Moving from Levo to Armour

[Michy1]

I have stopped taking my Levo tablets due to the outrageous side effects I am experiencing.

Does anyone know if I was on 125 mcg, What grain would I be equivalent to in Armour?

[NatChap]

Best to start at 1 grain and work your way up from there

[Michy1 in reply to NatChap]

But how will I know when i'my at the right dose?

[NatChap in reply to Michy1]

When you feel better You may have to tinker up or down a little as you get nearer to optimal. Have a read through some of my posts, I was also on 125mcg Levo, am now on 2 1/4 grains Nature throid and think I am about there.

[Michy1 in reply to NatChap]

Ok thank you NatCap for that.

[Clutter]

Michy,

1.75 grains is roughly equivalent to 125mcg Levothyroxine. Unless you know how you tolerate T3 it is better to start with 1 grain NDT split into 2 doses and increase in 1/2 grain increments every 2 weeks. Hold at 2 grains for 6 weeks and have a thyroid test including FT3 before increasing further.

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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.

[Michy1]

Thank you Clutter, as I stated I am going to see the Endo next week, to put my case to them why I will not continue to take the Levo tablets any more. Doubt they will fund Armour, but will have to pay for it myself. So much side effects to deal with and I have only just recently realized that It was due to the Levo tablets.

Thanks again

[Glynisrose]

Please do not do a direct swap as it is rarely useful. Try buying some NDT and building up over a few weeks the T3 is not so much of a shock to the system then. Armour is the most expensive of the NDT families available by tne way!

[Michy1 in reply to Glynisrose]

Thank you Glynisrose.

[HASHISmom34]

I have a question Michy1....... were you on generic or brand name? Reason i ask is that i did horrible on generic and had headaches and after while nausea. I switched to the name brand T4 only, SYnthroid and no more side effects. Synthroid brand name is more consistent and supposedly a lot of people do not do well on generic because of the fillers!

[Michy1 in reply to HASHISmom34]

HASHISmom34, I don't know what brand it is, it is what ever the pharmacy gives me.

[HASHISmom34 in reply to Michy1]

Synthroid is brand name T4 and Levo is generic.

[Michy1 in reply to HASHISmom34]

Oh, well I take Levo.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Michy1]

Ask them!

Or look carefully at the tablets and read what is on them - then search online. Most tablets are readily identifiable.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to HASHISmom34]

Why do you think that Synthroid is so consistent? They have had plenty of recalls over the years.

If by "generic" you mean that you are getting different tablets each time, that is simply bad. But I know absolutely nothing to say against, for example, Unithroid.

[HASHISmom34 in reply to helvella]

There were studies done in the US that synthroid is more consistent. I did not say there has never been a recall of course. The generic, what most are given through pharmacy unless specified by dr to not substitute has had studies saying the fillers are a lot in that and every batch is different of every company whom makes the levo and distributes it to pharmacy. For example Wal mart may get levo from % different companies of which all use different fillers and active ingredient ay not be consistent either. I have read about it. I have had extreme headaches from levo. nothing from Synthroid.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to HASHISmom34]

Thanks for responding.

Trouble is, for example, that Lannett (which is apparently often dispensed as a generic) is actually Unithroid. It is a highly consistent product.

Indeed, although they recently had a major withdrawal due to an odd aroma, Levoxyl seems to be quite consistent as well - since being totally reformulated.

Any studies more than about ten years old have probably been overtaken by changes to the market.