Armour to Erfa anyone?

[Jodypody]

Will be switching from Armour to Erfa. Anyone else done this recently? Just wondered as I've found I've gone from 2 to 3 grains over the last year presumably because they aren't as effective as they used to be. GP only prescribed 2 grains and went ape when I said I'd increased to 2.5 so I had to buy more privately 

[shaws Administrator]

It's strange how doctors believe once on a certain dose - that's it forever. If we have clinical symptoms and feel unwell a blood test should be done to ascertain the reason why. The TSH shouldn't be the main consideration and most of us feel best when it's around 1 or lower. Also occasionally a FT3 should be done. 2 grains is common but some need higher doses to feel well some as much as 5 gr. Sometimes we have to try a couple of NDTs to ascertain what suits us best. To get the best out of them we have to take an optimum, i.e. what makes us feel well. We might have to alter the dose occasionally either up or down.

Some people split their doses and if they do they have to make sure their stomachs are empty so that nothing interferes with the uptake. i.e. between 2 to 2.5 after a meal and nothing for 1 hour after.

I hope you feel better on Erfa.

[phoenix23002]

Forest, the recent mfg of Armour, has sold out to Activis (I think that is the name) and the complaints by some are rolling in... lol.   Most were hoping that there would be no change in the Armour formulation.  You can ck your rx bottle and see if it says Forest or Activis (hope that is correct).

As for Erfa??  Well, Erfa was the darling to all of us who had problems with the 'new' Armour after the reformulation fiasco back in 2009.  Erfa has now changed their mfg plant from one in Belgium to one in Spain and folks started getting 'bad' batches and complaining of their hypo symptoms returning.  Here is a link to conversations about the new/old Erfa.  You can skip to the bottom to read the latest.  Well, it won't let me paste the link.  So, please google/search..   STTM  Erfa    ..and look for part II and click on that.

There are some instances of folks who have gotten 'bad' batches of Erfa being able to use this new Erfa by thoroughly grinding up the Erfa into a fine, fine powder and using it that way.   In all fairness, some have noticed no difference in the efficacy of their  Armour or their Erfa.  Both are working just fine for some.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to phoenix23002]

phoenix23002,

Please do NOT use lots of abbreviations in your posts/responses.

ck, rx, mfg, even lol confuse many - especially those suffering from brainfog.

The company is Actavis (not Activis).

DUBLIN, July 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Actavis plc (NYSE: ACT) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) in a cash and equity transaction currently valued at approximately $28 billion.  The combination creates one of the world's fastest-growing specialty pharmaceutical companies, with annual revenues of more than $15 billion anticipated for 2015.

allergan.com/news/news/thom...

We have absolutely no evidence that any variation in the Armour product is related in any way to the acquisition by Actavis. As I have said before, one of the permanent features of thyroid posting is whether Armour has changed, is stronger, weaker, or otherwise different.

[phoenix23002 in reply to helvella]

helvella... thank you for your admonition about the abbreviations.  I will take care from now on.  Also your correction of the company name  that has acquired Forest's Armour.  All my 'tabs' were full so it made it difficult to look up the correct spelling for Actavis at the time but I should have cleared out something and looked it up anyway.  Fingers crossed that Actavis keeps the same formulation.  I guess time will tell, huh?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to phoenix23002]

Makes searches a lot easier with the right spelling!

[Clutter]

Jodypody,

Your natural thyroid function may have decreased which may be why you need a higher dose of Armour.

Erfa contains slightly less T4 and T3 than Armour so you may need a higher dose of Erfa.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

_______________________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[Jodypody in reply to Clutter]

Can you pm me where I can buy Erfa to top up my nhs prescription please. I don't fancy going through the rigmarole of asking for a dose increase. Ta