Has Anyone Tried or Heard of Desciated Thyroid?

Updated on March 07, 2013
M.S. asks from Troutdale, OR
6 answers

I am looking into other options besides just the Levothyroxine that my doc has been giving me for my hypothyroidism. I found a lot about the desicated thyroid on Stop the Thyroid Madness and a few other places. I am going to the doc on Thursday and I just wanted to know if any of you have used it, or know anything about it before I bring it up there. Being my own doc since they aren't helping a lot you know.

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So What Happened?

Thank you for the advice. I am not having a lot of luck with just the Synthroid so that is why I was looking into other meds. I will talk to the doc tomorrow about other options.

More Answers

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J.W.

answers from Lexington on

Of course - it is prescription as well, and has not just the T4 but like Cytomel, also has the T3 which is what the cells actually use (has to convert T4 to T3. In addition, it also has some T1 and T2. Scientists used to think the body did not use the other forms of Thyroid - T1 and T2 but now they know something at least about T2 and YES - the body uses that as well.

Both my children who need both T3 and T4 (i.e. the equivalent of both prescriptions - Cytomel & Levothyroxine) take the prescription dessicated thyroid instead. Many who still felt fatigued and symptomatic on just T4 do much better on the combination.

Of course, since most dessicated thyroid is obtained from pigs, if a person is allergic to pork, they might not be able to take it. Also, although Armour brand of Thyroid does not have dairy in it, watch out - many of the generics have dairy fillers, and if you are allergic to casein, those may be contra-indicated.

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N.I.

answers from Portland on

Armour is the natural desicated thyroid. May be others???? Doctors don't like to use it because it isn't synthetic. Levothyroxine is synthetic.

My way of thinking is why put a fake anything in your body when you can put natural in your body.

I used to use it for over 40 years and had no problems with it. My thyroid was healed so I don't use it anymore. You can look under desicated thyroid - look for wikipedia and it will tell you all about it.

Also I would use iodine/iodide which you can get over the counter which helps your thyroid. Look under iodine/iodide on google.

N.

J.S.

answers from Seattle on

My naturopath first started me on Armour Thyroid (desiccated pig thyroid) at first, because it's the most natural and safe route. It worked for about a year, but then I couldn't maintain my optimal numbers so I had to switch to Levothyroxine. Many MDs will not even treat people who fall within the normal ranges for Thyroid function, but the "normal" range is something like 0.4 - 6.0! You can be feeling miserable if you're not at the optimal number for you, yet still within the range. If your doctor cannot explain to you how everything works and get you well then ask for a referral to an endocrinologist or go to an ND if you can. You can really damage your major organs if your thyroid isn't functioning properly for a long period of time.

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I was on Synthroid for about 8 years before I tried Armour Thyroid.
Synthroid helped a bit but I still had symptoms that would not resolve.
Armour Thyroid works better for me and I've been on it for 11 years now.

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S.H.

answers from Des Moines on

Go back to the Stop the Thyroid Madness website....they have a page that lists all the dessicated thyroid meds and current reviews.

After years of levothyroxine, I finally went to a naturopath that prescribed me Naturethroid and WOW what a difference. The T3 and T4 in it makes a huge difference. I wonder at times if Drs are paid off by the other thyroid med companies to only use the one. There are so many many others out there.

Here is a page where you can bring it to the Dr. If they are not familiar with Naturethroid, the conversions between levo and NT are right there.
http://www.nature-throid.com/images/Conversion-Chart-2011...

Here is the medicine comparison page.
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/armour-vs-other-brands/

Good luck and PM with any questions...

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L.*.

answers from Houston on

I was diagnosed 8 yrs ago w/a hypothyroid & after taking levothroxion for 7 yrs I stopped bc I lost my job & no longer had health ins to cont to get the blood work processed. I remember the last time I had my blood drawn for them to ck my levels I hadn't taken a pill in over 9 months & the results came back as the same & I was told to stay on my dosage. This told me (also a self doc) that they really didn't read my results or so I felt like b/c I felt like they would have been able to tell I wasn't taking my meds.
When I went to my Gyno a month ago (after not taking the thyroid pill for going on a lil over a yr) the results came back as my thyroid being normal. I've done research & have found that once you have a thyroid condition you always will have one that it doesn't get better. So I was misdiagnosed all of those yrs ago. I just wanted to share w/u b/c upon more research & talking to actual docs they say that your thyroid is often misdiagnosed. Good luck!

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