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Is Armour Thyroid Intake Safe For Hypothyroidism Treatment?
Question: In already asked another doctor on your website, this question, but he only partially answered my question. I am currently taking Armour Thyroid, and I feel better on this drug as opposed to Synthroid. When I was on Synthroid I had terrible swelling in my eyes, and I kept gaining weight. Now I am back on Armour a Thyroid, these problems are more under control. The other doctor said Armour is a dangerous drug, and I should only be taking Synthroid. My question is wouldn't Armour Thyroid be pulled off drugstore shelves if it were so dangerous? My pharmacy often runs out of it, and has to reorder for me, so obviously I am not the only one taking it. I called the manufacturer and they said they stand my Armour and each pill goes through quality control to make sure it contains the correct strength of the thyroid hormone. My last question is wouldn't the FDA pull it off pharmacy shelves if it really was so unsafe? Do you agree with his opinion regarding Armour Thyroid?
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Good day.
It is a good question.
Before going in to the question, i would like to tell you a bit on thyroid hormones.
Thyroid hormones mainly exist in 2 forms. T3 and T4.
T3 is more potent.
T3 is the active form and T4 has to get converted in to T3 to act in the cells for physiological actions.
T4 has negligible or no direct actions on cells.
Most Thyroid tablets contain exclusive levothyroxine ( T4). Eg: Synthyroid. where as some preperations contain both T4 and T3 ( Armour Thyroid).
Some of the hypothyroid patients continue to have tiredness and many other symptoms of hypothyroidism despite having a normal blood level of T4 and TSH whilst taking levothyroxine ( synthyroid). This has always confused doctors and we often stand helpless in front of suffering patients and we can not offer anything more as T4 levels are normal in their blood.
Recently it was found that there is a defect in conversion of T4 to T3 in the cellular level in many patients with hypothyroidism which will explain why they feel terrible despite having a normal blood level of T4 whilst on Synthyroid. This is due to the inefficiency of an enzyme called " deiodinase" which converts T4 to T3.
NOW, THAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF ARMOUR THYROID. It contains both T3 and T4 and T3 acts directly on cells. Those patients with above T4 to T3 conversion problem night feel better, while we change over to Armour thyroid.
However, Armour thyroid is pig derived preperation and world over, there is a shift away from animal derived medicines to bioengineered medicines ( for example, porcine insulin is no longer available in many parts of the world). BUT IF YOU FEEL GOOD ON ARMOUR THYROID AND IF YOU HAVE HAD NO SIDE EFFECTS, YOU MAY STAY ON IT. IT IS YOUR CHOICE.
I feel a person who actually live with a disease know more about it than a doctor ( unless the doctor too suffer from same disease).
Now FDA will not cancel the licence of any drug until and unless they are very sure that a drug cause more adverse effects on body.
I AM SURE that I gave you a lot of information and might have left you confused. Please let me know if you have not understood my answer.
Wishing you good health
Kind regards
Binu
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Good day.
It is a good question.
Before going in to the question, i would like to tell you a bit on thyroid hormones.
Thyroid hormones mainly exist in 2 forms. T3 and T4.
T3 is more potent.
T3 is the active form and T4 has to get converted in to T3 to act in the cells for physiological actions.
T4 has negligible or no direct actions on cells.
Most Thyroid tablets contain exclusive levothyroxine ( T4). Eg: Synthyroid. where as some preperations contain both T4 and T3 ( Armour Thyroid).
Some of the hypothyroid patients continue to have tiredness and many other symptoms of hypothyroidism despite having a normal blood level of T4 and TSH whilst taking levothyroxine ( synthyroid). This has always confused doctors and we often stand helpless in front of suffering patients and we can not offer anything more as T4 levels are normal in their blood.
Recently it was found that there is a defect in conversion of T4 to T3 in the cellular level in many patients with hypothyroidism which will explain why they feel terrible despite having a normal blood level of T4 whilst on Synthyroid. This is due to the inefficiency of an enzyme called " deiodinase" which converts T4 to T3.
NOW, THAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF ARMOUR THYROID. It contains both T3 and T4 and T3 acts directly on cells. Those patients with above T4 to T3 conversion problem night feel better, while we change over to Armour thyroid.
However, Armour thyroid is pig derived preperation and world over, there is a shift away from animal derived medicines to bioengineered medicines ( for example, porcine insulin is no longer available in many parts of the world). BUT IF YOU FEEL GOOD ON ARMOUR THYROID AND IF YOU HAVE HAD NO SIDE EFFECTS, YOU MAY STAY ON IT. IT IS YOUR CHOICE.
I feel a person who actually live with a disease know more about it than a doctor ( unless the doctor too suffer from same disease).
Now FDA will not cancel the licence of any drug until and unless they are very sure that a drug cause more adverse effects on body.
I AM SURE that I gave you a lot of information and might have left you confused. Please let me know if you have not understood my answer.
Wishing you good health
Kind regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I really don't have any questions, right now, however, I would like to say, I feel SO MUCH BETTER, regarding Armour Thyroid, after your response. I am going to have my blood drawn, to see where my levels are at, probably in the next few days. May I ask specifically for you, regarding any questions I have about the dose I am taking after my blood is drawn? I feel very comfortable, with what you are telling me, and I would like to know, if it is possible to ask for you again.
