Jump to content

  • You are not alone. Join Celiac.com for trusted gluten-free answers and forum support.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

Armour Thyroid

Mtndog

By Mtndog
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

Mtndog Collaborator
Mtndog
Posted

I was put on Armour Thyroid about a year ago and recently couldn't get it refilled. I was told it was backordered and that the company couldn't predict a release date. Anyone else get this?

I got Thyrolar (sp?) as a replacement and it seems fine so far but wondering what happened with Armour?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


MaryJones2 Enthusiast
MaryJones2
Posted

I've had a little bit of a problem for a couple of months now but can still get it. If you call Forrest's number you can get the formal recording covering everything but basically the higher doeses are not being made until later this year. The lower doeses are still available. The last time I had to call around to find it and I got all kind of stories from pharmacists like the FDA pulled it off the market because of safety, quality control, etc. or it was an antiquated medicine and good doctors now prescribe synthroid or they just stopped making it. According to the recording by the manufacturer the lower doeses are still being made and all doses will be available again soon. I haven't had any problem finding the lower doeses - but please don't believe me and call the company :)

Mtndog Collaborator
Mtndog
Posted
  • Author

What's a lower dose? I was on 120 mg (or 2 grains).

MaryJones2 Enthusiast
MaryJones2
Posted
What's a lower dose? I was on 120 mg (or 2 grains).

Oh gosh, the grain - mg thing gets me. If I remember from the message the highest dose currently available is 1 grain but I don't know the mg equivalent. I use a small pharmacy and they are always willing to recalculate the dose but I'm not sure if the larger chains will do that. I used to take 1 pill twice a day and now I take 2 pills each dose. Sorry I can't be more specific.

Rachel--24 Collaborator
Rachel--24
Posted

I havent had any problems with getting Armour. Just got a refill last week (90 mg. = 1.5 grains).

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted

I guess i should know the answer to this as i've seen these 2 drugs mentioned so many times.

Can you please tell me why the Armour is better than the synthroid? Maybe they are used for different folks depending on their medical issues?

Thanks for answering and old but related question

Judy

MaryJones2 Enthusiast
MaryJones2
Posted
I havent had any problems with getting Armour. Just got a refill last week (90 mg. = 1.5 grains).

We should give the company to see if anything has changed.

Forest's Medical Information

and Communication department

can be reached at:

800-678-1605 ext 66297

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


georgie Enthusiast
georgie
Posted
Can you please tell me why the Armour is better than the synthroid? Maybe they are used for different folks depending on their medical issues?

Synthroid is a synthetic med of T4 only. Armour is an old fashioned, natural med ( made from dessicated pigs thyroids) that contains T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin. Pig's thyroid are very nearly bio identical to our own.

Around the mid 1970s Drs were trained to believe that the new T4 drugs were superior and that supplementing T3 was unnecessary as T4 only drugs converted to T3 anyway. Strictly speaking this is not true as our own thyroid - if they are working correctly - make T4 and T3 every day.... ie some of the T3 comes from the actual thyroid, and some from the conversion of the T4 part of the thyroid.

So .... if you have no thyroid working it makes sense to replace it's function with something that is as close as it can be ...to what it would have been working like originally.

1 grain = 60mg.

I use 1 grain tablets anyway -as I prefer to multi dose throughout the day. Easier on the adrenals that way. Energy lasts all day.. Once again - a bit closer to natural to do that.

mftnchn Explorer
mftnchn
Posted

I had my prescription refilled for 6 months in July/August, and no 60 mg tablets were available. My prescription was filled with a combo of 90 mg and 30 mg. So I take one 90 and 2 30'd every day. I thought it was pretty weird that they couldn't order 60 mg's. But this is working okay. I don't have to cut any tablets in half now, which is nice.

Hmm. I like the idea of taking it spaced through the day, does it impact sleep though?

georgie Enthusiast
georgie
Posted
Hmm. I like the idea of taking it spaced through the day, does it impact sleep though?

It seems to help sleep. Remember that our own Thyroids work day and night .....if they are healthy... I try to take my last grain at around 3pm but I know many that take quarter of a grain before bedtime and sleep like babies.

ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

I went to get my 3 month supply refilled in August and the pharmacy only had 90 pills left and I needed 270. These were the 60 mg/1 grain size. So I went to the Armour website and it said that the lower doses would be back ordered for a short period and the larger sizes 2 grains and up wouldnt be out till I think November. Well I get panicky because only Armour works for me well. Synthroid does not work for me at all. As soon as the back order was lifted on the smaller doses, I ordered 300 (60mg) pills from a supplier online. You can freeze them indefinitely. I never want to run out!!

Judyin Philly Enthusiast
Judyin Philly
Posted

Thanks Georgie and all

I had a goiter and only have a tiny piece of my thyroid left

guess it kicks in sometimes.

i take synthroid 20 MCG daily

He always checks for all the T's 1-2-3-4

They come back ok. Thanks for the info all of you

Judy

Mtndog Collaborator
Mtndog
Posted
  • Author

I was taking 2 60 mg pills (2 grains). I wonder why they couldn't get it. So far the Thyrolar seems to be working OK (has to be kept refrigerated but so do my antibiotics, probiotics, B12 shots). My fridge is actually a pharmacy <_<:huh:

Here's a link Open Original Shared Link

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. xxnonamexx
      - xxnonamexx posted a topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      0

      Breakfast ideas besides oatmeal as Avenin can be gluten?

      I read gluten-free oatmeal Avenin can cause gluten like symptoms. I read Bobs Redmill gluten-free creamy buckwheat cereal and Millet are good alternatives with ultra low heavy metals, mold but it seems it takes longer to prepare the minute oats. What have you changed your breakfast to.
    2. RMJ
      - RMJ replied to Ginger38's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      5

      The Struggle Has Overtaken Me

      Ginger38, that sounds very difficult. Each dietary restriction makes it harder to figure out what to eat. Before my celiac diagnosis I already watched out for my cholesterol level and migraine triggers, but those are much easier than diabetes restrictions. One “bad” meal isn’t that much of a problem for cholesterol levels, and my migraines only happened if I ...
    3. Aretaeus Cappadocia
      - Aretaeus Cappadocia replied to Ginger38's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      5

      The Struggle Has Overtaken Me

      Reading the original post on this thread made me think of "How To Eat An Elephant". The key point is that a whole, big problem can seem insurmountable but if you break it into bite-sized pieces it is much easier to accomplish. Here is the google description. It's not bad: If you're facing a daunting goal, you can use these steps to "eat your elephant...
    4. Aretaeus Cappadocia
      - Aretaeus Cappadocia replied to Xravith's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Gluten challenge - Need some guidance

      I don't know the answer to your question any better than a google search, but I am sure someone else will step up and answer. I am popping up to recommend that you keep a careful diary (in case you weren't already). Try to catalog what you are eating and experiencing. Bring a copy to your next visit (and if you have access to the Dr, also send a copy...
    5. Xravith
      - Xravith posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      1

      Gluten challenge - Need some guidance

      After few months going gluten free, I decided to reintroduce gluten in my diet so I can do a proper diagnosis for Celiac disease. During the gluten free period I felt incredibly good. I stopped having hypoglycemia symptoms, I gained some muscle (Still, I am considerably underweight) and my anxiety totally disappeared. I felt totally like a new person...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      134,179
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      10,442
    Nancy sirois
    Newest Member
    Nancy sirois
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.7k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • xxnonamexx
      Breakfast ideas besides oatmeal as Avenin can be gluten?

      By xxnonamexx · Posted

      I read gluten-free oatmeal Avenin can cause gluten like symptoms. I read Bobs Redmill gluten-free creamy buckwheat cereal and Millet are good alternatives with ultra low heavy metals, mold but it seems it takes longer to prepare the minute oats. What have you changed your breakfast to.
    • RMJ
      The Struggle Has Overtaken Me

