Hyporthyroidism (Armour Vs. Synthroid)?

[TMan96]

Wondering for those of you that have Hypothyroidism if you realized you had it before you started TRT? For me, I didn't realize it till after TRT and my new doc started looking at my blood work more closely. My TSH was running high all along and my doc put me on Armour when the reading was at TSH = 5.44. I never showed any signs of being Hypo as I have always had trouble gaining weight and myself as well as by parents are skinny. No family history that I am aware of.

Also, what are your guys experience with Armour Vs Synthroid? As I noted above I am on Armour right now and have been for about 3 months. This seems to be working well... see BW below. The reason I am asking is my wife is hypo as well. She has been on both Armour and Synthroid and seems to do better on the Synthroid.

My current protocol is:
Cypionate - 100mg a week
Anastrozole - .25mg twice a week
HCG - (250iu 2 times a week)
Armour Thyroid - 60mg daily
Vitamin D3 – 9,000iu
Zocor – 5mg a day
D3 - 9000IU a day
DHEA and Pregnenolone - 50mg each a day
Donate Blood every 3 months.

Blood Test Reading Range
TSH 1.6 uIU/Ml .45-4.5
T4 5.3 ug/dl 4.5-12
T3 uptake 34% 24-39
Free Thyroxine Index 1.8 1.2 – 4.9
Testosterone , Serum 1095 ng/dl 348-1197
Testosterone, Free 35.37 ng/dl 5.00-21.00
VIT D 80.3 ng/ml 30.0-100.0
PSA .9 ng/ml 0.0 – 4.0

[Allaaro]

I've always liked dealing with T3 and T4 by themselves and not with a combo like Armour. Not that there is anything wrong with armour, but chances are to get T3/T4 both into your optimal ranges, the dosages will need to be different compared to what your stuck with as a blend in armour. I found out that I was hypo before I started TRT but having low test was the reason I found it since I was testing everything.

Nice free T by the way, don't think my doc would let me go that high

[TMan96]

I've always liked dealing with T3 and T4 by themselves and not with a combo like Armour. Not that there is anything wrong with armour, but chances are to get T3/T4 both into your optimal ranges, the dosages will need to be different compared to what your stuck with as a blend in armour. I found out that I was hypo before I started TRT but having low test was the reason I found it since I was testing everything.

Nice free T by the way, don't think my doc would let me go that high

How are you dealing with your t3 separately ?

[Allaaro]

How are you dealing with your t3 separately ?

Take Cytomel for t3 just as you'd take Synthroid for t4.

[Nate02]

Wondering for those of you that have Hypothyroidism if you realized you had it before you started TRT? For me, I didn't realize it till after TRT and my new doc started looking at my blood work more closely. My TSH was running high all along and my doc put me on Armour when the reading was at TSH = 5.44. I never showed any signs of being Hypo as I have always had trouble gaining weight and myself as well as by parents are skinny. No family history that I am aware of.

Also, what are your guys experience with Armour Vs Synthroid? As I noted above I am on Armour right now and have been for about 3 months. This seems to be working well... see BW below. The reason I am asking is my wife is hypo as well. She has been on both Armour and Synthroid and seems to do better on the Synthroid.

My current protocol is:
Cypionate - 100mg a week
Anastrozole - .25mg twice a week
HCG - (250iu 2 times a week)
Armour Thyroid - 60mg daily
Vitamin D3 – 9,000iu
Zocor – 5mg a day
D3 - 9000IU a day
DHEA and Pregnenolone - 50mg each a day
Donate Blood every 3 months.

Blood Test Reading Range
TSH 1.6 uIU/Ml .45-4.5
T4 5.3 ug/dl 4.5-12
T3 uptake 34% 24-39
Free Thyroxine Index 1.8 1.2 – 4.9
Testosterone , Serum 1095 ng/dl 348-1197
Testosterone, Free 35.37 ng/dl 5.00-21.00
VIT D 80.3 ng/ml 30.0-100.0
PSA .9 ng/ml 0.0 – 4.0

I just started with TRT, but I have good experience with thyroid issues. Before starting TRT I exhausted the possibility of my hypothyroidism causing my low testosterone. Your TSH is definitely high, this could or could not cause your hypothyroidism. It all depends on the person. In fact, I had a similar TSH. I would recommend starting on Synthroid. However, I firmly believe that both T3 and T4 need to be optimized to receive maximum benefits.. The reason why I recommend Synthroid though, is your body converts a degree to T3. This varies from on a person to person basis; so, there is a possibility that taking Synthroid will optimize both T3 and T4, or your body may not convert well and your T3 will still be off. In case of the latter, Armour is the right choice.

It must be noted that your TSH can decrease on Synthroid, even though your T3 may be unaffected. It must be measured.

Take Cytomel for t3 just as you'd take Synthroid for t4.

Instead of Armour this can be a good alternative.

[steroid.com 1]

Relying on TSH as a value to diagnose Hypothyroidism is like gauging how fast your car is going by looking at how far the accelerated is pressed...in other words, it's not accurate but when elevated begs for additional blood work.

You could even have normal FT4 and FT3 values and still have hypothyroidism.

The key is to look at RT3 and antibodies as these are the panels that tell the truth.

[TMan96]

Take Cytomel for t3 just as you'd take Synthroid for t4.

Sorry for the question... but I just don't know.... Is Cytomel something that is typically prescribed? Any trouble getting your doc to prescribe?

[Nate02]

Sorry for the question... but I just don't know.... Is Cytomel something that is typically prescribed? Any trouble getting your doc to prescribe?

To my knowledge, it is typically prescribed. There are some doctors that are strictly T4 though, and will not bother with T3 medications like Cytomel.

[Allaaro]

Yeah nate hit it on the head. Many doctors prescribe it, but most don't....since well it takes more work. Armor is usually given as a here this will fix it bandaid...yet levels are never both optimal range. If you find a doc who wants to get ft3/ft4 both optimal, he will need to run bloods multiple times in the year and prescribe both t4/t3 depending on how well you convert from t4 to t3.