Even though everyone can develop hypothyroidism, some people are at a higher risk. You are more likely to develop this disorder if you are a woman older than 60, have an autoimmune disease, have a family history of thyroid problems, or received a treatment with anti-thyroid medications, among other risk factors. Synthroid and Armour Thyroid are well-known therapies for hypothyroidism and this post brings you more details about the two. It is the man-made hormone thyroid hormone that most people have to take for life.
The active ingredient of this medication is levothyroxine sodium, which is a well-known treatment for hypothyroidism.
The drug is also used to prevent or treat goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland which can be caused by surgery, cancer, radiation treatment, certain medications, and other factors. What does this mean? Medications categorized as NTI are defined as those drugs where small differences in dose or blood concentration may lead to serious therapeutic failures or adverse effects.
Doctors have been prescribing this medication to their patients for about 50 years, according to the makers of Synthroid. The medication functions to replace or provide thyroxine hormone, which is usually produced by the gland. When you start taking Synthroid for the very first time, your doctor monitors you closely. For example, the physician usually tests your TSH levels for weeks to make sure you are taking the right dose.
One of the most common challenges in hypothyroidism treatment is finding the right dose that will yield most benefits. As mentioned above, it can be difficult to find the right dose for patients with hypothyroidism.
The dosage is based on various parameters including your age, weight, medical condition, laboratory test results, and response to the treatment. It is of extreme importance to stick to the dosage that your physician prescribed. To make it easier for yourself, you should create a routine and take Synthroid at the same time every day.
Also, you should take Synthroid on an empty stomach with a glass of water. Additionally, wait for 30 minutes to 1 hour before eating your breakfast. Started around 50mgs been up to now back to Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.
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Synthroid Comparison. Nodular Thyroid Disease. Thyroid Cancer. Formats Oral tablets. Oral tablets. Dosages 15 mg. Manufacturer Actavis Pharmaceuticals Inc. AbbVie Inc. Legal status Prescription-only Prescription-only Mechanism of action Mimics neurophysiological effects of endogenously manufactured T4 thyroxine and T3 triiodothyronine.
Modulates DNA transcription, protein synthesis, basal metabolic rate, tissue oxygenation, and lipolysis. Mimics neurophysiological effects of endogenously manufactured T4 thyroxine. Generic version? Hair loss. Weight loss. Read: Armour Thyroid side effects. Appetite changes. Read: Synthroid side effects. Efficacy: Which is more effective?
Medical uses Armour Thyroid and Synthroid are principally utilized as medical treatments for hypothyroidism.
Popularity Data suggests that over 20 million prescriptions are filled for Synthroid annually. Side Effects Commonly reported side effects and adverse reactions associated with Armour Thyroid and Synthroid are thought to be similar.
Cost: The brand name version of either intervention Armour Thyroid and Synthroid is of similar cost. Efficacy: There is no definitive evidence to suggest that one intervention is more effective than the other.
In head-to-head comparison studies, each intervention appeared to exhibit equal efficacy in reducing symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Legal status: Armour Thyroid and Synthroid are both considered prescription-only Rx-only thyroid replacement therapies. Neither are classified as controlled-substances, but neither are available as over-the-counter OTC agents.
To attain either Armour Thyroid or Synthroid, you will need a prescription from a medical professional. Medical uses: Both agents Armour Thyroid and Synthroid are used medically for the treatment of hypothyroidism. They are each also commonly prescribed for thyroid goiter, nodular thyroid disease, and thyroid cancer.
Similarities in medical uses makes logical sense due to the fact that both agents attempt to increase thyroid concentrations. Side effects: Evidence suggests that side effects of Armour Thyroid and Synthroid are relatively similar. Each agent can cause: appetite changes, hair loss, nervousness, and weight changes. While side effects may differ based on the specific user, overarching side effect profiles between the two drugs is remarkably similar.
Differences: Armour Thyroid vs. Synthroid List There are some notable differences between Armour Thyroid and Synthroid as a treatment for hypothyroidism. Dosages : There are a greater number of manufactured dosages associated with Synthroid than Armour Thyroid.
Synthroid is sold in 12 precisely-dosed tablets, whereas Armour Thyroid is only manufactured in 8 precisely-dosed tablets. Some may regard the 4 extra dosages of Synthroid as being preferable over Armour Thryoid. FDA approval : Synthroid was approved in July for the treatment of hypothyroidism. Prior to its approval, it was extensively evaluated for safety and efficacy in randomized controlled trials.
Format : The formatting of Armour Thyroid and Synthroid is substantially different. Manufacturer : Armour Thyroid is currently manufactured by Actavis, Inc. Alterations in the manufacturer of Armour Thyroid from Forest to Actavis have lead some consumers to complain, suggesting that minor ingredient adjustments have reduced the efficacy of the product.
