Chrissy, there is no need to live like that. Thyroid issues can be fixed and you can return to normal. We are here to help because of our own experiences and help that we have gotten from this forum. To do that we need to start a little farther back and get you to post thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on lab reports from the time you were taking 175 mcg of T4 med. What, if any, symptoms were you having at that time? Why did you doctor switch you to Armour? The switch was to two grains of Armour, correct? If so that would be 120 mg, which is equal to only about 130 mcg of T4. So that represented a significant reduction in dosage. Also, please post your latest thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.
Regarding the Armour vs. NP Thyroid, they both have 39 mcg of T4 and 9 mcg of T3. So that would not account for the effect you noticed. I have heard that Armour is supposedly absorbed better than the NP. If so the switch would mean another slight reduction in dosage effect. Another possibility is that cortisol or ferritin that are "off" can cause reactions to raising T3 levels. Since it takes 4-5 days for T3 med to reach full effect on serum levels, it is possible that the reaction occurred due to this, as opposed to the switch to NP.
You asked about cortisol and ferritin. "Cortisol is one of the steroid hormones and is made in the adrenal glands. Most cells within the body have cortisol receptors. Because most bodily cells have cortisol receptors, it affects many different functions in the body. Cortisol can help control blood sugar levels, regulate metabolism, help reduce inflammation, and assist with memory formulation. It has a controlling effect on salt and water balance and helps control blood pressure. In women, cortisol also supports the developing fetus during pregnancy. All of these functions make cortisol a crucial hormone to protect overall health and well-being."
Ferritin is a storage form of iron. Ferritin seems to be a precursor to iron levels. Hypothyroidism causes low stomach acid and thus low absorption of vitamins and nutrients such as Vitamin D, B12 and iron. D should be at least 50 ng/mL. B12 in the upper end of its range, and ferritin should be at least 100. So what were your levels for D and B12 and what is your supplement dosage for both? Can you also get cortisol and ferritin tested?
Since your doctor has been willing to switch you to NDT type thyroid med, that is usually a good indiction that he is willing to also treat clinically by adjusting FT4 and FT3 as needed to relieve symptoms, without being influenced by resultant TSH levels, which is my definition of a good thyroid doctor. If you can get the necessary tests done, and then post results and ranges here, we can help interpret and advise further. If you want to make sure of the info being provided, I suggest that you click on my name and then look at my journal there.
What dosage of NDT are you taking? Are you taking it all at once? What are your latest thyroid related test resuts and reference ranges shown on the lab report? Have you had tests for cortisol, VitaminD, B12 and ferritin?
I just FINALLY found a Dr willing to try NDTs. She prescribed Armour but my insurance doesn’t cover it. My insurance does cover NP so I got that (I did buy 10 days worth of Armour while waiting for the script to be taken care of). Took Armour for 5 days, felt ok. Got the NP and felt VERY strange. Heart racing, sweating, obsessive thoughts, muscle aches. I’m going out of pocket for the Armour now. Hope it works! So stressful trying to figure out what to take! Don’t want to waste more of my life on the wrong medication. Hearing that NP is same as old Armour makes me think “I wish I could take it”...I wonder if I should take less to start then build up a tolerance? I don’t know what to do! Any suggestions/opinions?
I have been on Armour thyroid and doing well, my dose was up'd to 60mg so I was taking that dose of Armour until I picked up new script and I was given NP thyroid instead, been on it for 3 days and I end up in the bathroom , not sure I am liking this medication. Anyone else have this issue?
PM me if interested in buying a good NDT brand at low cost from abroad.
About 6 months ago my pharmacy switched me to NP. After about 5 months I started having a strange sensation of my heart beating very hard in my upper chest. It would sometimes make my chest ache out to my shoulders. It would make me tired. I also felt like I had a lump in my throat and a sore throat. I had an EKG, Nuclear Stress Test, Heart Ultrasound, and one costly blood test for soft calcification. Everything was fine. I went to WebMD ad read the reviews of NP. Lots of low reviews. Switched back to Armour. Symptoms gone in two days. I take Armour sublingually.
Please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report. Also please tell us about any other symptoms you have.
Thanks everyone for the feedback. It makes sense.
Armour and Nature Throid are similar, both (since '09) use micro crystalline cellulose as the filler/binder. In the past is was sugar based.
Technically, NP Acella and Erfa are close to each other , both use dextrose for a filler (a sugar) and are closest to old Armour and Nature Throid (pre '09).
People with stomach absorption problems may do best with dextrose filler. As as plus, dessicated with dextrose can be taken sublingually with excellent results - as long as you swish out your mouth after eating.
What works best is proven by personal trial, as we are all different.
Always remember- stick with what works for you!!!
I'm on Armour, I cut mine in 1/2 and they kind of fall apart, I also chew whats left, I'm really happy with Armour, kind of curious about NP If it has less fillers, that would even be better, I wish we could get Thyroid by Urfa from Canada, it has very few fillers and binders. but its hard to get a perscription here in the US.
60mg (1 grain) NP Thyroid is unavailable most places right now. I talkked to the company and they said it would be back at pharmacies by end of June.
I have been on it for over a year. I tracked down a pharmacy that still had some 60mg on hand and I noticed the smell is not as pungent as my last bottle-still trying to figure out what that means as the company also told me it has not been reformulated. This remains to be seen.
I think it's hit or miss with both of them as they have both been out of stock at different times, although this is the first time I had to go looking. I have heard that some people who were never on the old Armour say they do just fine on Armour now and that chewing it helps absorption.
Natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) has been used since 1891 and has been the standard treatment for hypothyroidism until the 1960's when the recommended treatment was synthetic T4.
The Compliance Policy Guide (2006) means all unapproved drugs on the market, like NDT, need to be proven safe and effective before being FDA approved. 122 years of NDT used by millions of people is not proof. :) To date, there have been no clinical trials of NDT.
Manufacturers of approved levothyroxine sodium (tablet or capsule) in the United States:
Abbott - Synthroid
Alara - Levo-T
Jerome Stevens - Unithroid
Jones Pharma/King - Levoxyl
Lloyd (distributed by Forest) - Levothroid
Genpharm
Mylan
Institute Biochimique - Tirosint
Vintage - Levolet (not marketed in the US)
Brands of natural desiccated thyroid available for use in the United States:
Forest Pharmaceuticals - Armour
RLC Labs - Nature-throid, Westhroid
Acella Pharmaceuticals - NP Thyroid
Erfa - Thyroid