Armour/Nature/Westhroid

lorcart

Hi all....I FINALLY got my doc to at least let me TRY desiccated thyroid meds. I felt FANTASTIC, but then I dove TOO low. I went from not being able to bring my numbers down for anything to suddenly being hyper! While I always thought that would be much preferred...this SUCKS! She lowered the dosage but then it went even LOWER. Each time the pharmacy changes the manufacturer claiming that this dose belongs to this pharma company, this dose to this company, etc. When it went even lower I started feeling absolutely HORRID! I felt the best on Naturthroid but not sure if it was the manufacturer or the dosage as she tests me every 6 weeks when she changes my dose but it'd only been 2 weeks. We found the dosage was actually available in Nature throid but I'm curious, for those on desiccated meds what dosage are you on? I feel like I'm being WAY overdosed.

Fuzzipeg

I'm sorry things are very up and down for you. I'm pleased your doctor is trying to be really helpful. I am sure having the same manufacturer would really help. I've seen different producers provide different values. Would it be possible for the doctor to stipulate one manufacturer for your scripts. I know it can take a month if not six weeks for a different dose to settle if it is a good level, too much or little will probably show more quickly but two weeks on a dose is probably too soon to be sure of the levels.

Being from the UK I'm not sure of "Nature Thyroid", is this something like a dietary supplement? (I'm on one) If your doctor was to agree the dose is closest to the one she wants for you this may be your best option. At least you would have some control over repeats. Whoever supplies these sort of things does have to have a robust mechanism in place to ensure ongoing quality.

Hope things settle soon. Please consider convenient though NDT might be, there could be some filler/binder or the NDT itself which does not agree with you, much as you want it to.

lorcart

I guess it's actually Nature-throid, but it's exactly like Armour and Westhroid. It's a desiccated thyroid med. Yes, she's now going to stipulate that it be Nature throid specifically. I just wondered what dose everyone else is on. She has me on 130 mgs (2 grains). I don't know..is that a crazy high dose or is that fairly common?

Fuzzipeg

Only from remembering what I read on the Thyroid UK site, a page related to medications, the size of pills and how different branded NDT based ones relate, I would say 2 grains is a high dose. It is high in that the are pills available in amounts under 1 grain to the ones you are on. For a dose to be described as crazy high I think this can only be said "for that specific person" because it caused reactions. Probably it is a less frequent level/amount prescribed, rather than frequently prescribed in general, all our needs are different.

Mine is under or about a grain, the levo dose I was on was taken as the starting point. I will be reviewed in a month when who knows.

All the very best.

OhDD65

I have been on Armour for about 1 1/2 yrs now. I was on 45 mg feeling great until 2 lab tests about 2 months apart had me going towards hyperthyroidism. After the second one I was changed to 30 mg, so I am in the waiting period to see how I am doing on it before my next lab work. Hard to make a change when I have done so well on 45 mg but per my dr she said the change was necessary. Good luck with this. My levothyroxine made me feel awful so I was eager to try Armour and It worked great for me.

missKarm

I've been on 5 grains of Armour for a number of years. Be sure to always be off from your meds for at least 12 hours before having your blood drawn. I usually try for 24 hours if I can. I am not sure there is a "crazy high" dose as it's as individual as our bodies & also has to do with how our body utilizes all the components of the medication.