Armor vs. Levothyroxine (Synthroid)

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gloriann1
gloriann1 Posts: 27 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi MFP friends,

I know this topic has been discussed a bit on hypothyroidism threads, but I wanted to make a thread specifically about these two medications. I am on 1.75mg of levothyroxine, as I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about three years ago (runs in my family.) I thought I was crazy, but I noticed that every time my dosage increased, I'd gain 5-or-so pounds. Now, I am about 35 pounds heavier than when I started levothyroxine, and wanted to know if anyone has experienced this kind of weight gain. I am normally a person who blames things on myself, but I really don't think my habits had changed so much to warrant such a gain. That said, my levels are "normal," and my energy is good, with my T3 at a 1.3 with (.8 and under being the cut off for hypo on my doctor's scale.)

Also, has anyone switched to Armor? It seems to be a God-send for a lot of people I've read about. Have you had success with a switch? Or, have you seen no change or little-change?

I am going to the doctor tomorrow. I have been pretty proactive about my thyroid health, and I want to make sure I am not sabotaging myself by not speaking up about my concerns.

Replies

  • leannems
    leannems Posts: 516 Member
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    I am on levothyroxine - the brand, not the generic. I was on the generic (synthroid) and it didn't work as well. Once I switched to brand, and really made sure I took it correctly (first thing in the morning, no eating for 1-2 hours after) it started to work. I'm starting to lose weight again and my hip pain has gone away. The generic didn't work as well for me.
  • Martina_Who
    Martina_Who Posts: 172 Member
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    Hey, Sorry if I've sent you this info before but I honestly cant remember!


    I've done a ton of research in the past few months because being on eltroxin (synthroid) (levothyroxine) made me feel worse, I still had all my symptoms and I couldn't lose any weight. I even had my appendix out and couldn't eat for 3 days, could barely eat for a week and I gained weight!! I was disgusted at that.

    Armour has given me a new lease on life, it took awhile for me to see results though, I'm 6months in now but a lot of people feel better in a matter of weeks :-)

    I felt I was going mad for so long!
    I also went to see an endocrinologist and he basically called me a liar and laughed at me :-( I just bawled :-(
    Thankfully I have a lovely GP who listened to me and believed me and was willing to switch me to the natural thyroid drug, armour


    Here are some of the links I found good


    http://www.magicmum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=63308&view=print


    http://www.drumlib.com/dp/000016.htm

    http://thyroid.about.com/library/drugs/blconversionchart.htm

    http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081020012744AAhQtZT

    http://www.tpa-uk.org.uk/

    http://endocrine-system.emedtv.com/armour-thyroid/armour-thyroid-p5.html



    Also on facebook these pages are fantastic!

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Armour-Thyroid-Medication/209555959077240?ref=ts

    https://www.facebook.com/thyroidsexy

    https://www.facebook.com/StoptheThyroidMadness


    If your not on FB its worth creating an account just to see those pages, the admins are great and the stories from real people all over the world are great to read, it really gives you an understanding of how crap the synthethic thyroxine is :/
    They are like saviours how they do so much research!
    These pages offer an amazing amount of info!
  • bethanylaugh
    bethanylaugh Posts: 237
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    you should def join this group... you will find TONS of stuff on this topic.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/753-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism
  • JudyL5305
    JudyL5305 Posts: 215 Member
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    I am also on Levoxyl. My doctor told me never to get the generic. One time the pharmacy gave me the generic and I didn't realize it. I was taking it a few days and was so sluggish all of a sudden I realized and made them give me the levoxyl. Once i was back on it i was ok.
  • lalonmeg000
    lalonmeg000 Posts: 276 Member
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    I never too levothyroxine or synthroid, but I am on armour. I have never had a problem with weight gain, in fact it was before I got on armour that I couldn't control my weight. My mom took synthroid for a while, and she always had problems losing weight. Hope you get it all sorted out!
  • jody0726
    jody0726 Posts: 34 Member
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    I've been on Armor for almost 3 now (switched from Liothyronine). I was on Liothyronine for 4 months, which also coincided with the first 4 months of my weight loss journey. In my first 4 months, I lost weight steadily (8-10 pounds a month). Now, I am stalling out, even a one pound gain this month. I can't say it's the Armor vs. Liothyronine, although that changed. Doctor said when he treated my T3 with the Liothyronine, my T4 went low - the Armor would better level out both.

    I am going to try taking it, then not eating for 1-2 hours. I'm up exercising, why not give it a shot??
  • cpeterson70
    cpeterson70 Posts: 19 Member
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    I thought Levothyroxine was the generic to Synthroid. Is my pharmacy wrong? Just had my first dose of Levothyroxine this morning and my bottle shows it to be the generic (a substitute), which I wasn't too happy about.

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