Popularity : Upon comparison of the two thyroid replacement therapies, Synthroid is immensely more popular than Armour Thyroid. While Armour Thyroid is still a popular intervention, it is not commonly recommended by medical professionals and endocrinologists due to lack of FDA approval.
For this reason, patients with hypothyroidism are most frequently prescribed Synthroid. Synthroid is considered one of the top prescribed pharmaceutical drugs in the United States. That said, Armour Thyroid delivers a natural blend of T4 and T3 at a 4 to 1 ratio, whereas Synthroid delivers solely synthetic T4 without directly providing T3.
Weight loss : Although it is common for patients to report weight loss with Armour Thyroid , it may be slightly less common to lose weight with Synthroid. A head-to-head comparative study Armour Thyroid and Synthroid suggests that modest weight loss only occurred among users of Armour Thyroid. Which drug do you prefer: Armour Thyroid or Synthroid?
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Prozac Fluoxetine Pregabalin Lyrica vs. Gabapentin Neurontin Celexa Citalopram vs. Lexapro Escitalopram : Which Is Better? Mimics neurophysiological effects of endogenously manufactured T4 thyroxine and T3 triiodothyronine. But this isn't the only study to suggest that medications that contain T3 thyroid hormone cause more weight loss. Other studies, such as this one, highlight the importance of both free T3 and free T4 levels as it relates to the ability of patients to lose weight 7.
Those patients who have higher levels of free thyroid hormones lose more weight than those with lower levels. This information is important because it stands against the conventional therapy of treating based solely on the TSH.
Between the two medications, Armour Thyroid will likely result in more weight loss when compared to Synthroid. Unfortunately, it's not that easy. In fact, from the perspective of pituitary function, T3 is about x more potent than T4 at suppressing the TSH 8. So when you convert from T4 only thyroid medication like Synthroid to a combination thyroid medication like Armour Thyroid you have to consider this fact.
So 1 grain of Armour Thyroid which contains 38mcg of T4 and 9mcg of T3 may be equal to around 65mcg of T4. So each grain of Armour Thyroid which is 60mg is probably equal to around 65mcg of T4. Some patients will find that they are much more sensitive to T3 when compared to T4 and this may limit the amount of Armour Thyroid that they are able to use.
So whenever you alter your thyroid medication it's best to always follow your free thyroid hormones and your TSH to determine how you are tolerating any medication. If you are not tolerating Synthroid or Levothyroxine and your physician is unwilling to try other medications then it may be worth trying to find a new thyroid doctor to help you out.
It's not worth wasting time on physicians who are not willing to take your symptoms seriously or who are unwilling to work with you. Also, when you consider other thyroid medications just realize that there are more medications than just Armour Thyroid and Synthroid.
The choice to use one over the other has more to do with your body, your symptoms than inherent differences between medications. Determining which one you need should be based on your subjective sense of symptoms, your tolerance to existing thyroid medications, your history of medical conditions and your history of other factors which may influence absorption and utilization of thyroid hormone.
I'm Westin Childs D. I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance.
I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market well, at least in my opinion! You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do here.
Is there a "Best" Thyroid Medication? One question that thyroid patients often ask is is this: Am I on the best thyroid medication or which is the best thyroid medication? But is there really a "best" thyroid medication? Instead of asking that question it's better to ask this question: Which thyroid medication is the best for my body? This is a much better question to ask and may actually help you on your journey to feel better.
Armour Thyroid Explained. May exacerbate Hashimoto's due to reactivity with the immune system May cause more symptoms when compared to Synthroid May be more difficult to dose when compared to Synthroid May not be tolerated as well as WP Thyroid and Nature-throid. First of all, what exactly is Armour Thyroid? Armour Thyroid is a thyroid medication used to treat hypothyroidism.
It is unique among thyroid medications for two very distinct reasons: 1. Is that it is porcine-derived. That's right! Armour Thyroid is purified desiccated thyroid gland from pigs. The gland is then desiccated mashed up and purified before it is put into tablet form. Patients then ingest this medication as thyroid hormone replacement therapy. This small amount of T3 is often enough to improve thyroid function in the entire body.
But that's not all. Are there any drawbacks to using Armour Thyroid? This may have to do with the fact that Armour Thyroid is porcine-derived and porcine Make no mistake though, the thyroid hormones in Armour Thyroid are bio-identical to your body.
The shift in preferred medications occurred as Synthroid and Levothyroxine were created. But here we are! The bottom line? Some people may still need, and do better, on Synthroid!
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