meds question

[Denny39]

can I ask if NDT armour makes people sweat a lot and have a strange after taste in mouth? Thanks all

[Jazzw]

Am I right in thinking you’ve only just started taking it?

How much Levo were you taking previously—and how much NDT are you taking now?

Armour doesn’t taste very nice, I’m with you on that one. I used to be on another brand of NDT and it’s taken me quite a while to learn how to swallow it as soon as possible so that it doesn’t start dissolving in my mouth.

[Denny39 in reply to Jazzw]

Had just increased from 25mcg to 50mcg levo and then changed to NDT armour 30mcg a day. 15mcg in the morning and 15mcg in the afternoon. Been taking levo since October 2021

[Jazzw in reply to Denny39]

Ah right, so that is a change for you. You probably hadn’t yet got used to taking 50mcg levothyroxine (it takes 4-6 weeks to build up and you’ve switched to something which contains 19mcg of T4 and 4.5mcg of T3.

T3 is said to be between 3 and 4 times the potency of T4, so that 4.5mcg of T3 is roughly equivalent to between 13.5 and 18mcg of T4

So you’re now taking (at best) the equivalent of 37mcg of Levo (and at worst, 32.5mcg of Levo).

If you’re not used to T3, it can make you feel a bit wired but you’re not taking very much and I wouldn’t expect it to be an effect that lasts very long once you get used to it.

As for the aftertaste—I’m fine once I’ve swallowed it but we’re all different.

[Denny39 in reply to Jazzw]

What do you take?

[Jazzw in reply to Denny39]

I’ve been taking NDT for several years now. I started low and slow, just like you—half a grain a day for several weeks, then 1 grain

I stayed on 2 grains for a couple of years but when I hit the menopause my blood tests seemed to indicate I needed a bit more, so I’ve now been taking 3 grains a day for quite some time. I keep an eye on how things are going by doing private blood tests twice a year.

[Denny39 in reply to Jazzw]

Thank you. Did you ever try levothyroxine or did you go straight to NDT ? Are you U.K. based?

[Jazzw in reply to Denny39]

I am U.K.-based, yes.

I have tried to take levothyroxine in the past but it leaves me feeling very “off”.

[Denny39 in reply to Jazzw]

That’s how I felt very off. I felt ok ish on 25mcg but when I increased to 50mcg I didn’t feel right. Can I ask what your symptoms were when the Levo didn’t agree with you? Thank you

[Jazzw in reply to Denny39]

It’s been so long ago now I can’t really remember many details. I remember that my conversion of FT4 to FT3 wasn’t very good—it seems I’m someone who needs to take something with T3 in it.

I think I had a headache most of the time and just felt very tired when on Levo only.

[rachelleigh]

Hi Denny39 - I've not noticed an increase in sweating but I do totally, totally love the bitter aftertaste of Armour! Call me weird but I dissolve it slowly in my mouth and really let the taste linger for as long as possible... it's up there with my love of strong dark coffee... 🤪😋

[Jazzw in reply to rachelleigh]

Really??? 😂 Well, happy for you. I hate it, it makes me want to gag!

[rachelleigh in reply to Jazzw]

It's strange how different we all are lol. But yes, I do genuinely love it. It was a bit of a battle for me to get it prescribed - so it tastes like victory lol 🤣

[Jazzw in reply to rachelleigh]

LOL Good for you!

[rachelleigh in reply to Jazzw]

Cheers 🤣

I don't know what effect the following suggestion would have on absorption, but I wonder if the Armour could be put into an empty capsule before taking it? It ought to minimise the taste for those who don't like it. Those more knowledgeable than me might be able to comment on whether this is recommended or not for thyroid meds... I imagine it might slow down absorption perhaps...?

[Jazzw in reply to rachelleigh]

Interesting thought. It’s probably ok to mash it up in jam, LOL. 😂

I’m ok now I’ve learned that I need to swallow it quickly. When I was on Nature Throid I never had to give it a second thought but Armour is much crumblier.

[rachelleigh in reply to Jazzw]

mmm... crumblier... melts in the mouth just like a flake... 😋 No jam though...that would be total sacrilege... 🤣

[Jazzw in reply to rachelleigh]

😂😂😂

[Chett]

Hi Denny39, I take Armour and don’t have side effects.

[Denny39 in reply to Chett]

Do you feel 100% better?

[Chett in reply to Denny39]

I do now. I took Armour years ago until they changed it. Then I took Naturethroid for years until it was unavailable. I have now been taking Armour for about a year. It took about 6 months, but I now feel great. 100%.

[Denny39 in reply to Chett]

Do you get your armour from the USA or Thailand? I have her sourcing through a doctor and it’s a USA brand. Is there a difference or are they all the same meds? Thanks

[Chett in reply to Denny39]

I’m pretty sure Armour is made in the US. This is where I get mine. And it should be all the same.

[Denny39 in reply to Chett]

What dose did you start on and what are you on now? Thanks

[Denny39 in reply to Chett]

Are you gluten free?

[Chett in reply to Denny39]

I started the Armour on 180mg because I had been taking 162.5 of NatureThroid, and that was the closest strength. . I’m not gluten free.

[Denny39 in reply to Chett]

Does the armour make you sweat? It does with me on a very small dose

[Chett in reply to Denny39]

No, it doesn’t.

[Denny39]

Think I need to wait to feel better then. What dose did you start on and what dose did you get up to to feel great? Does armour make you sweat? Is has been for me but doctor said that is because it has increased my metabolism and it will eventually settle. Thanks

[Poniesrfun]

I think the NatureThroid had a coating which is why we never noticed a "taste". I'm now taking NP thyroid which is not coated — there is a "taste" but it's almost more like a smell than a taste, kind of like B vitamins have an off-putting smell. So the Armour probably doesn't have a coating either. You do get a little surge of T3 30-90 minutes after taking NDT; this might be what causes sweating and should be transient. And yes, it does uptick your metabolism.

Patti in AZ