Question 1

free t3 (liothyronine) 3.00 free t4 1.0  would i benefit from armour thyroid? i read that tsh number is irrelevant due many factors.

Accepted Answer

Completely opposite: The TSH is the most sensitive and reliable indicator of your thyroid function (unless you have a pituitary problem).  The other thyroid levels are less reliable and only helpful in people with know thyroid disorders.  Taking Armour Thyroid when your thyroid works normally will do nothing except make your thyroid stop working.

Question 2

my free t4 same @ 1.15, but my free t3 (liothyronine) has gone down to 2.8 since taking armour thyroid 90 mg for 9 months. tsh is 1.3
shouldn't ft4 and ft3 (liothyronine) increase ?

Accepted Answer

Thyroid: 1: Forget the numbers - how do you feel?
2: You might want to try 90 mg one day and 90 + 45 the next for a few weeks. If that is helping you that would be the time to recheck your thyroid tests.

Please let me know how things turn out.

Question 3

what is best alternative to armour thyroid to treat both t3 (liothyronine) and t4?  i received ra twice in past for graves disease, so am now very hypothyroid.

Accepted Answer

Armour Thyroid: Usually patients are converted to T4 (synthroid, levothroid, etc) because even though you are taking levothyroxine which is t4, some of that is converted to T3 (liothyronine) in the body.  It's is best to check with your endocrinologist to determine the best thyroid replacement for you.

Question 4

thyroid nodule: follicular lesion, t4 free is low, t3 (liothyronine) free is low, and tsh 3rd generation is now low. 60 mg of armour thyroid, 50 mcg levothyroid why?

Accepted Answer

Stop Armour: There is no way to check your levels or keep your thyroid in control in your current regimen. Armour thyroid is ground up pigs. Switch to brand name T4 only and get it regulated. Also, have repeat thyroid biopsy with afirma test and consider surgery to remove nodule depending upon lab and ultrasound.

Question 5

4mos post rad/chemo 4hnc. tsh rising now 5.02. loosing hair. rx levothyroxine, 50mcg causes hair loss. would i be better w armour thyroid-treats t3 (liothyronine)?

Accepted Answer

More info: Hi. I'm not here to guess. Is HNC head and neck cancer? I hate to assume. If so, squamous? All this assumption. You may need more thyroid hormone. Armour (desiccated cadaveric pig thyroid extract) is no better, and certainly less predictable than l-thyroxine. If you prefer Armour, go for it, but effects are the same. Whatever you have, good luck!

Question 6

25 weeks pregnant currently on armour thyroid. tsh is 2.74; t4 is 0.8; t3 (liothyronine) is 90. are these good numbers or will my doctor have to adjust my medication?

Accepted Answer

Could be better: Thyroid needs often change during pregnancy. I can't speak for your doctor- he/she may be satisfied, but if i was your doctor i would raise your dose as i would want your TSH below 2 and your T3 (liothyronine) and T4 above the lowest end of the normal range. I would check your free T3 (liothyronine) and increase your dose to get it into the upper half of the normal range, as free T3 (liothyronine) is the most clinically useful thyroid test.

Question 7

what may cause my calcium serum drop from 10.9 down to 10.3 in 6 months?  6 month ago, i take armour thyroid 60mg daily and vit d-10k iu daily.

Accepted Answer

No worries: Vitamin d helps calcium get stored in your bones, where you want it to be. Armour thyroid contains calcitonin, which also helps regulate calcium.

Question 8

can l-tyrosine help with armour thyroid?

Accepted Answer

No: There is no evidence that l-tyrosine is of any benefit or harm to people with thyroid disease or taking thyroid hormone.

Question 9

can stopping armour thyroid for six weeks induce myxedema?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: Depending on the cause of your hypothyroidism, stopping any thyroid supplementation (including armour) could cause severe hypothyroidism to the extent of myxedema coma.

Question 10

i was wondering is armour thyroid better than levothyroxin?

Accepted Answer

Armour Thyroid: Some people say that Armour Thyroid is better, but really it is just different.   Armour is a physiological mix of T3 (liothyronine) and T4 in the form of an extract of pig thyroid gland.   

Levothyroxin is a synthetic T4.

It is true that some patients do feel better on Armour.  Some patients feel better on Levothyroxine.    The synthetic T4s can cause more of an increase in reverse T3 (liothyronine).

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Doctor answers about:

Armour thyroid vs cytomel

A member asked:

Free t3 (liothyronine) 3.00 free t4 1.0 would i benefit from armour thyroid? i read that tsh number is irrelevant due many factors.

A member asked:

My free t4 same @ 1.15, but my free t3 (liothyronine) has gone down to 2.8 since taking armour thyroid 90 mg for 9 months. tsh is 1.3 shouldn't ft4 and ft3 (liothyronine) increase ?

A member asked:

What is best alternative to armour thyroid to treat both t3 (liothyronine) and t4? i received ra twice in past for graves disease, so am now very hypothyroid.

A member asked:

Thyroid nodule: follicular lesion, t4 free is low, t3 (liothyronine) free is low, and tsh 3rd generation is now low. 60 mg of armour thyroid, 50 mcg levothyroid why?

A member asked:

4mos post rad/chemo 4hnc. tsh rising now 5.02. loosing hair. rx levothyroxine, 50mcg causes hair loss. would i be better w armour thyroid-treats t3 (liothyronine)?

A member asked:

25 weeks pregnant currently on armour thyroid. tsh is 2.74; t4 is 0.8; t3 (liothyronine) is 90. are these good numbers or will my doctor have to adjust my medication?

A member asked:

What may cause my calcium serum drop from 10.9 down to 10.3 in 6 months? 6 month ago, i take armour thyroid 60mg daily and vit d-10k iu daily.

A member asked:

Can l-tyrosine help with armour thyroid?

A member asked:

Can stopping armour thyroid for six weeks induce myxedema?

A member asked:

I was wondering is armour thyroid better than levothyroxin?

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