Hello everyone,
I have been struggling to get my dose of Armour right
To those who take it, what were the benefits of splitting the dose vs taking it all at once?
I wonder if I could get better by splitting as opposed to taking it all in one go.
I take 2.5 grains in the morning, but still have many symptoms.
I wonder if splitting helps with water retention, heat intolerance etc.
Thank you x
Incoguto
Everyone is different and you can only find out what really suits you by trial and error. For me personally, I have always taken my NDT in one go in the morning but others feel better by splitting it into two or maybe even three. It's the same for T3 and Levo, some people even swear by taking it at night where others find it keeps them awake - once you have found a suitable regime then stick to it as your body will come to expect it at those given times. Hope this helps!
Thank you Delgor!May I ask how much you're taking in the morning? Do you test 24 hrs after?
I have been at it for over 2 years (tweaking Armour), makes me a feel better or more even than T3 and Levo combined, but I feel like I have constant hypo and hyper mix of symptoms and I'm very sensitive to dose changes.
Hi Incoguto
I am currently taking 1 1/2 grains of Armour but still don't feel good on this so thinking about upping the dose slightly. The problem is I'm not sure that this reformulated Armour Thyroid is right for me either as I find it on the strong side but don't particularly want to try and add in T4 or T3 as it somehow seems to defeat the object. I started out on Armour almost 30 years ago which was fine and then swapped to Erfa when there were supply issues which also was fine, although a little less potent, and then changed to Nature Thyroid because of cost and that suited me the best of all so I was upset when it was withdrawn from sale for being sub-potent. It's hard to know what is what when other health issues come to the fore but I did go GF, DF, Soy F, Caffeine F, Sugar F, about 2 years ago and I'm still working on getting my vitamin levels optimal as well as trying to address any gut problems that still may reside (it's never flaming ending).
I did test 24 hours after last meds for years until I learnt on the forum that this will give a falsely low result and so have changed to splitting dosage the day before the test leaving 12 hours before blood draw but like you, I don't like doing it. Hope you get things sorted out sooner rather than later! ~ Best Wishes ~
Good idea to up the dose slightly, sometimes the smallest increases produce spectacular effects.I am the same, hesitant to addnl t3 or Levo, tried with Levo for 1.5+ years almost and it wasn't really working well.
Like you I was taking Armour before, it was totally fine, minimal symptoms if any in 2015, then moved to Nature throid, that was good even at 4 grains and then reduced to 3 grains based on palps and top range ft3 ft4 and then things spiralled down. Tried synthetic combo for 1.5 years it was awful 😖
I have SIBO, this definitely doesn't help with absorption and conversion of hormones. Will be treating it soon
I still test after 24hrs to compare results, but then it's a problem knowing if ft3 at 63% is really that high.
Have you tried splitting at some point? I did in the past and also wasn't feeling well.
diogenes has recently pointed us at information that says testing for NDT is better after a 24hr break because the T3 in NDT is much slower acting than pure T3 on it's own. So combination therapy Levo and T3 should be 12hrs after last split dose. But NDT is still perhaps better at 24hrs.
I'm no expert, I'm still learning. But I understand the reasoning for this and like it.
Hi FancyPants
Thanks so much for that as I must have missed it! The stupid thing is that I always tested after 24 hours for years and years and always had results within the T4 and T3 range but then was told on the forum that this would give me a falsely low result - now I am utterly confused!
Thanks again for that info - can you by any chance link to the Diogenes conversation as I would love to read it? Sincerely hope you are feeling a little improved on NDT!
how long have you been on 2.5 and what are your remaining symptoms?
I have been on it now for 4.5 weeks and also previously for a month. I actually take 2.5 grains plus a tiny bit more, making it 2.56 grains.
I have water retention, still 10kgs overweight despite a good diet and walking a lot.
I have some aches, sometimes thirst, insomnia (mainly issues falling sleep), anxiety from time to time, energy dips, flat mood, libido changes, hair shedding, right eye pulsating.
On 2.56 grains my ft3 was 63% of range (checked last Sunday, at 4 weeks). Testing 24 hours after my morning dose (ft4 was 39%).
In January I upped the dose by 1/8 grain and 11 days later my ft3 went up to 85% and was experiencing shakiness, full on anxiety, sweating hunger, inability to sleep etc.
Then I reduced to 2.5 grains and it helped tremendously and then I was yoyoing with all symptoms, my cycle went from regular 26 days to 18 days (now I'm day 32 and no sign of it). Stayed on 2.5 grains for 4.5 weeks only, I was worried about my period, numbness in my arms after sleeping, sweating, puffiness.
My ft3 was 45% and ft4 went down to 23% after 4 weeks on that.
Stuck in a bit of a limbo. Some days I find it very difficult to work.
Synthetics make me feel pretty bad, tried fot almost 2 years and piled a lot of weight on.
Thanks for reading this x
I got exactly the same and increased for a while felt great and then was over. It’s so difficult
Also sounds like peri time which will make dosing thyroid meds doubly tricky.
Could be! But then I was checked for it 3 times in the last year, estradiol similar level each time, good ratio to progesterone, lsh fsh both at 6, which is pretty perfect and always regular periods at 26 days😕
You will almost never discover perimenopause from a blood test. Oestrogen levels fluctuate wildly through the day let alone from day to day. Average age of menopause is now 52 years. Peri can easily kick in 10 years prior to that and for some even earlier.
