So confused

[kasia12]

Anyone out there who can help me ? I have had an underactive thyroid for fifteen years now and NEVER  felt well on the synthetic drug thyroxine, so last year to my surprise my doctor let me try Armour, she prescribed 1/2 grain. I was on 100 mcg of thyroxine, after about two weeks of taking Armour I developed extreme panic attacks which frightened the life out of me, so decided to go back to thyroxine, it has taken me at least nine months to get back to 100mcg of thyroxine because it causes hyper symptoms so I have to gradually take it having said that I am not fully on 100mcg yet. I am so confused now my doctor does not know alot about Armour so she is not much help. Is it possible to take thyroxine with Armour so you can slowly taper of the synthetic drug and gradually increase Armour, I think my body just reacted badly because I was on 100mcg and then suddenly dropped to 30mg of natural thyroid, as i said before I have never faired really well with the synthetic so am desperate to change.

[kasia12]

Hi thanks for your reply I felt very emotional when reading your reply because I have felt so alone with this condition not knowing who to turn to next ! So its nice to be able to talk to someone who knows what it is like. i shall see my doctor, not that she knows much and see if I can very gradually change to Armour rather than very suddenly, fingers crossed it will work out !

[gimel]

Your doctor was not very helpful when you were switched to Armour.  The dose was way too low compared to the 100 mcg of thyroxine.  The equivalent dose of Armour should have been at least a full grain.  Some places say that you should substitute a full grain for every 75 mcg of thyroxine.  And yes, you can gradually substitute,  maybe a quarter grain of Armour at a time, replacing 25 mcg of T4.  So, that should be discussed with your doctor.