What's the difference between Armour and NDT?

[Mrsmoon]

I'm currently on Armour thyroid but keep hearing a lot of positive comments about NDT. Anyone tried both? (Not together!). Which is best?

[Angel_of_the_North]

Armour is a brand of NDT. NDT is Natural Dessicated Thyroid. Other brands are Westhroid, Erfa, Thiroyd, Thyroid-S and Naturethroid. Spelling?

[Mrsmoon in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

So I'm taking NDT?

[galathea in reply to Mrsmoon]

Yes

[helvella Administrator]

We also do not have very good product information about the two Thai makes. Although many people who take them write glowing reviews, I would be much happier to see comprehensive and accurate information readily available.

Rod

[Spareribs in reply to helvella]

My son is on holiday in Thailand, but doesn't want to be caught "drug smuggling!"

[Sam75 in reply to helvella]

S0rry this is nothing to do with the question...but I have tried for to work out what in fact your little profile picture is Helveler, please forgive an oldie, but I would like to know please ??

[helvella Administrator in reply to Sam75]

You are not the first to ask!

It is a fungus.

Have a look here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helve...

Rod

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

The 'two Thai makes' are the Thiroyd and Thyroid S.

They are inexpensive and don't seem to attract any attention from Customs and Excise. They come in various quantities, but you can order a bottle of 1000 tabs (@ 60 mcg ea). It's just simplicity and economics for me. I'm not sure that, without a scrip and living in Britain, I would even be able to obtain any other form of NDT. Certainly when I tried a couple years ago the procedures to do so were Byzantine in their complexity. With a private scrip, of course, the world's your (too expensive for me) oyster.

[helvella Administrator]

Not having been to Thailand, I cannot verify it, but at least one source even offers to deliver it to your hotel in Thailand.

[helvella Administrator]

Even if they decided to apply for a UK licence, I'm not sure why it should be any less costly in Europe than in its original market of the USA? From what I can gather, it is not inexpensive there.

Rod

[helvella Administrator]

From what I can see, current cost is around $23 for 30 one grain tablets. (Which corresponds quite well to at least one price offered to non-USA-residents of around $75 for 100 one grain tablets.) There may be various discounts available - very difficult to understand what they are all about.

So still a lot more expensive than levothyroxine for similar dosages.

Rod

[PR4NOW in reply to helvella]

Rod, Nature-Throid costs me $27.32 for 120 one grains pills. I take 4 grain a day so that is the usual 30 day supply. Several years ago (2009 or so) when I switched from Armour to Nature-Throid they were about the same price but I haven't checked recently. Compounded thyroid is a little more expensive. PR

[helvella Administrator in reply to PR4NOW]

Same USA supplier quotes about $48 for 100 one grain Nature-Throid tablets. So Armour appears more expensive than Nature-Throid by a significant margin (around 50% more). Of course, you will have much better understanding of real "this is what you have to pay" prices within the USA.

This gap appears to have opened up since the swine disease issues.

Thanks PR

[PR4NOW in reply to helvella]

Rod, there seems to be quite a premium now for shipping overseas along with the VAT. Before our compounding pharm stopped shipping overseas my family member paid the same price as me except for shipping and VAT, of course. Not a good situation for those that need NDT to survive. I don't have accurate figures but NDT product from Germany is not cheap either from what I have heard. You would have more accurate info on that. PR

[Hills in reply to PR4NOW]

Did you find any difference between Armour & Nature thyroid.

Hills

[PR4NOW in reply to Hills]

Hills, Not really, but I haven't tried Armour since they reformulated. I don't appear to be tremendously sensitive to the different fillers and binders, others have reported different results. Nature-Throid has been very consistent but then so was Armour for many years. PR

[Lylly in reply to Hills]

I was on the Armour b4 they reformulated it I was 135 pds a size 7 and very happy I didn't have any idea when the Armour finally came back around like 2 yrs later that it was change I started taking it was just so happy that I didn't have to pay 100 dollars for the Custom Pharmacy to make it for me that now I could pay 20 dollars for my script, Anyways like 2 months into taking it I had gotten sooo depressed was exhausted didn't know I was gaining weight I was ready to call a Psychiatrist cause I didn't want to get out of bed So I said let me go on the computer to see if anyone else has this That is when I found out that the Armour was reformulated now im like am I stupid Never thought it too be my thyroid I called my doctor by the time everything was said and done I got to 240 pds and a size 17 Sad it was I felt like crap had to start from square one and went to Nature Throid its a slow process but started to take weight off and feel Soooo Much Better!!! So to Me its a Big Difference but everyone is different. Also the Nature Throid is Hypoallergenic

[rocketmom in reply to helvella]

The problem with knowing pricing in the US is that it varies from place to place. So, in my area, without any insurance

Armour - 60mg - 30 tablet:

Target: 12 (£7.39)

Sam's 14 (£8.62)

Walmart 14.51 (£8.93)

Walgreens 15 (£9.24)

Of course the price slightly increases or decreases depending on the strength. 300mg of armour costs about £22.

[cc120]

Hi Mrs Moon - to help you with comparing the different types of NDT including Armour, please see:

stopthethyroidmadness.com/a... - Armour vs. Other Brands

Which states in detail the ingredients of each NDT.

[helvella Administrator in reply to cc120]

Details of most available makes also available at the main Thyroid UK medicines page here:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

Rod

[cc120 in reply to helvella]

Thank you helvella, please remember to click on areas of interest to expand or link to info.

[cc120]

Hi reallyfedup123, do they supply any other NDT's?

[helvella Administrator in reply to cc120]

Actavis simply bought Forest who are responsible for the Armour brand desiccated thyroid. So far as I know, they have nothing to do with RLC, Erfa, etc. Further, I certainly have not heard of any changes they have made or plan - though obviously speculation is possible.

Actavis are a global company and might be using Ireland for tax reasons rather than really being based there. Not being any form of company or financial specialist, I really don't know.

Rod

[cc120 in reply to helvella]

Thank you Rod.

[Mrsmoon]

Thank you for all your responses. Much more informed.