EDIT: Further to the original post below, sharing my recent blood tests results:
Results from Jan 2025 (Randox Health Everywoman tests):
TSH: 2.3 mlU/l
FT4: 19.52 pmol/l
FT3: 2.81 pmol/l
B12: 570 ng/l
Folate - think this is my Folic Acid result, which is: 18.3 ug/l
Ferritin: 52.5 ug/l
Vit D: 118 nmol/l
Symptoms:
Mood up and down but 51 yo and been post-menopausal for 3-4 years hence on variety of HRT), low libido, very cold at times (but also quite underweight and low BMI of 16.6).
Underweight reasons: Prob a combination of constant stress (cared for 2 parents with dementia for 12+ years) and used to have eating disorders in late teens/early 20s. Think I'm mostly okay now as I eat well compared to years ago - at least 2 big meals a day - but do still try to be careful and exercise a bit so I guess always there a little...
ORIGINAL POST:
Hello to the group,
This is my first time posting here and not sure if anyone can offer any advice....grateful for anyone that can x
I've just been prescribed Armour Thyroid (60mg) by the London Hormone Clinic for very low levels of T3 (my current level is 2.81). I am nervous about starting this as I've looked into this medication and...
1) It's not licensed/prescribed by NHS due to lack of evidence and instability of the medication.
2) I am very underweight so worried about side effects e.g. losing more weight - and general side effects of taking something that sounds quite strong. Clinic doctor advised taking it 3 days in the 1st week and then increasing to 5 days per week.
The whole area of thyroid/under-active thyroid is completely new to me..
Tbh, I can't financially continue with the clinic for much longer. I tried nitially to get my HRT sorted but they are trying to help balance a few other things that got picked up along the way e.g. high Lipoprotein A, thyroid stuff, insulin resistence. I'm skinny fat so not a very healthy picture at all!
It all feels like a minefield at the moment.
Thanks in advance for any feedback...will continue to try and find out more.
x
Written by
Miffy2
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
We are a super friendly forum and members have a wide range of experiences.
If you can add info to your bio section it will help folks help you too.
You are right to be cautious, but if you need thyroid hormone replacement then you really need it, and for the rest of your life. If you are NHS you can get free prescriptions with a hypothyroidism diagnosis in England.
NDT was historically the gold standard treatment, it replaces all thyroid hormones. I learned recently that the price of NDT to the NHS has been hiked and it costs £1000s a year per patient (it’s cheaper to buy privately). Many of us are on the more NHS cost friendly T4 and some purchase or have private or NHS prescriptions for T3.
Here is a link to a super YouTube channel about thyroid conditions by one of our members daughter.
It’s customary here to post your results for TSH FT4 and FT3 along with B12, Folate, Ferritin, and Vitamin D results with any symptoms and folks will comment.
What dose have you been prescribed ?
and with the 3 day intro are you taking a lower dose to start with?
I’m going to tag radd to help with dosing advice as I’ve not taken NDT myself.
Thanks so much for your kind reply and advice. All super helpful and I'll look at these links.
Added some initial info to my bio and below are my recent results (which I'll add to my original post shortly) and info re: your dosage questions.
Results from Jan 2025:
TSH: 2.3 mlU/l
FT4: 19.52 pmol/l
FT3: 2.81 pmol/l
B12: 570 ng/l
Folate - think this is my Folic Acid result, which is: 18.3 ug/l
Ferritin: 52.5 ug/l
Vit D: 118 nmol/l
Symptoms:
Mood up and down but 51 yo and have been post-menopausal for 3-4 years hence on variety of HRT), low libido, very cold at times (but also quite underweight and low BMI of 16.6).
Underweight reasons: Prob a combination of constant stress (cared for 2 parents with dementia for 12+ years) and used to have eating disorders in late teens/early 20s. Think I'm mostly okay now as I eat well compared to years ago - at least 2 big meals a day - but do still try to be careful and exercise a bit so I guess always there a little...
Armour Thyroid prescription/dosage:
- Tablets I'll be receiving shortly are 60mg.
- Dosage: Yes, the hormone doctor suggested starting with half a tablet (so 30mg) for 3 days in the 1st week and then increasing to 5 days per week (not sure if half or full tablet per day but something I would check if info not provided on medication box).
Not sure I'll start this thyroid medication straightaway until I learn/understand more about this.
So we can offer better advice, can you tell us more about your thyroid condition, eg when you were initially diagnosed. ongoing symptoms, any previous thyroid medication & dosage, plus blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for:
TSH
FT3
FT4
Plus any antibody and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12)
If your GP is unable to complete all the above (eg if TSH is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT4 and FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:
Thanks for your helpful reply. I've added my recent blood tests results to my original post but copied here below too with what is the optimal range (thing that's what you mean).
These blood tests were done privately via Randox Health Everywoman set of tests.
I had basic blood tests done via NHS last Sept but they said thyroid was okay - the private hormone doctor said this is because NHS doesn't look/test T3 which she said I am low in.
So I haven't been diagnosed with a thyroid issue via NHS. And I have never taken any thyroid medication before. Just currently on a variety of HRT for last 3 years approximately.
