Metavive switch to Armour dosing : Hi all I am... - Thyroid UK

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Metavive switch to Armour dosing

8 months ago•12 Replies

Hi all I am taking 6 Metavive (4 in the AM and 2 in the PM) capsules + 25mcg T3 (PM)and am thinking about switching to a prescribed NDT - any advice on what the NDT equivalent might be? TIA

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greenmug

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RedAppleAdministrator8 months ago

greenmug, It might help members to answer your question if you say which version of Metavive you're wanting to switch over from.

greenmug in reply to RedApple8 months ago

Sure, thanks, thought I had put the "1" in. I'm taking:

Metavive I, Porcine Thyroid Complex 40mg

Noelnoel in reply to greenmug8 months ago

What’s the reason for considering a switch?

I stuck with Metavive despite hiccups and problems and I’m now glad I did. I experimented with different glandulars a couple of years ago and they just didn’t do the job

If you feel Metavive isn’t working for you there are many reasons to consider

Type (bovine and porcine)

Dose strength/quantity

Weight. As with levo, the heavier you are the likelihood higher doses will be required. Certainly my case but we’re all different

Timings

Frequency

Solely one or the other instead of a combination

Key nutrients in good shape. I,e., high, not just in range. Again, at least for me

Ml x 6 isn’t that high a dose. At one point I was taking larger doses and feeling very overmedicated, until I worked out I needed a combination of porcine and bovine, plus a dose of Adrenavive to deal with cortisol issues. Bovine has a higher T4:T3 I now buy the higher strength bottles and my daily dosage is:

AM Met Pro x 1 (porcine)

Met lV x 1.5 (bovine)

PM Met lV x half

I’m in the process of working my way up to Met lV x 2 in the morning to raise my FT4 which is lagging way behind FT3. Met lV is bovine and as such has a different composition to porcine, in that it’s T4: T3 ratio is higher

What are your latest labs?

Have you considered the cost of armour and the difficulties obtaining it?

Santolina8 months ago

I too am taking Metavive & wonder why you're thinking of switching? I stopped trying to get Armour - too many obstacles.

greenmug in reply to Santolina8 months ago

No special reason, really. When you were considering Armour were you aware of what the dosing is vs Metavive?

Santolina in reply to greenmug8 months ago

Armour has always been the 'gold standard' for hypothyroid issues. Trying to get my UK doctor to prescribe was a nightmare but when I went to the US, it was far easier. Basically I gave up until Dr Myhill prescribed Metavive and I've done well on this and there's no hassle. But getting the dosage right was challenging. Also, with Armour, supply has always been another issue.

greenmug in reply to Santolina8 months ago

Ok then, so would you say that, based on your experience, 6 Metavive I's (240mg total) would be about the equivalent of 2 or 3 grains of Armour?

Santolina in reply to greenmug8 months ago

this discussion goes back several years. If there's a search here, try Armour vs Metavive and you'll find the equivalents. We've been discussing the very same problems - always looking for answers - good uck

greenmug in reply to Santolina8 months ago

Thanks for trying to answer my question.

Does anyone else know the rough equivalent of 240mgs of Metavive to Armour?

RedAppleAdministrator in reply to greenmug8 months ago

greenmug, I doubt there's going to be a useful answer to your question. They are products with very different compositions. It's probably best to just start on a typical starting dose of Armour (e.g. 1grain/60mg) and then titrate according to symptoms and full blood test numbers, the same as we do for any thyroid hormone replacement.

Santolina in reply to greenmug8 months ago

thinking that you should get your complete blood panel done and then ask the question again.

RedAppleAdministrator8 months ago

Post closed to replies at request of OP.

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