I know for a fact some patients do better on Armour thyroid medication, I've heard thier testimonies and these were folks who had nothing to gain by testifying to this fact, they were not members of particular Armour advocacy groups etc..., it just happened to be true in their case! I've also know patients who could not take any type of porcine product because they were highly allergic to it and these patients would be in trouble if Armour was the only type of thyroid hormone medication available.

I personally was originally placed on Synthroid then switched to Armour, when symptoms didn't improve. My Doctor thought I might be one of those who did not convert well, T-4 to T-3 but in reality, I was under-dosed and I realized this later down the road, once I began to research.

My Doctor never got my TSH below a 3.0 when he had me on Synthroid but after having me on Armour, is when I convinced him that Endos were stating "1.0" as a target range for treatment-TSH, so he dosed me to that level and that's when I began to see much better improvement. I have since changed Doctors and the one I have now, was thorough enough to test my "free" levels and discovered that I'm one of those more rare patients who need a really suppressed TSH, below the normal range, to correct my hypothyroidism.

Anyway, this is why I'm probably not the best person to testify for Armour because I feel I may have done as well on Synthroid, at the correct dosage. My mother for example, has taken Synthroid for over 10 years and when her levels are checked, they are optimal at her current dose and she does not suffer hypothyroid symptoms. I will add that her low thyroid function is age-related and not from autoimmune thyroid, as mine is.

Here's where the real importance is; Optimal blood levels. This sounds like an over-simplified way of looking at it but it's not in my opinion. If a patient achieves optimal levels, what difference does it make through which brand or type hormone it is accomplished?

For some patients however, a T-4 only medication simply doesn't get them there and this too, is evident by their blood test results. Their T-4 to T-3 ratio is off too much and they must have a thyroid hormone replacement medication that has both or they must add a T-3 medication. If this was not true, T-3 only medications would not be made available.

Also if problems of T-4 to T-3 conversion did not occur in some patients, even though a small percent of them, you would not be able to read about it on medical resources or read the testimonies from the patients them selves.
So, the bottom line in my opinion, is that blood tests are the only true indicator as to whether a medication change is needed and not the testimonies of people who claim one is better than the other, regardless of their passion for this belief. There are also people who by taking a T-4/T-3 combo med, elevate their Free T-3 level too high and have to be switched to a T-4 only medication.

Even if indications are not that strong by blood tests, that a patient's hormone ratios are off while taking one type medication but they are having ongoing problems despite their current medication, a Doctor should be willing to give them a trial of the other type, otherwise, it could be a missed opportunity.

While most patients do fine on T-4 and is also evident in their blood labs, others may need T-3 in their medication (combo or added) and this too can be evident in their blood lab results. The point being that patients are individuals and you cannot claim that one type treatment will always be best for all individuals because there are too many possible "specifics" that can be involved.