Difference between Armour and Levothyroxine?

[kristilou]

Hi everyone

I am interested in what Armour is and whether it is used to manage an underactive thyroid and/or hashimotos in the same way as Levo? I keep seeing it mentioned and keen to understand more. Thanks a lot.

Kristi

[RedApple Administrator]

Armour is a 'brand name' for one of the desiccated thyroid products used to treat thyroid hormone deficiency. Other brands of desiccated thyroid that you might see mentioned are Nature-Throid and Erfa.

Desiccated thyroid is produced from dried and powdered animal thyroid glands (usually from pigs) and contains both of the major thyroid hormones, T4 and T3. The levothyroxine that's prescribed by most doctors is a synthetic version of the T4 hormone only. (The synthetic version of T3 is called liothyronine.)

Desiccated thyroid is the 'original' thyroid medicine that was used before the invention of the synthetic products. There's quite a comprehensive article about desiccated thyroid on wikipedia that might be a good place to start:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desic...

[kristilou]

Thanks, that is really helpful. Is dessicated thyroid also known as 'natural' thyroid treatment or is this something else?

[RedApple Administrator in reply to kristilou]

Yes, same thing. And it is also often referred to as NDT - Natural Desiccated Thyroid.

[shaws Administrator]

Dessicated thyroiid hormone has to be prescribed and it is usually only private doctors who will do so. Occasionally an NHS doctor or Endo may do so.

This is some information from Thyroiduk

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

[Heloise]

kris, it's been said that the majority of people do well on the synthetic T4. That may or may not be true but some of us do not convert the T4 to T3 which is absolutely essential. Many people say their NHS doctors will not test your T3 levels but only the TSH and T4. Well, obviously it may be difficult to tell whether you are converting the T4 to T3 which is the active, useable form of thyroid without knowing your T3. This seems very ignorant if the patient still has many symptoms. There are other factors and deficiencies that should also be addressed as you will probably read but I would do whatever I could to have the T3 test if not feeling well. I have lingering problems from years of T4 only.