Comments on: Erfa’s Canadian “Thyroid” — more details

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 01:21:10 +0000

I’ve been on 30 mg ERFA for two weeks, after switching from Synthroid (and previously Armour). I felt better immediately for a few days and then I started to notice a real dip around lunchtime accompanied by hot flashes. So I started to add a 1/2 of 30 mg before lunch and it seemed to have a calming effect. Unfortunately after about a week of the extra 1/2 tablet I started to feel hyper — lots of hot flashes all night and poor sleep. One day I took nothing and felt so much better! I’m so confused! I can’t seem to find the right dose. Without the extra 1/2 tablet I can’t even make it to 8 PM without feeling worn out.

(From Janie: you have either adrenal fatigue and/or low ferritin. http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info and http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ferritin There are two chapters on adrenal fatigue in the STTM book if you have it with even more details, and more about ferritin as well. )

By: Miranda

Miranda — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:56:09 +0000

I started taking ERFA a couple months ago due to not being able to get ARMOUR anywhere. My Dr prescribed me 60 of ERFA, which was the same dosage as I was on ARMOUR. I went and had my levels checked last week and my TSH is all the way up to 18. We found out that more ARMOUR had been supplied at my local pharmacy so we changed back to that at the same 60 dose. Since I switched back on Sunday I am having a choking feeling in my neck/chest, feeling like I can’t get enough air…I feel horrible. What do I do? Someone help, I am so afraid my Dr is going to use this as an excuse as to why natural thyroid is so unreliable or something. I do not want Synthroid.…

(From Janie: Erfa was not your problem; the amount was, and still is. You are here: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/mistakes-patients-make For more feedback, here are patient groups: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others )

By: David

David — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:33:55 +0000

I have to agree with those who have moved over to Erfa having been on Nature Thyroid which was severely restricted late last year. Started off on replacement 3 grains to match Nature Thyroid but boy after 10 days on it I am going through my working day like a zombie ! I have never suffered brain fog ever until now ! Have been on Armour(the Best),then Nature, o.k as a compromise. works well.….….….….…but Erfa …does not work for me. Have know re-ordered Nature as my job demands that I am there and the last 10 days have been as bad as when if not worse than when on Synthetic T4 (The pits !!) never to return. Maybe it is the Iodine within the Erfa that maybe disagrees with my Auto Immune thyroid ? Don’t know.…but it it is not for me.

By: Leyna

Leyna — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:04:04 +0000

Just wanted to post an update. I’ve been 2.5 weeks on Erfa and after a slow start, I am feeling well again! I take 30 mg in am and 30 mg around 2:30 pm. Still having occasional afternoon dips, but they are minor and improving. My brain is back! No fog, and energy is wonderful. Erfa Thyroid was very much worth waiting for! Patience paid off for me. Hang in there for a few weeks if you can to see if it works for you.

By: Toni

Toni — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:56:44 +0000

May ’09 I switched to Armour since I took various synthetics (thyroidless) for 30 years. I had no change in symptoms at all. Two and a half weeks after my switch to Erfa I woke up one morning and I was shocked because it was the first time I felt well in years. I did not know that the reason I felt bad all day every day was my thyroid med. A week later though I became hyper (was on 1 1/2 60mg), so I cut it back to one 60mg and the hyper stopped, but my carpal tunnel is back. Today I started 1 1/4, I’m trying to get it right but I’m not sure how this will affect my upcoming blood work to check my levels. I have been on Erfa for 25 days now.

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:45:21 +0000

I’m a recent transfer to Erfa, was on 3x1g a day (30yo Male, big guy) of Armour, was stable for 8yrs (initial diagnosis of ht). First thing I noticed when switching is I immediately went hypo, but only slightly, no brain fog, decent energy, but cold hands/feet and the carpal tunnel is the most noticeable. I am 5 days in now, and have noticed the achey hands come 4-5hrs after a dose, so it seems i need a lil more, and will be bumping up a 1/4 grain for a few days and see how I react. I am just putting this here since I have been searching for others responses on their switch to erfa from armour, and not finding much of experience stories of if they had to increase dosing or reduce etc. General comments like it works for me, or it doesnt work for me is all I have seen.

So that’s my concensus, I can tell it’s a little weaker than my Armour was, and I’ll have to adjust the dose. No choice since I can’t get Armour or NatureThroid in the Los Angeles area it seems!

By: Leyna

Leyna — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:31:14 +0000

Janie, thanks for your suggestion to raise my Erfa Thyroid. My doc switched me from 50 mcg Synthroid and 5 mcg Cytomel together once daily (am), to a split dose of Erfa Thyroid 30 mg in am and 30 mg in afternoon (as I used to do, successfully, with Armour). It’s only been one week, but i’m noticeably more tired and cranky — and hugely brain-fogged. I’ve seen conflicting reports on whether or not Erfa should be split into two doses. Wondering if perhaps I should try a return to a single am dose of 60 Erfa, or a raise on the split dose? Will of course check in with my doc, who is very kind and open-minded, but not familiar with Erfa (I’m her first patient trying it). Any/all thoughts greatly appreciated. Thank you!

By: Leyna

Leyna — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:56:19 +0000

How are other folks doing with Erfa Thyroid? I am on day 7, having switched from a Synthroid & Cytomel combo. Used to be on Armour, which was the best of all for me, like many others. It’s Day 7 and I’m more tired and down than I was on synthroid & cytomel. Has anyone found Erfa to get better after a few weeks, despite a rocky start? Or have the folks who found success with Erfa Thyroid felt good immediately? I’m so grateful for this chat, keeps me hanging on when I feel like giving up! Thanks, everyone.

(from Janie: I think you just need to raise it.)

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:39:29 +0000

Giving up on ERFA… a miserable 2 weeks with no signs of improvement even with increasing the dosage. In fact, I started to feel both hyper and hypo at the same time. Thankfully I was able to get some Nature-throid from Clarke’s Pharmacy in AZ. I took one pill and immediately started to feel my hypo symptoms retreating…Disappointed as I really wanted to be able to get stable on ERFA…Everyone’s system is different… It may work for some…but unfortunately not me…

By: nica lina

nica lina — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:41:17 +0000

Steve…and Amy…wondering how your doing on Erfa now, still on it..did your hypo symptoms stay away?