Are there many people on here taking Armour instead of Thyroxine?

[Syd35]

I keep reading about people having greater success with their symptoms when switching to Armour. I feel like I'm going downhill again with my Hashimoto's and wonder if I should see about switching. I was diagnosed last March and started on 25mcg which was upped to 50mcg after 9 months. Was doing a lot better but things are not right again.

Can anyone advise how I would go about making the change?

Thanks

[humanbean]

Armour is a brand name for a pig thyroid product. It is the most expensive one in the world.

There are quite a few pig thyroid products available e.g. Erfa, WP Thyroid, Naturethroid, Thyroid-S, Thiroyd, TRMan, probably a few others.

So, I suppose we need to know... Are you asking about Armour specifically, or pig thyroid products in general?

[Clutter]

Syd35,

A month ago TSH was 1.27 and FT4 15. There was room to increase Levothyroxine dose to improve both if you feel under medicated. The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 1.0 or lower with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

If you switch to NDT you will almost certainly have to buy your own online as it isn't licensed for UK use and rarely prescribed on the NHS. You will also need to order private FT3 tests to check FT3 remains within range.

[Syd35]

Thanks humanbean - ah sorry I am still learning about all this, so yes interested about pig thyroid products in general

[Hidden]

I think that, if you decide to go down that road, you should try another product than Armour. Like Humanbean pointed out, it's the most expensive natural desiccated thyroid drug in the world and, IMHO, not worth it since its 2009 reformulation (when dextrose was decreased and cellulose increased, causing it to work less well according to many patients around the world).

There are several good brands of NDT, including Thai brands which are available online from reputable sellers (members can give you more info in private messages). WP Thyroid from the US has been getting consistently good reviews, and many are happy with Erfa Thyroid (Canadian).

[Syd35]

Helpful anna69, guessing my doctor will pooh pooh me if I ask about it then?

[Hidden in reply to Syd35]

My guess is your doctor won't have a clue, just like Reallyfedup123 pointed out. That is a shame but, unfortunately, most doctor are clueless when it comes to thyroid disease treatment. Someone said once they spend about one day(!) in medical school talking about thyroid disease, and are then told to prescribe levothyroxine and that a normal TSH should be the goal...and a "normal" TSH to most doctors means "anywhere in range".

[Syd35]

Thanks reallyfedup your username is just how I feel today : (

[Glynisrose]

Armour is the most expensive.

[humanbean]

I disagree about increasing by 50mcg. Increases should only be done in 25mcg increments.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Sorry but 50 microgram increments are not fine, in my book.

Despite all the talk about levothyroxine being the storage hormone, slow to absorb, slow to have any effect, etc., my experience seems to suggest that some of us are much more sensitive to variations.

For some time I had been on 100 micrograms a day. Feeling that it was slightly low, I went to alternate day dosing with 100 / 125 micrograms. I never felt right. I kept going from feeling slightly under- to slightly over-medicated.

Eventually I got some 12 microgram tablets and was able to readily achieve 112 micrograms a day - and felt signficantly better. Occasionally I feel slightly under-medicated and take an extra 12 micrograms - and always notice a slight difference.

The idea of ramping up doses by 50 micrograms seems to me poor practice. The only time that larger changes are warranted are when the evidence categorically shows severe under-dosing.

However, it is arguable that a starting dose of 50 micrograms is preferable to 25 micrograms and it seems entirely feasible to me that is true.

This is my opinion, based on my experience. The medical literature could well disagree with me!