Results from Jan 2025 (Randox Health Everywoman tests):
TSH: 2.3 mlU/l (optimal range is 0.35 - 5.5 mlU/l)
FT4: 19.52 pmol/l (optimal is 11.9 - 21.6 pmol/l)
FT3: 2.81 pmol/l (optimal is 2.25 - 5.63 pmol/l)
B12: 570 ng/l (optimal is 197 - 771 ng/l)
Folate - think this is my Folic Acid result, which is: 18.3 ug/l (optimal is 3.0 - 26.8 ug/l)
Ferritin: 52.5 ug/l (optimal is 10.0 - 120 ug/l: I have been advised to take iron supplement)
Vit D: 118 nmol/l (optimal is 49.9 - 375 nmol/l)
Symptoms:
Mood up and down but 51 yo and been post-menopausal for 3-4 years hence on variety of HRT), low libido, very cold at times (but also quite underweight and low BMI of 16.6).
Underweight reasons: Prob a combination of constant stress (cared for 2 parents with dementia for 12+ years and I definitely have lost weight during this time) and used to have eating disorders in late teens/early 20s. Think I'm mostly okay now as I eat well compared to years ago - at least 2 big meals a day - but do still try to be careful and exercise regularly so I guess always there a bit in the background..
Hello, thanks for your message and all the useful info/links. Lots of info to take a look at. I added some blood tests results to my original post and bio info. But added these test results and some further info to your questions below...
Age: 51 yo
Diagnosis: I haven't been diagnosed with a thyroid issue via the NHS. Had general blood tests done with NHS last Sept and they said thyrold was fine. Private hormone doctor advised getting Randox Health Everywoman set of bloods done privately over last 2 years and from this, she said thyroid (T3) was not optimal and T4 is fine. She advised last year I eventually need to start thyroid medication which she prescribed last week.
Results from Jan 2025 (Randox Health Everywoman tests):
TSH: 2.3 mlU/l (optimal range is 0.35 - 5.5 mlU/l)
FT4: 19.52 pmol/l (optimal is 11.9 - 21.6 pmol/l)
FT3: 2.81 pmol/l (optimal is 2.25 - 5.63 pmol/l)
B12: 570 ng/l (optimal is 197 - 771 ng/l)
Folate - think this is my Folic Acid result, which is: 18.3 ug/l (optimal is 3.0 - 26.8 ug/l)
Ferritin: 52.5 ug/l (optimal is 10.0 - 120 ug/l: I have been advised to take iron supplement)
Vit D: 118 nmol/l (optimal is 49.9 - 375 nmol/l)
Symptoms: Mood very up and down for last few years hence on HRT (blood tests suggested I was post-menopausal for last few years), low libido, very cold at times but also quite underweight and low BMI of 16.6.
Underweight reasons: Prob a combination of constant stress (cared for 2 parents with dementia for last 12+ years and I def have lost weight during this time as a result of this). I did also have eating disorders in late teens/early 20s (initially bulimia - then eating less/exercise etc). I think I am heaps heaps better now as I eat so well compared to years ago - at least 2 big meals a day - but still try to be careful and exercise still (not excessively at all) so I guess always a little bit of this still there in the background...
I haven't been tested for Coeliac Disease.
Thanks again for your feedback, I've received lots of questions/thought-provoking replies which I'm trying to digest and get back to (aware I really didn't give enough info to begin with!). A learning curve for sure, thanks 🙂
1) It's not licensed/prescribed by NHS due to lack of evidence and instability of the medication.
There’s plenty of evidence. Before levothyroxine was discovered, it was all hypothyroid patients had.
And Armour is not unstable. It’s produced to very high standards by a pharmaceutical company.
The issue is that the makers of levothyroxine did an incredibly effective job of discrediting NDT when levothyroxine was first put on the market. Plus NDT tends to be way more expensive than levothyroxine—hundreds of pounds instead of pennies. That’s the real reason the NHS won’t prescribe it.
Slightly concerned that your private endo is a bit of a quack though, if he thinks taking NDT on a part time basis is a good idea.
Thanks for your reply and additional background info re: Armour and Levothyroxine, really appreciate. I came across that info re: instability/lack of evidence on various NHS web pages.
Private hormone doctor suggested taking half a tablet (30mg) for 3 days in the 1st week and then increase to 5 days per week (but I'm not sure if this means 1 full tablet per day - assuming it does but awaiting the medication box with details). However, think I'm going to hold off starting for now until I understand it all a bit more.
There is nothing on your Profile page so in order to help and understand you litte better it helps us know some back history as to age and previous medical conditions.
Armour is a brand of Natural Desiccated Thyroid and the original and successfully used treatment for hypothyroidism for over 100 years to treat hypothyroidism and was available on the NHS until around 2000 when the NHS started reducing treatment options for hypothyroidism due to their costs rather than their benefit.
If you can't continue to afford to stay on Armour longer term - this may not be the best treatment option at this point in time for you - as thyroid hormone replacement is for life, once started.
Do you already have a diagnosis of hypothyroidism and tried to get help through the NHS and failed ?