Thank you so much!
XXXXXXX
Thank you so much!
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Good day
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Good to know that you are going to have the blood test done soon. Please make sure that the blood is drawn in fasting before taking Armour thyroid or 4 hours after taking Armour thyroid. This question will be active until you close this and you may post the reports here as a follow up question.
Regards
Binu
Good day
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Good to know that you are going to have the blood test done soon. Please make sure that the blood is drawn in fasting before taking Armour thyroid or 4 hours after taking Armour thyroid. This question will be active until you close this and you may post the reports here as a follow up question.
Regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have one more question for you Dr XXXXXXX even though my blood hasn't been drawn yet. I was wondering what your opinion is regarding taking a combination of Armour and Synthroid. Another doctor online suggested it, since I don't feel my best, and my blood work never usually shows near ideal levels with either medication, although I do feel much better on Armour. My Primary Care doctor who is the only one prescribing the Armour right now, says no way, they shouldn't be mixed. Could you please tell me your opinion regarding this?
Brief Answer:
Not advisable
Detailed Answer:
HELLO,
Good day.
I agree with your GP and would not encourage you to take both Armour thyroid and Synthyroid simultaneously. Dose adjustment will be a big problem. Besides, they are of different origins. Better if you continue current dose and recheck your thyroid functions.
Regards
Binu
Not advisable
Detailed Answer:
HELLO,
Good day.
I agree with your GP and would not encourage you to take both Armour thyroid and Synthyroid simultaneously. Dose adjustment will be a big problem. Besides, they are of different origins. Better if you continue current dose and recheck your thyroid functions.
Regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Again Dr. XXXXXXX
Sorry to keep bothering you, but I really respect your opinion, and I have one more question regarding TSH. When I was on big doses of Armour Thryroid (much too big,) my TSH level dropped to .009. The Endocrinologist who put me on Synthroid said, since my TSH was too low, the other thyroid hormones could not do their jobs. I saw a Cardiologist/Internist yesterday, who drew my blood. He said he does prescribe Armour thyroid, and he is going to check my levels, and adjust my Armour Thyroid, if needed. He said that I don't need to be that concerned with my TSH level, if my t4 and t3 levels are OK. Do you agree with him? Everyone I am speaking to seems to be in agreement that I should stay on Armour Thyroid, if I feel it is best for me.
Sorry to keep bothering you, but I really respect your opinion, and I have one more question regarding TSH. When I was on big doses of Armour Thryroid (much too big,) my TSH level dropped to .009. The Endocrinologist who put me on Synthroid said, since my TSH was too low, the other thyroid hormones could not do their jobs. I saw a Cardiologist/Internist yesterday, who drew my blood. He said he does prescribe Armour thyroid, and he is going to check my levels, and adjust my Armour Thyroid, if needed. He said that I don't need to be that concerned with my TSH level, if my t4 and t3 levels are OK. Do you agree with him? Everyone I am speaking to seems to be in agreement that I should stay on Armour Thyroid, if I feel it is best for me.
Brief Answer:
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Good day.
More than happy to answer your question
I agree with your cardiologist regarding the decision to continue Armour thyroid. However, i disagree that with him regarding the opinion on TSH.
When your thyroid hormone levels are in excess, pituitary gland reduces TSH production and it is clearly an evidnce that you are over dosed. In that case, we would reduce the dose a bit and recheck TSH after 6 weeks to keep it in mod normal range.
This is especially important in your case keeping your age in mind. Overdose of thyroid hormone can cause osteoporosis and can precipitate heart beat abnormalities. I certainly would aim to keep your TSH in mid normal range.
Regards
Binu
Hello
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Good day.
More than happy to answer your question
I agree with your cardiologist regarding the decision to continue Armour thyroid. However, i disagree that with him regarding the opinion on TSH.
When your thyroid hormone levels are in excess, pituitary gland reduces TSH production and it is clearly an evidnce that you are over dosed. In that case, we would reduce the dose a bit and recheck TSH after 6 weeks to keep it in mod normal range.
This is especially important in your case keeping your age in mind. Overdose of thyroid hormone can cause osteoporosis and can precipitate heart beat abnormalities. I certainly would aim to keep your TSH in mid normal range.
Regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
OK, thank you so much. I may have misunderstood, what he was saying I'm not exactly sure. In any case, I will double check to make sure my TSH is going up, now that I'm on a greatly reduced dose of Armour Thyroid. On 240 mg of Armour my TSH was .009, and on 112 Synthroid it was .103. It went up, but not enough. As I mentioned before I was not willing to give Synthroid more time, and I have been taking 90mg of Armour for about 6 weeks. I had my blood drawn yesterday, but I will have to probably wait a few weeks to find out the results, because the Cardiologist ordered an echo and a few more tests.
Thank you so much again, I want to give you a top review, but i'm afraid to close the discussion, because I don't want to lose contact with you!
Thank you so much again, I want to give you a top review, but i'm afraid to close the discussion, because I don't want to lose contact with you!
Brief Answer:
Hi
Detailed Answer:
No worries. you may contact me once the TSH result is available.
Till then, please continue same dose
Regards
B
Hi
Detailed Answer:
No worries. you may contact me once the TSH result is available.
Till then, please continue same dose
Regards
B
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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