Very interesting post. My mother has been taking a Thyroid supplement for years, and I'm always interested to find out more facts about the medicine she takes. I'll make sure to tell her to shop around before committing to one pharmacy. Wal-Mart is the price leader? How unusual! Thanks for sharing.

You guys in the US are lucky.  In Sweden, you have to beg to even get T3 (synthetic form, of course), and the main treatment is levothyroxine.

To get Armour Thyroid, you have to apply for a *license* with the Swedish equivalent to the FDA, and even then, you have to have been on medication for a year w/ stable values, but residual symptoms for a sub-functioning thyroid.

The common argument against is that the T4-to-T3 ratio is too high (which is why you take one in the morning, and one in the afternoon, duh...), as well as non-standardised doses.  The latter claim was recently changed to "potency issues in different batches". Well, it is my understanding that levothyroxin also suffers from this, at laest judging from the past problems with Synthroid in the US.

But perhaps the main problem is that Nycomed, the company producing the most common medication (Levaxin), seem to be unhealthily tight with the endocrinologists. Plus, of course,  hypothyroidism being listed in the MDs guidebooks as being something easy to treat with synthetic T4 replacement...

I showed this to my brother, who is a pathologist specializing in blood transfusions, and he pointed out that since Armour is distilled from thousands of cows, it is possible to get Mad Cow disease from Armour thyroid medication.

What is your take on this?  I myself would rather not take Synthroid.

Jenny

"since Armour is distilled from thousands of cows, it is possible to get Mad Cow disease from Armour thyroid medication"

Armour is made from the thyroid glands of *pigs*, not cows (porcine, not bovine).  Furthermore, the current  leading theory is that MCD is transferred from consuming brain & spine tissue, not muscle meat or glandular tissue.

Now if pigs are fed rendered cow parts that include MCD prions, that might be a cause for concern.  But one would need to know that is the case, and that pigs could get MCD, which as far as I know, isn't the case.

I only found out about the whole T3 thing this week. I've been wondering for the past three years why I still feel like crap.

Unfortunately from what I have read it appears T3 therapy is almost frowned upon in Australia (even the National Thyroid Foundation warns against it's use).

I just don't know what to do, I'm so sick of feeling the way I do.

I have been unable to obtain my Armour thyroid for three days and no "end in sight" I am already feeling horrible. This is so disturbing to me it calls for a class action suit.  I cant help but wonder what is REALLY behind all this.  Not even the docs and pharmacists are being told, let along the sufferers.  I feel angry and helpless-I have had to resort back to my Levoxyl and I dread this.

Dr. Davis, the national shortage of desiccated thyroid meds would be a valuable and timely subject for a post.

There are a number of reasons for the current and projected continued shortage of natural thyroid preparations and patients are pretty much in the dark about what/why happened, and how to manage in the interim.

Both Mary Shomon at thyroid.about.com and Janie Bowthorpe at www.stopthethyroid madness.com (thyroid patient advocates) have posted updates about their communications with suppliers/FDA insiders etc., in an effort to learn more and spread useful information about what is happening with the natural desiccated thyroid shortage and ways to cope if it's impossible to get via your normal avenues.   Some people are finding they can get natural thyroid preparations from Canada, where there is no shortage.  

Chain drugstores are purported to be sold out of nearly all natural thyroid meds.  

Compounding pharmacies are generally the best US option currently, though who knows how long that will last.  I know the one I use is already limiting Nature-throid refills to 30 days and substituting various tablet sizes for splitting and doubling in order to provide people with their Rx.  I had only switched from synthetic Levoxyl and Cytomel less than two months before all this came to a head.

And I'm finding the Nature-throid (natural desiccated sooooo much better than the synthetic T4/T3 duo that I'll try my mightiest to stay with it or another natural thyroid preparation before considering going back to synthetic thyroid hormone.

Belinda,

I understand the same situation with T3 exists in the UK, and that is often the case in the US.  I've been lucky enough to have eventually had doctors who at the very minimum agreed to prescribe T3, too and I found it to be a big improvement over T4 along.  But now that I have been on natural desiccated thyroid (Nature-throid, similar to Armour) I would never willingly go back to the synthetics.  I'd change doctors if necessary.

Even though T3 is frowned upon doesn't mean it is totally off limits, right?  Many, many people feel better with some T3 along with their T4, though the ratio of the two is subject to debate.  But it is quite reasonable to assert yourself and insist on at least a trial of T3 added to your T4.  I know this isn't always easy, but unfortunately it seems we need to be our own advocates with thyroid conditions.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease.  The quiet wheels just roll along...

I am thoroughly convinced that, for at least 70% of people requiring thyroid replacement, the added T3 component makes a world of difference compared to isolated T4: More energy, greater alertness, better mental clarity, better weight loss, larger effects on lipoprotein(a).

When taking armour thyroid supplements, we must also consider a few factors.  One is if you have a history of diabetes, an overactive thyroid, a long-term underactive thyroid, infertility, swelling of the skin (particularly around the eyes and cheeks), or pituitary gland problems. And if you are going to have surgery, consult the doctor first.

Amen

Great great article. My mom  (here in Wisconsin) has no gallbladder and has been suffering for years with chronic issues and never tested for D until I suggested it as result of your blog.
Her doc "went along with it" and she came in around 20ng - is now supplementing but still not enough of course but I'm passing this to her. (She is without major episodes since taking the D)

She had just about every specialist and every test except the D over the past 5 years; scans and scans and measurements of potassium, etc...

From reading your blog I had mine tested and started taking 2,000 a day and now it is 75.  What would be too high a level?
Thank you.

Interesting. My results were 48 and my doc did not say a word about it. I have no idea how much totake to get to the 60ish you suggest. If my doc doesn't help, who do I turn to?
Stevie

Stevie wrote:
"If my doc doesn't help, who do I turn to?"

No doctor needed. Get the vitamin D test kit from vitamindcouncil.org, or a blood test from lef.org. It's a great investment.

Anonymous, My Vit D results were 44 and am now taking 1000 x 2 (Vit D gelcaps). My results are now 75.

Hi,
      I am The assistant editor with disease.com. I really liked your site and I am interested in building a relationship with your site. We want to spread public awareness. I hope you can help me out. Your site is a very useful resource.

Please email me back with your URl in subject line to take a step ahead an to avoid spam.

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I work for a cardiac home care agency, and we're trying to come up with some standard for measuring and testing. There doesn't seem to be any consensus and what the protocol should be. Suggestions?

My former doctor wouldn't order a Vitamin D or VAP test for me because I'm she "had no reason, you're a healthy, young man."  I went to another doctor who ordered the tests, and my Vitamin D was 31.  Coincidentally, my HDL was not as high as I expected considering I eat Paleo and take an Omega3 supplement 3x a day.

I started taking 4,000 iu of Vitamin D per day and very curious to see how that will affect both my Vitamin D levels and my HDL.

One question:  Is it recommended that pregnant women take smaller amounts of Vit D?  I'm sure my wife also has low Vit D levels, but we're expecting a baby.  Of course there's no magic number for all people (as this article states) but is 2,000iu generally too high for pregnant women?

Thanks!

While body composition certainly isn't a prerequisite for being part of a classic comedy team, I couldn't help but notice that Stan had the makings of a skinny-fat bean pole checking in at 5' 10" and only 148 pounds. Those stats make him sound like a diehard distance runner or a chain smoker.