What do you mean by skinny / fat and unhealthy - were you over active and now under active and with Graves Disease ?
With any thyroid hormone replacement you take the same dose every day -
With NDT - you start low and slow and build up your dose by 1/4 grain increases weekly - until you find a place where you feel well and your symptoms of hypothyroidism relieved -
No thyroid horme replacement works well until your core strength vitamins and minerals are up and maintained at optimal levels -
Do you have any current blood test results for your TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 and the core strength vitamins and minerals - ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D ?
I take a different brand of NDT - Armour being the most well known and most expensive and imported from the USA.
It's all quite overwhelming this Thyroid stuff. It's a learning curve that we've all undertaken and we have been where you are now. Overwhelmed? You'll hear acronyms like NDT (Natural[ly] Dessicated Thyroid) which is what you're taking--Armour--at the starting dose of 60mgs. I'm from the States so I don't use the term "grains". Armour is disliked by the medical community (in the USA) because it takes a lot of tweaking of the mgs "grains" to help the patient get to a place where they feel "good" as in their symptoms are relieved. There are also the Synthetics: Synthroid, Levothyroxine, and others. The two that I've mentioned are T4 hormones only. You are taking a drug that has both T4 and T3 hormones, which is very good! You speak of being "underweight" which is an unusual symptom of Hypothyroidism. There are a list of symptoms which are associated with Hypothyroidism. You can look them up on websites by Googling "Hypothyroidism". The symptoms are consistent and common with the disease. What can help you navigate through this maze is to grab a book by Paul Robinson, The Thyroid Patient's Manual. I have read, and re-read this amazing book many times and I still can't remember all that I need to understand. (Another symptom of Hypothyroidism is brain fog, poor memory, all of which I have.) The Admins of this site are asking you a lot of questions. Lab #'s are important to post so that the kind/helpful ladies who are the admins can see what your T4 and Free T3 levels are which tells them what the state of your Thyroid is. Your medical community is more thorough with Thyroid problems than our docs over here in the States. Our General Practitioners (from the old school) won't even touch the sex hormones when dealing with the Thyroid. And they won't (at least mine who is lazy) won't touch vitamin/iron levels either. I have to ask for these things, and at times push my doc to test things other than the Thyroid hormones. So, read, re-read, ask questions, and learn so that you will have control over your health. Best of luck. Remember, we've all been where you are now. Pay attention to your symptoms when you learn what they are.
Ahhhh....thank you so much Connyankee, you are right, it is totally overwhelming at the moment!! Have now posted by recent lab results to my original post as advised by the wonderfully helpful and informative admins/group.
I had no idea what NDT meant (had googled it but thank you!) but that shows my low level of knowledge currently. A lot of really useful information from you and others who replied. Will just take a while to read through and digest this. Feels very daunting at the moment but thank you for your tips and advice and the book link which I'll definitely check out 🙂 x
To be honest, I don't think of myself as having a condition at all (maybe that's wrong to think that - I really don't know) - this all started with going on HRT for the menopause and wider blood tests being done which the private doctor then suggested trying to address other things e.g. low level of T3 (my T4 is fine) and high Lipoprotein A levels (a whole other big topic in itself!)
I have been underweight for years - but don't think it is a medical condition - more related to stress of looking after 2 sick parents for over a decade and possibly some historical issues with food which as a 51 year old I'm way better with now than I was in my early 20s (not perfect but heaps better for sure).
I definitely will proceed with caution though and will try to learn as much as I can/ask questions before starting any thyroid medication.
Based on your recent results you don’t need meds at this stage. Although FT3 is low and likely why you feel symptomatic, FT4 is over 75.5% through range so you certainly don’t require more at this stage.
Thyroid meds are for life as usually don’t top up levels but reduce own production. Once medicating most like their TSH around 1 or lower. However, before medicating TSH is more variable and yours is slightly raised indicating a shortage of thyroid hormone but this could be due to low T3 levels, test timing and/or autoimmunity. You need to test for thyroid antibodies (TPOAb and TGAb) to ensure your adequate FT4 levels are stable or the result of a Hashimotos flare.
As very little T3 is secreted by the thyroid gland, so T4 to T3 conversion must be relied upon and can be negatively influenced by stress, other illnesses, poor diet, low weight, menopause, etc. Therefore improving T4-T3 conversion can be encouraged by addressing iron/nutrient deficiencies, improving diet, changing life style choices, etc and also supplementing selenium which is not only involved in the actual production and usage of thyroid hormones but helps reduce TPOAb should they be present.
Long term it can be tricky managing hypothyroidism without the NHS recognising your diagnosis. It’s also more prudent to start replacement with Levothyroxine (T4 meds) before adding T3 containing meds which may not be required long term. Levothyroxine is free on the NHS and readily available when a hypo diagnosis has been given. Armour can be tricky to introduce as an initial starter replacement med due to its set T4:T3 ratio and is also expensive. Any thyroid hormone replacement med containing T3 should be taken in a continuous fashion.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
x
please help me interpret confusing thyroid test results
Testosterone Therapy & Thyroid Function Issues
Blood test deciphering 
A wobbling thyroid and what to do about it ….
