posted
Well, I take Synthroid, which is a synthetic form of T4. Under normal conditions, the body converts T4 to the more active T3 form of thyroid hormone.
Armour is a natural(porcine)thyroid med that contains both the static T4 and the active T3. Some people with conversion issues do better on the Armour thyroid because it offers both hormones as well as other natural thyroid components.
Armour does have a unique pork fragrance
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 36 | From Connecticut | Registered: Oct 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Some thyroid medicines also contain gluten, corn, lactose, dyes (as various Aluminum Lake formulas) - so check for allergies, etc. To avoid dyes, you can get the one w/o and adjust for dosage.
Even the tiny bit of gluten in a pill can have a huge effect for the GI and brain if gluten is a problem. Many are becoming more gluten-free, but the use of corn and dyes is huge.
Generics will have some different ingredients than the brand names (mostly the INACTIVE ingredients).
I heard in a recent media clip that some thyroid pills are petroleum based (but I don't have a citation about that). So I can't say for sure. If so, that could have connections with "Phthalates" or "Endocrine Disruptors" - that's another whole subject.
I use Nature-throid as their pigs are just for medical use and, supposedly, under a watchful eye. But, I gotta say that I'm becoming more squimish using a porcine (pig) product. I'm not sure how to be certain there would be no infectious microbes. My doctor thinks not, though.
Articles all the way down -from VRP - are interesting.
Levoxyl�- Home Manufacturer's site for this brand of levothyroxine sodium. www.levoxyl.com
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a pharmaceutical T3, Cytomel (Liothyronine Sodium) - I used this years ago and had horrible side-effects, the worst of any drug I've ever taken. Later, I heard several others say the same thing. I think there may now be a timed-release one. That sure would have helped.
================== ================== Natural thyroid (from pigs) is available from Armour or Western Research (Nature-throid).
========================
Armour Thyroid Official pharmaceutical website - Forest Pharmaceuticals. www.armourthyroid.com
Search Results for: thyroid 23 articles from Vitamin Research Center - www.vrp.com - home
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[ 20. November 2007, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
FROM PIGS????
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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tdtid
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10276
posted
hshbmom,
Yes, pigs. I know...when I was first put on it, I was questioning that too. But it's advantage for those doctors recommending it is that it's natural, vs synthetic and is suppose to have less side effects.
I haven't been on the others, only Armour Thyroid, so I have nothing to compare it to. But it seems to be able to keep my thyroid in check while I go through treatment, so keep plugging away.
Cathy
-------------------- "To Dream The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha Posts: 2638 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2006
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
read hypothyroidism type 2 by mark starr md
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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I suggest the best book written for all issues, Living Well With Hypothyroidism, by Mary J. Shomon, plus her great search website www.thyroid-info.com, which leads to her about.com site. She has a top docs list.
I started out with 100 mcg Synthroid, then added 1/4 grain of Armour Thyroid, compounded for time release. The prescription must be written up that way.
Find a compounding pharmacist who can compound it with what you need. Are you lactose intolerant? Have a gluten problem? Allergic to dyes?
I switched to 100 mcg of Levoxyl with 1/4 grain of Armour. Now I take 75 mcg of Levoxyl and 1/2 grain Armour compounded both AM and PM. Everybody has to find their best combination: what works for you.
1/4 grain contains 9 mcg of T4 and 2.2 mcg of T3. The T3 must be released slowly, that's why it's compounded for time-release. A PCP can maybe humor you with a prescription for the smallest dose, 1/4 grain.
posted
Great! Phthalates in my thyroid med that's all I need...hope that's not the case
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 36 | From Connecticut | Registered: Oct 2007
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
Thank you for all your helpful suggestions.
I'm asking about this because I think my duaghter's thyroid is low (in addition to 100 other things).
She may have gluten intolerance. She has trouble digesting wheat, oats, eggs, and milk. She just avoids these food. Can you determine gluten sensitivity by only using an eleimination diet?
Last year her blood tests showed a low thyroid, but I think because she had so many things going on, the thyroid problem was ignored. I'll have to ask her LLMD at her next visit.
PIGS...I eat ham & bacon, so what would be the difference between that and "eating" a tablet? That's the only way I could justify taking a product made from pigs. It's not an injection!
Right now she is on (is supposed to be on) cortef tablets and testosterone gel pump. She gets sick of taking medicine when she doesn't feel any difference.
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