Raising Armour dosage

[Funnygembunni]

My doctor keeps playing it safe with dosage of Armour. I've been on 30mg daily for months now and my symptoms are not any better. Some days aren't so bad but for the most part I can barely get through a day without having to lay down. Should I increase my own dosage?

[phoenix23002]

Months on 30 mg of Armour? Hasn't that doctor run labs to check your thyroid levels? 30 mgs is almost nothing, dose wise. You need to start taking your body temp/heart rate daily and yes, you need to raise 1/4 - 1/2 grain (15 - 30 mgs) every two weeks or so. It isn't good to stay on too low a dose for too long. it is kinda strange that a doctor would agree to rx Armour and then leave you on that tiny dose for so long with no follow up or increase.

[Funnygembunni in reply to phoenix23002]

He did recheck my labs but the doctors here all don't even agree with prescribing medication while labs are all normal. I went to him feeling scared for my life and worried beyond belief as I've been for the last two years since this started. He just drew labs which he took over a week to even send me the results. Then said remain on same dosage. The doctors in NY have no idea how to treat hoshimotos. I'll post my most recent labs

[phoenix23002 in reply to Funnygembunni]

bunni. I am not surprised that your docs are clueless about dosing Armour/NDT even here in the US. Just remember that falling within 'normal ranges does NOT mean that you are being optimally treated. You might want to look into going gluten free and taking selenium (no more than 200 - 400 mcgs per day). If you have hashis, that is an auto-immune problem. Here is an article that you might find helpful re: treating hashis and selenium being helpful.

jeffreydachmd.com/hashimoto...

I know it is a lot to plow thru but you might have to become your own advocate if the docs are no help.

[LAHs]

Yep, agreed with all of the above. 30mg (1/2 a grain) is next to nothing, you could easily increase it by another 1/4 grain (cut your pills in half for the 1/4 grain) - and see how you feel. Stay there for 2 weeks and then add another 1/4 grain. Watch your heart rate and your basal body temp. Any palpitations (fluttering of your heart), drop back to your previously lower one. For what it is worth, I am on 1 and 1/2 grains and feel I could go to 1 3/4 grains which I will try in the near future.

Sometimes it is better to try your own increases because your doctor is often very scared of prescribing NDT. If you increase the dose and have a palpitation you will then reduce your dose immediately. That is better than if your doctor tells you to increase the dose and you stay on that too high a dose just because the doc says so, then he is responsible for the outcome.