Switching from Combination T3/T4 to Armour

[Piglet1956]

Hello everyone. I wonder if anyone can give me any hints or tips to make the change smoothly. I will be going from 75mcg Levo and 10 mcg Lio daily to 2 grains of Armour. Your help is appreciated. Thanks.

[radd]

Piglet1956,

You can do a straight switch over. One day Levo + T3 and the next NDT. You only need to go slow when initially introducing thyroid hormone replacements.

However, I would say 2 grains of Armour is more than the equivalent of 75mcg Levo + 20 T3, and you risk ending up overmedicated. Many find Armour T3-T4 ratio quite strong but as you are already taking 20mcg T3 to only 75 Levo you might be ok on just Armour (I had to add some Levo back in to dilute Armour so to speak). Also NDT often works better for some and a slighter lower equivalent dose may be sufficient.

If I was you I would switch to 1 and quarter grains and hold for several weeks before testing to see where levels lie and how you are feeling. Good luck.

[Piglet1956 in reply to radd]

Thanks for your reply radd. I’m only taking 10 mcg of Lio at the moment (2 x 5 daily). Would you suggest I reduce even further? I should add that both T4 andT3 levels were low-ish on the combined therapy - T3was 50% through range and T4 was about 25%

[Pippah45 in reply to Piglet1956]

Definitely go slow with the Armour. You haven't had any T3 before as it isn't in Levo. I personally would start at half a grain for two or more weeks. They really aren't the same medication. Slow and steady works best.

[Piglet1956 in reply to Pippah45]

Thanks for your reply. I've been taking T3 and T4 for almost two years now so was wondering how to move across.

[radd in reply to Piglet1956]

Oh, apologies Piglet1956 for the typo! However, I did work out the NDT dose on your medicating 75mcg Levo + 10mcg T3 (and not 20mcgT3 🙄). Have you started it yet?

Because T3 is roughly 3 times as powerful as T4, your present dose is the rough equivalent of 105mcg T4.

There is contention regarding the amount in a 1 grain of Armour. The packet states 38mcg T4 + 9mcg T3 = 65mcg T4 but the manufacturers claim this to be biochemically equivalent to 100mcg T4 (this is because medicating a little bit of T3 up-regulates conversions enzymes.) However, many members including myself would say 1 grain is equivalent to about 80mcg T4 and therefore I arrived at the suggestion of 1 and quarter grains of Armour.

Again a warning regarding the T3 potency and the possibility of having to reduce NDT dose and add some Levo to balance the T4:T3 ratios to your individual need.

Good luck 🤞

[Piglet1956 in reply to radd]

Thank you radd. I started this morning - its all a bit of an experiment as everyone id different.

[serenfach]

I just did a straight swop, but only after looking at the NDT as if it were an unexploded bomb for about a week. I did (and still do) alter my dose by my health, but not often. The first sign for me is tinnitus which means I need to up it a smidge. The thought of going back to T4+T3 fills me with horror now! Good luck.

[Piglet1956 in reply to serenfach]

Thank you. I know exactly what you mean about the unexploded bomb - I have one sitting on my desk right now. I think I'm wary because the Armour equivalent of my combination dose has 18mcg of T3 whereas I'm currently only on 10.

[serenfach]

Nothing to stop you cutting them in half for a while. They dont explode. I found that out at least! I find mine best if I split my dose and take some first thing and some at bed time. Wonderful technicolour dreams!

[Piglet1956 in reply to serenfach]

Hmmmm. Not sure if I’m brave enough for that. They’re scary little things.

[serenfach]

I used to farm Wild Boar. I had to be careful! Oddly enough it took a while before I put my big girls pants on and started the NDT, how was I scared of a little brown pill but not a charging Wild Boar?

Tonight hide your normal pills and put the NDT in place. Tomorrow without thinking just take the NDT. There - done - better health on the way!

If only our GPs knew how we felt and what we go through!

[Piglet1956 in reply to serenfach]

Great advice there. Will do and hopefully my heart won’t jump out my chest and run away. Thanks for your cheery support.

[Joannak]

hi am currently looking to swap over from the same could you dm me with who your using to do this please thankyou in advance