Levothyroxine to Armor - 15 weeks pregnant

[JMB78]

Is it safe to switch from levothyroxine to Armor in pregnancy? I'm in the second trimester

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Always get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing before considering changing dose or medication

Generally medics are very reluctant to allow any T3 during pregnancy

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If/when also on T3 or NDT make sure to take last half or third of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Add results and ranges if you have any

Or come back with new post once you get results

[parsnip888]

You will feel amazing once you start on Armour, if your on Facebook there is an amazing American doctor who puts all of her patients on to Armour her page is called Thyroid nation she might be able to advise you....

[JMB78 in reply to parsnip888]

Thank you this is very helpful

[tattybogle in reply to parsnip888]

If only life was that simple...... I read loads of examples on here of people who don't feel amazing on NDT. loads of comment's about 'old' formulation of armour working and current stuff not working the same for some. I also read of many who do really well on it. Everyone is different. some prefer T3/Levo . some prefer T3 alone.

I would add that in JMB78's current circumstances of 2nd trimester pregnancy , there will be big hormonal changes happening naturally over next 6/9mths or so. Therefore, given that it take's a while to find the right dose on any different thyroid hormone replacement even when not pregnant, it may be difficult to figure out what's what.

By changing over at this point there must be a risk of destabilising the body's balance of T4/T3 levels .

I'm not sure i'd want to do this while pregnant.