Switiching from Synthroid & Cytomel to Armour and HC

March 7, 2008

I posted this on the natural thyroid group and someone suggested I

join this group so hoping to get some additional insight here.

I am planning to switch from .125 mg of synthroid + .15mcg of cytomel

to Armour plus cortef and would like some feedback or insight on my

plan in order to make this transition as smooth as possible. My plan

is to add the hydrocortisone (to my current meds) very gradually (2.5

mg built up from 1-4 times a day over a couple of weeks). Then, once

I am at 10 mg of HC (my current prescription) for a few days, I plan

to stop the Synthroid and Cytomel and start the Armour at 60 mgs (1

grain), gradually increasing this by 30 mg (half a grain) every

couple of weeks until reaching 3 grains, then holding it there for 4-

6 weeks. I realize I may need to build up to 20 mg of Cortef but

currently only have a prescription for 10 mg a day. Here are my

questions

1. Should I go directly from the synthroid/cytomel/hydrocortisone to

the armour/HC or would it be better to a) wean myself off the cytomel

for a few days or stop taking both the synthroid and cytomel for a

few days before starting the armour?

2. Based on my labs (below) do you think that 10 mg of cortef will

be enough, or should I consider asking my doctor to raise it to 20 mg

before making the switch?

In addition to the cortef I will be starting progesterone, which I

understand will also help with the low cortisol, and I have started

taking 5mg a day of DHEA.

Cortisol

AM 6.1 (3.7 - 9.5)

Noon 1.6 (1.2 - 3.0)

Five 0.7 (0.6 - 1.9)

10PM 0.3 (0.4 – 1.0)

Estrodial 1.9 (1.3-3.3)

Progesterone 85 (75-270)

Ratio Prog/Est 45 (100-500)

DHEA 7.2 (2-23)

Any thoughts or recommendations appreciated. Best,

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