True, I have heard that actually! I'm still 38. Do you think it may be worth trying some HRT? I know nothing about it 🤔
You might be best to download the Balance app onto your phone and have a good read of it. It's produced by Dr Louise Newson's company and is full of great up to date menopause information. I believe it could be really useful for someone entering peri or close to it as there is a symptom tracker feature and loads of advice. It could help you decide if you were close to peri or in it yet and how to proceed.
My periods were absolutely perfect almost till the day they stopped without any notice, lol. Missed one or two within that last year but put it to thyroid as this was when I was first dx with Hashi. Any then bang, and I was menopausal. When you are in peri the tests are not reliable and it's now diagnosed by symptoms alone which makes it difficult with thyroid becuase they are virtually the same as thyroid (one endocrine system so no wonder anything hormonal shows with the same symptoms) and both can affect each other.
This is interesting, at what age did you start menopause? I am 38, but these synonyms are happening since I lowered Armour from 4 grains to 3 grains at 33 years old.
I was 50 so much more the average meno age but then after 8 years on BHRT I am now having problems stabilising my hormones as I had to stop them when I started T3 only and only trying to restart again (second attempt). Unfortunately, peri is apparently now a lot more common in women's thirties than it was before but as you said it may not be that in your case. However, keep it on your radar becuase with our hormones already compromised by thyroid, other hormones are usually following suit sooner or later.
I'm just jumping on because I'm similar. I'm almost 37 so feels too early for peri but last year my FSH was 85% through range and estrogen at 9% so reading your results I wonder if something is actually amuck.
Thanks Witchinghour! Been having these symptoms since 33 when I went into overdose with Naturethroid (couldn't even eat at work, my hands were shaking so much, l lost a good bit of weight then and violent palpitations witj sweating started to the point of passing out), so probably not peri, my fsh was midrange or under, estrogen checked in follicular and luteal phase x3 times last year, wasn't low at all😕this disease frustrates me so so much! I don't even get hot flushes, it's more a dry hot skin only around 1 am.
Have a look at Menopausal Not Mad website. Unfortunately it feels too early for peri but might be the case nevertheless.
Just an afterthought. The symptoms are changing on lowering or upping, so not sure this would be peri. Also my cholesterol is up since dropping from 3 grains to less, but can't tolerate 3 anymore, my labwork goes over range massively
I had to split mine initially (thyroidS) I used this guide which is very helpful:
tpauk.com/main/article/trea...
I found after a few years it didn’t matter if I split it or took the dose all at once. I found 1.25 grains was just right but over the years I’ve had to up it to 1.75 grains
DippyDame believes it’s better all at once to flood receptors with T3 but takes T3 only not NDT
Theres only one way to find out…
Thank you so much.I tried to split it years ago and I wasn't feeling well. I have been taking it the last 2 years+ first thing, but I still have a lot of remaining symptoms.
May I ask if your labwork looks lowish after testing 24 hrs after your dose?
no last test I did mine were too high and I had to back off! TSH is always 0.05 even t3 was over range 😱 I felt ok tho. I dropped it quarter of a grain feel ok but not brill like I was. Maybe I need more t3 than the range but I didn’t want to risk it. T4 was quite high but not over range. I think that’s the one you don’t want over vos of heart problems although my angina vanished with NDT .
Hi Incoguto. I have been on Armour for ca 8-9 years. Before that 2-3 years Levo. Fared much better on Armour than Levo. Still trying to titrate to optimal levels since health collapse and bedridden in Oct 2020. Have tried 1, 2 and 3x day dosing and found 3x best for me. Take around 8:30/9:30, 12:30/ 13:30 and 16:30/17:30. Currently on 1 3/8 grain + 1 1/2 grain + 1 grain. Still struggling with symptoms but also have MCAS and CFS. I dose by symptoms and bloods. All the best 🌷
Hi there. I actually don’t remember the big difference between 1-2-3 x dosing and why I stuck to 3x. I think it was to do with energy levels mostly, as I seem to recall it being steadier throughout the day. And possibly also not having major ‘rush’ when taking too much in one go and heart rate going a bit mad. But really don’t want to speculate as it was ages ago and I have been on split 3x/day dosing for years.
My results from 09.02.2023 on I think 1/8 grain less Armour were:
Free T4 (fT4) 18.6 pmol/L (12 - 22) 66.0%
Free T3 (fT3) 5.08 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 53.5%
T4:T3 Ratio 3.661
However, I think I left an 1-2 hours more after last dose evening before so usually my T3 would be higher.
For example in December 2022 on 1/4 grain less than now my results were:
Free T4 (fT4) 19.7 pmol/L (12 - 22) 77.0%
Free T3 (fT3) 6.3 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 86.5%
T4:T3 Ratio 3.127
Tests done at same lab. What is quite interesting is that although I am slowly increasing the Armour, my levels seem to adjust, and I never go over range under same or very similar testing conditions, as suggested on forum. It’s as if my cells are absorbing more T3, but the levels aren’t being overly affected.
T3 - split vs single dose
Taking full t3 dose all at once
does anyone split dose thyroxine? 
Armour 120 vs Levothyroxine 175 
