Underdosed with Armour

[Donna5658]

I have a couple of questions regarding people’s experience with Armour Thyroid after reformulation. A quick history: I have MS (diagnosed in 1981) and Grave’s Disease (hyperthyroidism) (diagnosed in 1986). Thyroid ablation with RAI in 1987. On Synthroid for over a year during which I was basically non-functional. Started Armour in 1988 on the suggestion of my internist. I immediately started feeling better, but at a certain point the T3 in the Armour began to be too overstimulating while my T4 remained too low. Added 37 mcg of Synthroid to the Armour, which helped a lot. Stayed happily on Armour until their reformulation, then Naturethroid until that went south. On NP for a year and a half after that until their recalls and finally landed back on the reformulated Armour plus Synthroid.

For everything but the Armour, my TSH stayed suppressed (well below 1) with my Free T3 near the top of the normal range and my Free T4 slightly above the midpoint of the range. After a year and a half on Armour, my TSH has skyrocketed (last test a month ago was 15) while both Free T3 and Free T4 were just barely above the lower end of the range. All other blood tests were normal except for a low iron (but not Ferritin) level.

I am puzzled as to why on essentially the same dose of Armour as I had been on on both Naturethroid and NP, my thyroid levels plummeted. It seems as though I am somehow not absorbing the Armour as well as the other two formulations. I have wondered if the Armour fillers make the tablets more difficult to absorb or if it is something else. The only change to my health is that about two years ago I began to develop acid reflux, which turned into full-blown GERD about a year and a half ago. I ended up using a significant amount of antacids (Rolaids) although always after dinner and hence never near my once daily am dose of thyroid, About three months ago my doctor prescribed Pepcid (an H2 blocker) for the GERD, which I suspect also may make my Armour harder to absorb.

I’m wondering if anyone has had a similar experience with Armour after reformulation? Has anyone had any luck crushing the tablets to make them easier to absorb? Or taking them sublingually? I am also wondering if absorption is the issue, would raising my thyroid dose allow more to get into my system? Finally, how does B12 (or the lack there of) affect the thyroid?

Thanks in advance!

[Anthea55]

Your 'acid' reflux may actually be 'alkali' reflux. Acid (high stomach acid) and alkali (low stomach acid) both feel as if they are burning you but the treatment is totally different.

Many of us have low stomach acid and the treatments to reduce the acid are making it more and more alkali. This low acid means that your stomach does not absorb food, medicine, vitamins and minerals etc. properly. See these links.

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Hypochl...

healthline.com/health/hypoc...

I had never heard of low stomach acid until I started following this forum. Unfortunately most doctors don't seem to have heard of it either and they go on dishing out PPIs.

[Donna5658 in reply to Anthea55]

Thanks! I will check this out.

[Luna1390]

I have just been through a similar situation as I had to switch from Naturethroid to Armour, due to the shortage. My first 3 weeks on Armour were awful. It was like taking a placebo. Then, I discovered info about crushing Armour to a powder & taking it with a little bit of sugar. I started doing that & noticed an immediate improvement. After my labs, my dr raised my dose a small amount. Those 2 changes have really helped. I also feel that something in the coating or in the Armour pill makes it hard to digest for some of us.

[Donna5658 in reply to Luna1390]

Thanks so much for your reply! I still miss Naturethroid, which I did the best on of all the desiccated thyroid products. But for now, I’m stuck with Armour and would really like to make it work. How much sugar are you adding to the pulverized Armour? Do you just crush it with a spoon fresh every day? How much did your doctor raise your dose and what dose are you on now? Do you just take your Armour once daily? (That’s the way I take mine.) Thanks again for letting me know what worked for you.

[Donna5658 in reply to Donna5658]

PS Have you ever tried NP Thyroid?

[Luna1390 in reply to Donna5658]

Naturethroid was best for me, as well. I keep hoping it will come back soon. I use the spoon from my sugar bowl & sprinkle a bit on. It's a very small amount. I crush it with a spoon fresh each day. My dr raised my dose by 1/2 a grain. For whatever reason, it takes more Armour than Naturethroid to maintain my levels.

I have been taking Armour 1x daily, but actually I'm going to try it twice daily soon. I feel Armour gives me an afternoon slump. I feel that it's due to having to crush it. It kicks in faster due to being crushed (easier to absorb) & doesn't last as long. That's my theory, anyway.

I haven't tried NP yet. My dr offered it, but it keeps getting recalled, so I don't know that I trust it to be reliable right now.

[Hidden in reply to Luna1390]

Old Armour (I think before 2015 or so) used to have dextrose in it I think, some people break it down better, which could explain why sugar works for you. However, molecules are big in Armour (it has thyroglobulin), so if you crush it, maybe you do absorb some of it as it passes through, but Armour needs to be intact to get to your stomach and intestine, where it slowly start taking effect after 4 hours. Not sure if you checked blood results on Armour vs Nature (I also have been on both). Sometimes too much of Armour can trigger hypo symptoms too or some people need to add t4 to Armour too.

[Luna1390 in reply to Hidden]

Intact Armour was like a placebo. All my hypo symptoms flared back up. Crushed Armour & then a slight raise made them all go away. My labs are really good & I feel really good. Whatever works!