The difference between Armour and Erfa

[sheenah]

Hello All

As some of you know I am seeing the homeopath on Monday. It says in TUKs paperwork that he "treats thyroid disease & ME using Erfa". Does anyone have any idea why he would prefer Erfa to other forms of NDT ? XX

[HarryE]

Maybe it's just more easily available? Or he has used it a lot and sticks with the same brand? I think some people get on better with different brands due to the fillers/binders. The STTM website has a list of all the added ingredients I think

Xx

[sheenah in reply to HarryE]

XXX

[HarryE in reply to sheenah]

Come to think of it, I've also seen erfa used to refer to NDT in general, so maybe that's what it means? Good luck for your appointment! X

[sheenah in reply to HarryE]

xxx all will be revealed xx

[HEA72]

I know my Dr changed to using Erfa from Armour when there was a supply problem with Armour. He then chose to stay carrying on prescribing Erfa, as his patients got on well with it.

[sheenah in reply to HEA72]

Thanks - Are you on Erfa?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Do remember that Armour is not licensed even in its home country of the USA. Whereas Erfa is licensed in its home of Canada.

I seem to remember that some doctors feel more comfortable prescribing a product which is at least licensed somewhere it does mean that there is external vigilance over it.

Rod

[sheenah in reply to helvella]

Many thanks Rod knowledge is power x

[Belleblue]

I took armour for many years until there was a supply problem and then switched to erfa with no ill effects. However my prescription couldn't be renewed (I was a patient of the dear dr skinner) and I only have a few tablets left. I've had to resort to buying armour from the internet until I can find a doctor to prescribe for me. I just hope they will be ok!

Can you pm me with the details of your homeopath please Sheenah? Good luck with your appointment!!

[Hidden in reply to Belleblue]

Belleblue, not sure you will be reading this, but would be interested to know if you are still on Armour, and how you are getting along on it?

[Belleblue in reply to Hidden]

Hello again! Yes, I'm still taking armour and have been using NDT now for almost 20 years. Only now I'm self medicating ..

I had a blip about 3 years ago and had to be admitted to a cardio ward with an SVT. Thyroid meds we're all stopped and I had the worst 6 months ever as I struggled just on levo to please my GP! Then I saw Dr Skinner again and went back to armour & things settled down.

I'm not feeling 100% still unfortunately but certainly armour has always been a much better option for me than levo. I struggle with my dosage now and really miss Dr S and his irreverent attitude and advice

[Jackie]

Hi I have used both , Erfa and armour suits e better. the 2 are absorbed differently. Slightly less T3 in Erfa, Canadian, newer too..However, so long as you have bloods done, TSH, T4 and FT3 and again about 6 weeks after starting, it does not matter.

Jackie

[desperation]

Hi, I too have taken both armour and erfa. I changed to erfa when there was a supply problem. I too was a patient of the late Dr Skinner and have now had to stop taking erfa as my gp will not prescribe it. Not feeling as good as I was. Can you pm me the details of your homeopath please?

[susymac]

Ive taken both. I started or ERFA, then switched to armour as I could no longer get the erfa online, now been switched back to erfa as that is the one my local hospital uses and I now get it on prescription.

I agree with Rod in that it is licenced, albeit not in this country therefore endos prefer it over other brands of NDT. A good doctor will prescribe whichever is best for you, but you may have difficulty finding such a doctor!

I have side effects with both, so it makes no difference which one I get, but it does take a couple of months to get used to armour where as it only seems to take a week to get used to the erfa (for me that is)

[sonnyhoo]

Hi shenah is this Dr Skinner who died based in middles rough Cleveland sonnyhoo I'm new

[Hidden]

I know it has been some time since this was written, but Dr. Hertoghe's clinic in Belgium also switched to Erfa after the Armour reformulation in late 2008/early 2009....since then, some claim Armour is working better, but all this information is so conflicting...! For every post saying that Armour is now like it used to be, someone else says it's just as bad as right after the reformulation...then, again, some say Erfa, too, was reformulated a couple of years ago, and is not working as well since...

[Butterflycake1]

hello, can you please private message me with the details of your homeopath. Thank you.

[1tuppence in reply to Butterflycake1]

Did you realise Butterflycake1 that this original Post was 9 years ago? Hope you find the person you are looking for xx

[Butterflycake1 in reply to 1tuppence]

Yes, I did…. on the off chance that this contributor looks in from time to time! I did not know that naturopaths prescribe NDT.

[sheenah in reply to Butterflycake1]

Hello - I believe you are looking for me!!! What can I do for you?

Sheena