Questions for those taking Armour...

[lhowell]

I am currently taking Synthroid and am debating on whether or not to ask my doctor for a Rx of Armour.  I've read such good things from people who switched from Synthroid to Armour.  My question is:  does Armour have a taste to it?  And how big are the pills?

The plus side to Synthroid is that it's a sweet pill and I chew it so it gets in my system faster.  If you were taking Synthroid and switched, what has your experience been?  

Thanks in advance for any replies and Happy New Year to all.
~Lynn

[Mrs_RiseNShine]

I have been taking Armour for 4 days & I'm probably sensitive to some meds as I have noticed some immediate changes already. I was sooo tired previously & my energy has already increased some. I'm hoping to see an even bigger improvement in the next 2-3 weeks as I realize it takes time for your body to make adjustments in becoming balanced. I used to work out consistently & had a good figure but when I'm drained & tired I cannot exercise & have no willpower against junk foods, so I gained 10 lbs. Well, I jumped on the scale this morning and am down 2.5 lbs and also returned to working out for the first time today in a longggg time - it felt great! I am also back to craving healthy foods instead of having those strong urges for junk (like cheese fries w ranch dressing, melted butter, honeybuns...u name it!) Since going on this medicine these are the foods I've actually Craved: yogurt, macadamia nuts w sea salt, watermelon, cantaloupe, salad and I just had a tuna sub from Subway from lunch. Now that is the healthy way I USED to eat, so this is good! Oh, AND...I've been sleeping Very soundly. I used to wake up numerous times in the night then have trouble getting back to sleep. Last night I fell asleep at 10pm, woke up at 3am only to potty, and I could not believe I had been asleep that Long steadily. I woke again at 5:30am when my husband got up, took my Armour tablet (on empty stomach) then soundly back to sleep until 8:30. I'm trying to make my routine to take my pill when my husband gets up ea morning bc he's up early then go back to sleep for an hour. That way I know the pill has had time to dissolve and get into my system on an empty stomach as it has been suggested. I want the best results I can get, as I've been miserable for so long. Oh, and I'm noticing I feel warmer all over. My hands and nose are warm for the first time in months. Also, I have cold feet and the Doc tells me my feel should start to warm up too, but again, I've only been on the meds for 4 days so I know I have to give it time. She says when you are on the correct dose that can make your feet warm, that is when you may start to notice some weight loss as your metabolism is fired up I guess.

[zachslp]

One more note, it only costs me approx $9.00 a month as opposed to approx $50.00 a month if I had gone with Cytomel/Sythroid combo.

[zachslp]

I switched to Amour 2 1/2 months ago after 25 years of being on synthetic meds (Sythroid and Levoxyl).  I had been progressively getting more and more hypothyroid symptoms, while my TSH was staying basically the same.  I had finally switched PCP's and my new doctor said he had had success with people switching.  At first, I noticed only a slight difference in mood, but after 2-3 weeks, I noticed a HUGE improvement in energy, a HUGE improvement in mood, and mild weight loss.  The weight loss has leveled off, but I am a slave to sweets around the holidays, and am hoping that I can get back to eating healthier.  I think that the weight loss is not neccessarily directly related to the Armour, but related to my improved mood and improved energy so I want to exercise and eat healthy (I've been going on a 30 minute walk every day since the week before Thanksgiving).  As for the smell/taste, I did notice a strange smell at first, and a slightly sweeter taste, but now I don't notice it at all.  I consider Armour my miracle drug and hope it all continues!!  Good luck!

[lhowell]

"You chew your Synthroid? I understand if you take it with a full cup of water it suficiently dissolves in your stomach. No need to get it into your system any faster as it has a very long 1/2 life."

Yes, I chew it...I've heard you should wait an hour before eating and my doctor tells me to wait 30 mins.  I figure if I chew it and wait the 30 mins I am safe either way.  Besides, it tastes a little like candy. :)

[hifsosjf]

I just started taking Armour 3 weeks ago and have been taking 1 grain so far (60 mg).  I chew it, put it under my tongue each morning and it has a slghtly sweet taste - nothing bad.  

I have read that lots of people have success on Armour due to the fact that it contains T3 and not just T4 (like Syntroid).  This is effective especially in people who do not convert T4 to T3.  I have also heard that Armour is more effective for weightloss (if that is a goal) vs synthetic thyroid hormones.  Here is a good website - I had a phone consultation last week wtih Dr Lowe.  Lots of good info on this site about Armour and thyroid questions.  

http://www.drlowe.com/

[GravesLady]

I have never hear of chewing, but I have heard about putting it under the tongue.

I have never taken Armour but from what I understand,
as a natural product obtained from porcine (pig) thyroid glands,
Armour Thyroid may have a strong, characteristic odor.

The most biologically effective and direct way to take Natural Thyroid is sublingually or orally. i.e. you place the tablet between your gums and inner check, or under your tongue where it dissolves the fastest.  Forest Labs did not make Armour to be sublingual, but it works that way.

Armour has a touch of sucrose in it, making it more palatible.


Hope this helps.

[Lake Lover]

You chew your Synthroid? I understand if you take it with a full cup of water it suficiently dissolves in your stomach.  No need to get it into your system any faster as it has a very long 1/2 life.

The stopthethyroidmadness.com site has information on Armour and they really support it's use.