacking -

> correct? I'm

> starting to get a bit of a handle on it. Sometimes

> it feels like I'm

> an abnesia victim putting together my family tree

> lol. Good night all

>

> " My people perish for lack of knowledge. " Hosea 4:3

>

>

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[Guest guest]

>

> > I've been doing some research on Armour and it

> > looks like the most

> > logical step is to get off synthroid. Guess I'll

> > have to wait until

> > TSH levels are normal and then ask the doc about it.

> > Hope she doesn't

> > give me a hard time. If I were to have T3 and T4

> > checked at same time

> > my TSH is monitored, that would seem like the

> > appropriate action to

> > take. With new labs, it would be easier to make an

> > informed decision.

> > If however T3 was off, it would probably be in my

> > best interest to

> > make the switch. Definitely need to start taking

> > notes. Question - Do

> > you have to stop taking synthroid completely before

> > you switch to

> > Armour or can you gradually decrease synthroid as

> > Armour is increased?

> > I did come across the conversion table. Synthroid is

> > only T4, while

> > Armour is T3 and T4 - correct? So if my body has a

> > difficult time

> > converting T4 to T3, synthroid is severely lacking -

> > correct? I'm

> > starting to get a bit of a handle on it. Sometimes

> > it feels like I'm

> > an abnesia victim putting together my family tree

> > lol. Good night all

> >

> > " My people perish for lack of knowledge. " Hosea 4:3

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

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