Armour Thyroid

[Guest guest]

Mrs. A:

 

I've been on thyroid meds since about 1980. I first started on

Armour (that's all there was) and then at some point was switched to

Synthyroid (around 1988). I asked my pharmacist at the time what the

difference was and he said the synthetic thyroid was much more stable

and much more measurable in terms of how many milligrams of the

hormone you are actually using. Pharmacists are really your best

source of info on this.

 

Then, a few years ago after coming across info on the net which said

that " natural " (Armour thyroid) was the way to go, not that synthetic

stuff - and it said all sorts of other things that led me down a path

of alternatives (probably at a time I didn't need to even try it

because I was caring for my elderly Mom at the time and was pretty

close to insane).

 

But yes, any time you switch thyroid meds you should quit one and go

to the next one the next day ... no weening off is required. In

addition, that doctor should have you come in about six weeks after

you started the new meds and run a blood test to see if the new

prescribed amount is appropriate. As you noted, the milligram levels

are very, very different -- synthyroid is much more concentrated.

 

From the amounts you gave I'd say the doctor was right on track - the

amounts of synthyroid vs. Armour are very similar to mine with I was

messing with things.

 

Final chapter: about a year ago my OB/Gyn (who I really like) asked

my why I was taking Armour instead of synthyroid. I shrugged my

shoulders and said " because I read somewhere it was really better. "

 

She explained to me what the pharmacist had years ago: synthyroid

gives a much more precise dose, and then she said " But OK, DEDE -- if

you just WANT TO take ground up pig Thymus that's OK with me! "

 

I looked at her and decided to embrace modern medicine once again.

 

Something to consider: What else is going on with you that could be

giving you these symptoms -- those are not necessarily symptoms

related to low thyroid.

 

Dede