Wellness

[addiegal]

Hooty and her family probably have autoimmune thyroiditis or Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It can have a hereditary risk.

[Disneylandfan]

On 6/21/2014 Campion said:

I'm suffering the effects of 50 years of synthetic which did not work well (only 40 pct of people can convert the t4 in Synthroid to active T3 form) and it wrecks the bones.

There is not a great alternative, as most doctors don't want to prescribe Armour as it requires more titration of the dose. I got hosed, medically. Totally healthy except for the thyroid and ended up with myriad of problems all due to Synthroid.

Interesting. I've been on synthroid for 6 years and other than low thyroid was completely healthy. The past few years I have some really odd symptoms that no one can tell me why. I've been wondering if it my be the synthroid (maybe allergic to the binders used or something). I was thinking of trying Armour. I'd be curious to what some of your problems were if you feel like sharing.

[emmysmom]

On 6/21/2014 morganjen said:

I wish I could try Armour, but my hospital only stocks Synthroid.

Could you get the armour elsewhere??

[Nightowlz]

On 6/21/2014 sgraham30 said:

When you finally find a doctor who does listen to you & is willing to prescribe Armour, West-throid, Nature-throid, or Erfa, they don't take any insurance, you have to pay as the service is rendered & submit to your insurance on your own.

My doctor gives me a script for Erfa & runs my appt. through Ins as a yearly wellness & I don't have to pay anything. With our ins I have to pay $250 deductible before I have a co-pay on doctor appts so I end up paying the full amount except the 1 yearly wellness appt. I do pay for the Erfa out of pocket but it's less than $80 for 500 tablets.

[oceanbreezy]

On 6/21/2014 Hooty said:

I have been taking synthroid/levothyroxine for about 18 yrs.! I once asked my Dr. about armour and she said I was not a candidate for that. Thyroid disease is hereditary, my mother, my sister, 2 aunts, a cousin, and of course, myself will have to take synthroid for the rest of our lives.

I have been taking synthroid for 16 years and will be for the rest of my life. It's hereditary in my family as well. My mother, brother and I, including other relatives. I had hyperactive thyroid (Graves disease). Once I was treated I became hypo. My doctor said that the generic form of synthroid had too many variables in strength. I take one synthroid pill every day at the same time on an empty stomach.

[raspberrygal]

I wish I could go back to Synthroid. I was on it originally until I was switched once by a pharmacy to a genetic version (L-thyroxine or Levothyroxine) and have never been switched back. I guess my doctor did not specify on the prescription that it could be switched to a generic version so the pharmacy did that. I have been on the generic for many years. The results are not the same. I felt better on Synthroid.

I was told by a specialist that Synthroid was the gold standard of thyroid pills. I don't know if he was being paid by the drug company to endorse it but his description has stuck with me.

Now I can't afford Synthroid. Too costly.

[CalminHeart]

I talked to an endocrinologist about armor and she said no. I'll stick with levothyroxine, what she recommended as the generic. It works great for me.

[violann]

On 6/23/2014 CalmInTheHeart said:

I talked to an endocrinologist about armor and she said no. I'll stick with levothyroxine, what she recommended as the generic. It works great for me.

Did you state SPECIFIC reasons for changing from Synthroid to Armour? Did your MD give you SPECIFIC reasons for not switching? In my experience, if you don't have SPECIFIC reasons from doing something different, a doctor will be very unlikely to approve a change.

[sweetpea53]

I have been taking Levothyroxin for about 15 years. I initially took Synthroid until my insurance company decided I needed to change.

I read many years ago, that after the synthetic was introduced, problems with cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, etc. increased. My question is....do any of you have these problems that are on synthetic thyroid meds? And led to being put on more meds for these conditions?

Just curious and thanks.

[Rachelle]

On 6/23/2014 violann said:

On 6/23/2014 CalmInTheHeart said:

I talked to an endocrinologist about armor and she said no. I'll stick with levothyroxine, what she recommended as the generic. It works great for me.

Did you state SPECIFIC reasons for changing from Synthroid to Armour? Did your MD give you SPECIFIC reasons for not switching? In my experience, if you don't have SPECIFIC reasons from doing something different, a doctor will be very unlikely to approve a change.

Your good doctor said no because Levo is the drug that is being pushed through the medical system and the more doctors write scripts, the more perks they receive. Armour is much safer than Levo.. Oh and to the nurse of 30 years who said she never heard of any side effects.....you better get on the pc and read.........................It helps to renew your education, especially when you are caring for people...