If you take a T4-only thyroid hormone drug, which is the most commonly prescribed and you’re going to switch either to a T4 with T3 added regimen or to a T4/T3 combination drug it is my opinion that Armour is usually a good choice because it contains a ratio of T4 to T3 that was developed to be what is needed in the body (there's some controversy on the subject).
Some medical research shows that thyroid replacement with T3 in it is more beneficial in many cases of hypothyroidism. I'm an Armour patient myself and feel strongly about its benefits. What I am careful about, is to always include the fact in comments about Armour being superior for some patients that there are others this would not be true of. People with intolerance to porcine products for example and people who are highly sensitive to T3 administered to them (they definitely exist out there). Some people also cannot take Armour because their religious practice forbids it. These are reasons there are options out there of T4 only and combo T4/T3. If there weren't these folks I've described would be in trouble. The real importance in thyroid hormone therapy is in where a dose places a person's T4 and T3 levels being monitored with blood retests.
Some patients take a hormone replacement drug that is compounded T4/T3 (specially mixed) that is more specifically suited for them but some end up having to change the ratio over time if T4 or T3 become a little imbalanced. This keeps them in an unstable state with their thyroid hormones. You don't often hear of this happening with patients on Armour Thyroid brand. They will have a lowish T4 when taking it even if T3 is at the right level but is a common finding with Armour patients. T4 is already going to convert into T3 in the body by natural process so it is the more important level and also likely the reason the body doesn't retain as much T4 when on the Armour brand. The ratio of T4 is about 4 times higher than T3 in a dose of Armour.
My opinion has always been to get optimized best possible on any current brand a patient is already taking before considering a switch to another brand/type. If you feel your dose of Synthroid for example (synthetic T4 only) has yet to be titrated/adjusted to adequate level for you, I would first see that a doctor does so and if it afterward still fails to give symptom relief after a few weeks at proper level it would be worth a trial of another type hormone replacement drug in my opinion.
Some of the studies out there stating that some patients do better on thyroid hormone that contains T3, state this to be true especially of those with stubborn depression symptoms. There are however always variables between individuals and may not be true of all patients as pointed out earlier.
Here's a quote in regard to some patients who may do better on a hormone drug containing T3:
"In hypothyroid patients, depression may be more responsive to a replacement regimen that includes T3 rather than T4 alone. Therefore, inclusion of T3 in the treatment regimen may be warranted after adequate trial with T4 alone." Full Research Article Here
Click Here For My Lists of Ebooks and Audio Downloads
