Amour thyroid

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2004
Amour thyroid
7
Wed, 07-07-2004 - 2:40am
I am about to ask my doctor about taking a dessicated thyorid hormone, as my pharmacy no longer carried levotroid, and I have to take levoxyl instead, which is from what i understand, the lamest thyroid drug out there. I am getting like a baloon, I feel fatter every minute of every day, the weight gain is trecherous. Does anyone have any experience with this?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-16-2004
Wed, 07-07-2004 - 7:59am
Hi, I am on the same medication you are on. I also feel fatty all the time. I'm going to see the Doctor and I'm going to ask him if he can change my medication. I feel very sluggish all the time and I can't seem to keep my weight under-control. I'm wondering if we need something else. I know he's going to yell at me for my weight. But I don't think I can control it. Will let you know what he says. Take care, Mary Ann
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Wed, 07-07-2004 - 10:26pm
Hey guys - Levoxyl is made up of exactly the same formula as Synthroid - from my understanding, they are all the same. The reason why Armour Thyroid is different, besides the fact that it's made up of natural dessicated pig thyroid and is therefore not synthetic, is that is also contains T3, where all other thyroid hormone replacement medication contains only T4. Our body manufactures both and uses T4 to convert to whatever T3 it needs. Most hypothyroid "sufferers" do well enough taking a T4 supplement only but occasionally, some will need the addition of T3. Many doctors are reluctant to prescribe T3 and also Armour Thyroid. They say that Armour Thyroid is not as controlled, pill for pill as Synthroid and Levoxyl. So that the dose you get in one pill is not necessarily the same as the dose in another. I don't know if that's true or not. I never really looked into it. I can check it for you if you're interested. My guess is that the reason you both feel badly is that you aren't getting enough medication - no matter what it is you're taking!! I just read somewhere that the majority of hypothyroid patients are undermedicated. I'll post the article in a separate post because it's very interesting. Ok - that's enough ranting!! :) Cathy
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2004
Fri, 07-09-2004 - 2:51am
I saw some big thing about the synthroid monopoly. I am certian my doc will say ok to armour. I also have heard (from my pharmacist) that levoxyl is junk because the pill itself does nto stand up to normal swallowing precedures, and you lose med.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Fri, 07-09-2004 - 9:59am
It may be that it starts to dissolve the instant it hits your tongue. It's made to do that but you can lose some the potency that way, I guess. I know that they've had a few recalls, as well! Cathy
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 07-09-2004 - 4:09pm
Hi. I have been on Cytomel only (for 3 years) then Armour, and finally Levoxyl. I felt TERRIBLE when I was switched to Levoxyl only as my body was so used to the more active T3 medicines. However, while on Armour and Cytomel my TSH kept rising! They couldnt' get it under control. My body also pretty muched stopped making T4 to compenstate for the amount ot T3 I was getting. Now that I'm on Levoxyl my cycles are more regular, I don't nap in the middle of the day, I don't have diarrhea (TMI, sorry). You will probably feel a little better on Armour because the T3 is more active but it definitely wasn't a more healthy option in my case (Oh, and they stopped making certain dosages of Armour so I had to take 2 pills to get my dosage instead of just one....you have to question why they stopped making a dose...not too many people use)
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Fri, 07-09-2004 - 4:32pm
Thanks for the input! It's interesting how everyone's system is different. Maybe that's one reason why they have such a hard time treating us! Doctors and health care providers treat us as if we're all the same. I know that some people only feel better on Armour thyroid medication. I'm glad you're feeling better now. Cathy :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2004
Sat, 07-10-2004 - 7:47pm
yeah, that midday napping is horrible, can i ask when youdid nap, idd you go right into REM sleep, i mean, did you seem to have dreams as you were falling asleep? because that is indicative of narcolepsy, I am told, but could that be due to thyroid?

*sigh*

will I ever feel normal again?

thanks for your info. I am hoiong it will work better.