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Should I Change From Synthroid To Armor For Hashimoto's Disease?

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Posted on Tue, 28 Jan 2014
Question: I AM TRYING TO FIND AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST WHO WILL CHANGE MY PRESCRIPTION FROM SYNTHROID TO ARMOR I AM DONE WITH MENOPAUSE AND STILL CANNOT SLEEP I HAVE BEEN WITH MY DOCTOR FOR 15 YEARS AND REALIZE HE IS EITHER RESTRAINED BY DRUG COMPANY LOYALTY OR IF IT IS BECAUSE I HAVE HASHIMOTOS DESEASE? I ALSO HAVE NODULES ON MY THYROID THAT HAVE GROWN AND THE RESULT OF BOIPSY HAVE BEEN NEGATIVE
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Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (37 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Armor not recommended Detailed Answer: You will probably be disappointed to hear that armor is not recommended by thyroid experts. It is considered unsafe. The guidelines recommend the use of levo thyroxine which is also available generically. It only costs a few dollars at a national grocery store/pharmacy chain, for a whole months supply. The price for the generic is not different from this even at other pharmacies. Although brand names provide consistent batch-to-batch amounts of active medication and are preferred but if cost is a constraint then the generic does the job too. Hypothyroidism ('an under active thyroid) is often caused by Hashimoto's disease and the sole treatment for this is levo-thyroxine (also called T4). Armor is made from hog's thyroid. It has unregulated and varying amounts of lio-thyronine (T3) and T4. The human body converts T4 to as much T3 as it requires inside the cells. There is no need to take T3 directly as it can be potentially harmful if overdosed. Regarding the nodules, monitoring them is important but a lot depends on several other characteristics like your risk factors for thyroid cancer and size, and sonographic appearance of the nodules. I see the biopsy has been negative and that is good. I suggest seeing an endocrinologist who has experience managing thyroid nodules. He or she will guide you as to the best approach
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shehzad Topiwala

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 1663 Questions

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Should I Change From Synthroid To Armor For Hashimoto's Disease?

Brief Answer: Armor not recommended Detailed Answer: You will probably be disappointed to hear that armor is not recommended by thyroid experts. It is considered unsafe. The guidelines recommend the use of levo thyroxine which is also available generically. It only costs a few dollars at a national grocery store/pharmacy chain, for a whole months supply. The price for the generic is not different from this even at other pharmacies. Although brand names provide consistent batch-to-batch amounts of active medication and are preferred but if cost is a constraint then the generic does the job too. Hypothyroidism ('an under active thyroid) is often caused by Hashimoto's disease and the sole treatment for this is levo-thyroxine (also called T4). Armor is made from hog's thyroid. It has unregulated and varying amounts of lio-thyronine (T3) and T4. The human body converts T4 to as much T3 as it requires inside the cells. There is no need to take T3 directly as it can be potentially harmful if overdosed. Regarding the nodules, monitoring them is important but a lot depends on several other characteristics like your risk factors for thyroid cancer and size, and sonographic appearance of the nodules. I see the biopsy has been negative and that is good. I suggest seeing an endocrinologist who has experience managing thyroid nodules. He or she will guide you as to the best approach