There are millions of people whose thyroid glands don’t work optimally. Because thyroid hormones affect every cell in the body, this can have quite an impact on how well people feel. Problems may arise when people are offered only one treatment, since not everyone responds in the same way. Perhaps you are wondering, as others do, about the difference between Armour and Synthroid.
Treating an Underactive Thyroid Gland:
Q. Years ago I took Synthroid. I tried the synthetic form and it did NOT do the job for me.
Later I took Armour thyroid and it worked fine until the pharmacy substituted a synthetic for the Armour. I became depressed.
This also happened to two of my friends: the pharmacy substituted the synthetic without telling them. Pharmacies blamed the insurance companies. The doctor had to specify Armour or we didn’t get it.
Recognizing Symptoms of Low Thyroid:
A. Depression can be one of many symptoms associated with inadequate thyroid hormone. Others include constipation, cold sensitivity, fatigue, difficulty losing weight, high cholesterol, muscle aches, heavy menstrual periods and missing the outer third of the eyebrows.
The Difference Between Armour and Synthroid:
Levothyroxine is synthetic T4. It is not the same as Armour Thyroid, which is desiccated pig thyroid gland. The desiccated gland contains T3 and other thyroid hormones in addition to T4. Levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid) and Armour Thyroid are prescribed to treat hypothyroidism but there is a difference between Armour and Synthroid; they are not interchangeable.
Some people find that Armour makes them feel better. That may be due to a genetic difference in the type 2 deiodinase gene that guides the cells to transform T4 to T3 (Annals of Internal Medicine, Jan. 5, 2016). When the deiodinase enzyme is less active, people may find taking some ready-made T3 enhances their well-being.
Problems with quality control of desiccated thyroid in the 1930s and 1940s spoiled its reputation; many endocrinologists embraced synthetic levothyroxine (Synthroid) when it was introduced. Now, however, the paradigm may be shifting to acknowledge that people like you feel better on Armour Thyroid or other combinations of T3 and T4. We discuss the use of T4, T3 and desiccated thyroid gland to treat hypothyroidism in our Guide to Thyroid Hormones.
