I was wondering, if I’m on 150 levo and 15mcg cytomel would 2 grains of Armour be enough to switch over from 150 levo and 15mcg of cytomel. My endo wants me to swith over to Armour, she thinks it will work better for me. I'm kind of worried because there is only 76mcg of t4?
Thanks
T4 is an inactive hormone and it has to convert to T3. T3 (liothyronine) being the only Active Thyroid Hormone and it is required in our millions of T3 receptor cells, the brain and heart requiring the most.
Armour was one of the very original dessicated thyroid hormones and many recover with it.
As it contains T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin and is made from animals' thyroid glands - may be more conducive for you than synthetic thyroid hormones (levothyroxine) I think you should give it a trial. You can increase your dose by 1/4 tablet every couple of weeks according to your symptoms until you feel well and symptom-free. The following is a link by one of Thyroiduk's deceased Advisers and his widow is now running the website. The chapters may be very helpful for you. He would only prescribe NDT (never levothyroxine) and for thyroid hormone resistant patients he prescribed T3.There is three chapters in the following link.
naturalthyroidsolutions.com...
Shaws, thanks for the encouragement. I feel better about trying it. I guess I’m figuring my current t4 dosage should match with the new Armour dosage otherwise I would not feel well.
Thanks!
Shaws, can Armour be taken all at once.
Its very individual, some find that taking it all at once is too big a T3 hit and gives them palps/makes them feel wired or they slump towards the end if the day and they cant take enough in one dose to relieve symptoms. Others like me tolerate it well in one dose. If you currently split try moving a bit at a time towards one dose and see how you react, i started off splitting but it was a nightmare with other supplements to fit in.
My endo said take it all at once. Kind of worried about that much t3 hitting my system.
T3 is absorbed into our T3 receptor cells and we have millions. Once absorbed it sends our 'waves' for between on to three days.
Yes. Dr Lowe always stated 'once daily' as he was a scientist and himself took thyroid hormones. He stated that the hormones had to saturate our receptor cells and then its work began between one to three days.
You began on a dose equal, approx, to the dose of levo you were taking and then every 2 weeks add a 1/4 tablet always taking note of pulse/temp. The three links within this one may be helpful for you.
naturalthyroidsolutions.com...
Thanks!
Would 2 grains be about equal to 150mcg t4 and 15mcg t3?
Yes. It is roughly the same but the aim, whatever the dose, is to relieve our symptoms. We should feel well with 'normal' health.
I just hope it doesn’t give me a t3 rush with heart palps. Not fun! Thanks
With T4 (levo) I had severe palps - no matter the dose. When T3 was added I immediately felt a difference but palps still continued. With T3 only I've had no palps - what a relief that is. The purpose of T3 is to saturate all of our millions of T3 receptor cells - then the work of that one dose lasts between one to three days.
If we take too much of any thyroid hormones we wouldn't feel too good and feel hyperthyroid.
Do you think Armour is gentler in terms of its t3 release compared to cytomel. I heard Armour is not so much of a rush like cytomel.
All thyroid replacement hormones can affect each person differently. The purpose of T3 is to saturate all of the T3 receptor cells before its work begins.
T4 has to convert to T3 (T4 is an inactive hormone and has to convert to the Active hormone T3).
Don't get too worked up as small adjustments can be made to your dose, taking note of your clinical smptoms.
I’m confused now...lol
I hope 1 grain is not equal to 25mcg of t3 because I’m only taking 15mcg of cytomel. That’s 50mcg of t3 if I take 2 grains your saying?
No it isn't because Armour contains more than one thyroid hormone and it is the collective amount in 1 grain.
Don't confuse one grain of NDT with 25mcg of T3 as 1grain NDT and 25mcg of T3 both equal approx to 100mcg of thyroid hormones but can vary from person to person..
According to the Armour dosage chart, 2 grains = 120mcg t4 and 17mcg t3. So lower t4 than I am taking now on the 150 of Levo. Hopefully all goes well.
Don't get too wrapped up with the dosages. Symptoms and relief of them are more important and as stated a 1/4 tablet increase every two weeks if you have symptoms is the best judge.
When NDT was given to patients from the beginning up to the 60's with no blood tests at all - It was all about the clinical symptoms and relief of them.
Nowadays it can be confusing if we try to calculate a dose which may or may not relieve our symptoms. Especially when doctors tell us we're in range whilst they ignore our remaining symptoms. Before blood tests - it was all about relief of disabling symptoms.
If we take too much, we'd drop to previous dose and that may well be the 'optimum' for the person.
I’m over thinking it like you say. Thanks for all your help Shaw’s.
Shaws, I am on Armour now for 6 days on 3 grains and feel like I am getting a t3 rush a couple of hours after taking it in the morning. Do you think I need to go down to 2 1/2 grains. Thanks
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