When I started the Armour in May, I was on 88 mcg thyroxine and 15 mg Armour. My Dr increased me to 75 mg thyroxine and 30 mg armour. Then I switched to 45 mg Armour alone. Shortly afterward, I had a bad experience, where I ended up so dizzy I was falling over and nearly fainting, and had weird "buzzing" in my brain, I felt like I was having some mini seizure. Well, I went to the ER and ended up discontinuing everything. I think I had too much T4 still in my system, plus I had never responded too well to the T4.
After a week of no thyroid hormone at all, I tried 15 mg Armour, but it was too much - palpitations, and "flip flops of my heart. Eventually, I was able to tolerate the 15 after a period at half of the 1/4 grain pills (7.5), but by that time, I was sooooo slow, my body moved like it was in slow motion, my mind could hardly receive any information - it was like I was a zombie. So, I went back on a half dose of the thyroxine (44 mg) and 15 mg armour, and felt better.
Since that period in July, I have beein slowly increasing the armour and decreasing the thyroxine. In the beginning of September, I was at 45 mg Armour and cut the thyroxine altogether.
The past six weeks have been a hard time for me. As I described in my post, I could hardly live until the next increase. A lot of my psych symptoms returned. and by this time, I had long ago cut back to virtually nothing on my anti depressant and anti anxiety medications. I was nearly tempted to increase these two, but could not face having to go through the withdrawal again of titrating down.
Luckily, I lived through it and found consistent relief at 75 mg armour. THANK GOD
I know I have a way to go - especially from the good feelings and great energy I had initially with accidental higher dose, until I started to feel too stimulated.
I have found that the 15 mg every two weeks worked for me, which I understand is the protocol given by the company that makes Armour.
Good luck with your Armour experience
All I know is that I feel I am rounding the corner (aside from this little snafu). Armour has been a million times better than the thyroxine. My fatigue abated some time ago, and I seem to have more stamina and DEFINATELY a quicker recovery time from exercise etc. This is something that NEVER happened with the thyroxine even at higher doses than 88 mcg. T4 treatment did give me a little energy, but more of a overstimulated feeling. It also helped with the anxiety and depression - but the one, and most important thing T4 treatment never provided for me was that elusive sense of well-being. I am so happy that I have gotten back what I have not experienced in many, many years, maybe since I was a teen. At the dose I am at, I have more moments than not with a sense of well-being. I look forward to have it 24/7 when the Armour dose is optimum. Hopefully soon!
