question to those on Armour Thyroid

Those of you on Armour Thyroid, did you have to raise it after the 2009 reformulation? I have read that cellulose was increased and dextrose decreased, and that cellulose binds thyroid hormone, making the pills less effective.

Some recommend chewing the pills to break down the cellulose, but that sounds pretty gross to me...

[JANJAN2]

I have been on armour since 1998. In 2009, after the initial reformulation, the pills were very ineffective! However they are now pretty much the same as they were.I do in fact chew them-not a problem, as i don't mind the taste!

[Hidden in reply to JANJAN2]

Interesting! Do you mean the pills were ineffective after the reformulation, but then changed again, and are now working better? Interesting...makes you suspect a second reformulation, although Forest would never admit to it, I think...could I ask how much Armour you take?

Maybe I should try to chew the pills if you say it's not so bad...normally, drugs taste awful, but maybe that is not the case here...?

[Hidden in reply to JANJAN2]

PS. Could I also ask if you have labs while on an optimal dose of Armour?

[JANJAN2]

I think that in 2009 the reformulation of Armour was so bad that Forest did in fact reformulate again!

My dosage has changed over the years and now I need less armour than at the beginning of my treatment.In 1999 I was on 2 1/2 grains plus 75mcg thyroxine. Now I am on 1 1/2 grains of armour and 50/75 thyroxine.Perhaps we need less as we get older!

[JANJAN2]

Just seen your second question. Yes, I have bloods done twice a year i.e. TSH (always suppressed) and T4 fairly near top of range. T3 is only done at the hospital under endocrinologist, so very infrequent.

[Hidden]

Interesting! I read on STTM that it seems Forest reformulated Armour again, but I did not know what to believe...I also read somewhere that Forest sold Armour, and that is now being manufactured by another company???