      By RMJ · Posted

      Ginger38, that sounds very difficult.  Each dietary restriction makes it harder to figure out what to eat. Before my celiac diagnosis I already watched out for my cholesterol level and migraine triggers, but those are much easier than diabetes restrictions. One “bad” meal isn’t that much of a problem for cholesterol levels, and my migraines only happened if I consistently ate the triggers. After many years I’ve figured out how to bake gluten free but I think many recipes have more starch which wouldn’t work for diabetes. If you go with the elephant eating analogy, I think the first portion to work on would be the diabetes, since the immediate consequences of not being careful (passing out from low blood sugar, or diabetic coma from high blood sugar) are so severe. The next portion would be celiac. The serious consequences aren’t as immediate, but if you have celiac disease, I think of eating gluten like a booster shot - revving up the immune system, but to attack yourself leading to long term damage. It sounds like you are experiencing this damage now. I did a google search on “gluten free food for diabetics” and a number of sites with advice came up.  If your insurance will cover it and you can find one, a registered dietician who knows about both diabetes and celiac disease might help you figure out what to eat safely. Hopefully my post will both scare and encourage you, as requested, with a big dose of compassion because this sounds very difficult and you are clearly suffering.
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      The Struggle Has Overtaken Me

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      Reading the original post on this thread made me think of "How To Eat An Elephant". The key point is that a whole, big problem can seem insurmountable but if you break it into bite-sized pieces it is much easier to accomplish. Here is the google description. It's not bad: If you're facing a daunting goal, you can use these steps to "eat your elephant": Identify the Elephant: Clearly define the large project or goal that feels overwhelming. Break it Down: Divide the major task into smaller "bite-sized" pieces. If a piece still feels too big, break it down further. Prioritize: Decide which "bite" to take first based on necessity or impact. Focus on the Now: Instead of worrying about the whole animal, focus only on the single step you are taking right now. Maintain Consistency: Progress comes from taking the "next right step" every day until the task is complete. Celebrate Small Wins If I understood Ginger38's post correctly, you are facing the prospect of a gluten challenge, but you are already eating gluten on an intermittent basis. It also sounds like many of the symptoms you attribute to gluten consumption are in full expression. Step back and take a deep breath. Get a notebook and start a gluten-related diary. Don't try to make it perfect; just record what you can about food intake and what you experience as you go along. Talk to your Dr's office (nurse, Dr, whomever) about the challenge. The most rigorous challenge is for someone who has already gone truly gluten free but now needs a clear diagnosis. Someone who is already eating gluten should not need as much "challenge". Even at that, google describes an example challenge as 1-2 slice of bread or 1/2 cup of pasta a day. If that describes your existing diet you are already there. For the moment, try to focus on getting past the challenge and test. Once you have the results, start planning accordingly.
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Gluten challenge - Need some guidance

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      I don't know the answer to your question any better than a google search, but I am sure someone else will step up and answer. I am popping up to recommend that you keep a careful diary (in case you weren't already). Try to catalog what you are eating and experiencing. Bring a copy to your next visit (and if you have access to the Dr, also send a copy a couple days in advance). Don't assume that they will read it. They might, but they also might be under tremendous time pressure and not get to it. Two other suggestions: if your healthcare provider has a web portal, sign on and search for "gluten challenge". They may have a standard page and Dr assumed you would find it on your own. If that doesn't work, call the Dr's office and ask the office for their official advice. You probably wouldn't need to speak to the Dr directly. There should be some nurse or staff member who could answer that
    • Xravith
      Gluten challenge - Need some guidance

      By Xravith · Posted

      After few months going gluten free, I decided to reintroduce gluten in my diet so I can do a proper diagnosis for Celiac disease. During the gluten free period I felt incredibly good. I stopped having hypoglycemia symptoms, I gained some muscle (Still, I am considerably underweight) and my anxiety totally disappeared. I felt totally like a new person. Now, I almost reached the second week of gluten challenge and all my symptoms are progressively coming back. The first days I was ok, just a bit of acid reflux I could control with medicines. However, after the first week I started to feel real stomach pain and tiredness, my face is growing acne and sometimes (specially when I walk) i feel painful migraines.  I am afraid If I am eating too much gluten or not enough, the "4 slices of bread" indication confuses me. I am actually eating 20 g of bread, 3 biscuits and 40 g of croissant each day. My doctor was not very specific when he gave me the medical order for the gluten challenge, so I invented my own daily gluten menu. Do you have any suggestions? 4 weeks will be enough to do the blood test with my current gluten intake?  Thank you
×
×
  • Create New...