I was diagnosed with rT3 and started switching off synthroid with cytomel. In some ways feel very good, but getting more hypo at the same time. Does that make sense? Much less brain fog but colder and more sluggish. So I started taking more armour with the cytomel. Dr didn't like that and increased the cytomel dosage. Still fighting hyponess.

I'm wondering if the other 2 changes that happened when I changed my thyroid medication could account for some of this???

1. I switched from taking all my medication at night to 3 times during the day. I drink coffee and tea all day so its totally not on an empty stomach. The first dose is around the time I have breakfast and the middle dose on my lunch hour with lunch. My dr said its important to split up the dose because its hard on the adrenals.

2. I stopped taking the supplements- iron, B12, iodine, selenium. Its all I can do to remember the thyroid meds 3x/day! If its ok to take them with the thyroid meds I could probably manage it. I work full time and go to school, my days are kind of busy.

I also couldn't get armour anymore so I got some pills from a naturopath that are compounded T3/T4, I don't think their working very well! It scares me when I see my temp 96.0 in the middle of the day. The hypo started before the pill problem, the compounded drug just made it worse.

Please advise, I'm really tempted to get back on synthroid with the cytomel, at least I can find that.

I think it's hard to get a compounded that works, and it could have been that you weren't getting enough cytomel to wipe out the RT3 problem. I believe there is a protocol about ramping up and then down with the T3 to reverse the RT3.

I use ERFA which is the same as the old Armour, however I am based in Canada but I've seen where others get it online (with a script)

I know what you mean about the supplements, I've resorted to taking as many as I can just before bedtime just to escape that 4 hour window (my last dose is about 4pm)

Switching is kind of complicated without the armour shortage throwing its 2 cents it. I'm amazed at how much faster and clearer I'm processing things.

I got a copy of my prescriptions so I can go online now.

I haven't heard of ERFA, hopefully the armour prescription will cover it? I'm taking generic cytomel, I'm not sure thats good quality either. Without insurance, its $120/month. Do you think the original cytomel is stronger?

How do they compound the T3/T4? Its labeled dessicated thyroid. Did they purify out something necessary? I'm wondering if its some kind of scam, my temp hasn't been this low in years.

The ERFA is the same as the old Armour and there are canadian online pharmacies that carry it (your Doc has to fax the script...note I am NOT associated with any of these pharmacies, infact can't even buy from them ) Your Doc has to write "Thyroid" or Dessicated Thyroid on the script (in
Canada it's just called Thyroid, that's what my Doc writes) btw, there is absolutely no shortage in Canada, just the US.

Cytomel is just T3, there's no T4 nor T2 or T1. It would depend on why you are being replaced. If it's for RT3 then cytomel will be fine. If it's for Hashi's or an underactive thyroid then you need either the Armour/Erfa/Compounded or a Synthroid/Cytomel combo (these are 2 separate pills)

as for the compounded what I've read online is it's the filler that is causing the problem for compounded rather than the porcine thyroid itself. the people who have had the best result have been able to get the compounded without any filler (or with sucrose) but not all pharmacists will do that.

I was able to get 10 armour pills (4 day supply). I took it last night, this morning my temp 97.7. The compounded is no good for me. The capsules are almost double the size of the usual 1 grain pill, so I'm guessing I got a lot of filler!

Thank you for all the information maile1.

I started taking the armour portion right before bed and when I first wake up so its not with food anymore. I just have a feeling that wasn't right.