Advise please...finally been placed on Armour 60mg x4 daily....I have no thyroid...recommendations on how to take it please much appreciated

[sorrel89]

Previous thyroid cancer...23 years of taking T4 and removal of parathyroids too..so required calcium, vit D and iron...Thanks

[shaws Administrator]

Whatever you do, I would dose very, very gradually. This is a link to Stopthethyroidmadness.com

stopthethyroidmadness.com/m...

There are two schools of thought with regard to dessicated thyroid hormone. One is to divide doses during the day and the other one dose per day. This is an excerpt and you can cursor down to the question date January 30, 2002

Question: I’m hypothyroid and take Armour Thyroid twice a day. My question is about the right time to take it in relation to when I eat. Should I take it two, three, or four hours after I eat? I've read all those times in different places. Thank you very much for your time—and your great website!

Dr. Lowe: As a rule, our patients take thyroid hormone only once per day. An advantage of this one-per-day schedule is that it’s easier to find a window for good intestinal absorption—when the stomach or small intestine doesn’t contain food.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

If you cursor down to question dated November 21, 2003 re armour

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

[sorrel89 in reply to shaws]

Thanks for the links....

[PinkNinja]

I can tell you what I did. I still have my thyroid but I'm not sure how much it is working anymore!

I started on the first day with just 1/4 grain twice a day to make sure I didn't have any adverse effects. As I didn't feel anything at all, the next day I took 1/2 grain (30mg) twice a day. A few days later, after feeling nothing at all, I increased to 1/2 grain 3 times a day. A week later I increased by another 1/2 grain and then again a week later. When I got to 2.5 grains, I waited about 3 weeks. I was going to wait the full 4 weeks but I was still feeling quite hypo. Four weeks after that I increased again to 3.5 grains. As I feel I am getting near my optimal dose, I am going to wait 4 weeks before increasing again.

You really need to see how each increase goes to decide how long to wait before increasing again. If you have side-effects you may need to take it slowly. If you have no side-effects you will be able to increase more quickly. I don't know if it is wise to start with the full 4 grains straight away, but it may be ok if you have not been feeling hypo before this point. Bear in mind that it takes around 4 weeks for each increase to have its full effect so once you get towards your 4 grains you may want to slow the increases to every 4 weeks.

I switched from levo too. I took my levo one day and switched to NDT the next. No need to wean off the levo first or anything. It stays in your system for a while so it won't hurt to take a smaller dose the first day to make sure you don't react badly to the T3 that your body isn't used to. If you think 1/4 grain is too low, you could take 1/2 grain twice a day the first day.

Play it by ear and see how you feel. I just worry that starting with 4 grains straight away, all that T3 that your body isn't used to may be a shock to the system.

Of course, I'm not a doctor; I can only tell you what worked for me. There may be others who were able to increase more quickly. I probably could have but, as I'm doing this supported by a GP who knows nothing about NDT, I wanted to be cautious.

I hope you find it works for you

Carolyn x

[sorrel89 in reply to PinkNinja]

This seems like avery good idea... now dropped to 1 grain but still rapid pulse and palpitations...thanks for the advise

[Clarebear]

All very good advice above How much thyroxine are you on now? I have had to increase much more slowly than most as I seem very sensitive to changes in meds. Xx

[PinkNinja in reply to Clarebear]

It's bonkers isn't it! Some need to increase really slowly and others can increase like they're popping Smarties. I'm debating whether I should slow my increases to 1/4 grain now that I'm at 3.5 grains but I've had not problems so far. I guess I'm just getting twitchy

[Clarebear in reply to PinkNinja]

I think it must mean that you have sorted your adrenals out Carolyn I seem to be able to increase without any problems now though (fingers crossed). Haven't had any problems with last two 1/4 grain increases. Look forward to seeing your test results xx

[sorrel89 in reply to Clarebear]

Hi..I was on 150mg levo but was not touching me...think I became resistant..poor adrenal function and terribly low ferritin...not sure if I am hyper or hypo but palpitations waking me up and heart rate of 80 plus!! Bit worried now... now dropped to 1 grain Thanks again

[debjs]

Like Clarebear I have had to increase my dose very slowly by 1/4 every 2 weeks due to side effects and had to take several breaks of 4-6 weeks. I found the side effects kicked in on days 4-7 after an increase in dose so sometimes is not immediate. I do seem to be particularly sensitive though. Everything I have read suggests building by 1/2 grain every 2 weeks. I am no doctor but starting with 4 grains seems like quite a large dose.

[sorrel89]

Thanks to everyone for your useful advise....I have obviously been taking it wrong...been feeling a bit jittery seeing as I have taken the full 4 doses!!!. Read a very useful chapter in STTM too...I think I was so excited to have been given DT that I could not wait to get it in to my system... I always have a little panic because I have to suppress any residual thyroid function as it was riddled with cancer and had spread so I am not sure if taking DT gradually would suppress my TSH which should be under 0.05 at all times... Many Thanks again

[PinkNinja in reply to sorrel89]

NDT will likely suppress your TSH more than thyroxine as it contains T3. If you are concerned about starting on a low dose, allowing your own thyroid to function, you could always continue to take some levothyroxine at night. Some people find that taking 1/2 grain twice a day and then reducing their levothyroxine dose by 75 - 100 mcg is the best way to start. As you gradually increase the NDT, slowly getting used to the T3, you can reduce the levothyroxine by the equivalent amount. That might avoid your thyroid from starting to function again.

I'm sorry I didn't realise this was a concern when I wrote my first reply.

Let us know how you get on

Carolyn x

[sorrel89]

Thanks Carolyn...I have reduced NDT to 1 grain ( split) for the last couple of days in view of all the previous posts...woke up at 4.30 with pounding heart and high pulse of 80+ can not work out if I am hyper/hypo may take a number of days for the 4 grains a day episode to diminish (that I took for 2 weeks) ...do you know what the half life is of NDT? Feel a bit of a state with this pounding heart!!! Thanks again

[sorrel89 in reply to sorrel89]

Sorry..forgot to mention...feel I will stay off the Levo as it may add another number to the equation!...and will not be sure what is contributing to what but thanks for the suggestion...so complex is n't it? This forum has been amazing thanks.