Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) is a prescription medication used to treat hypothyroidism and other various thyroid-related health concerns for children and adults. It works by bringing your low thyroid hormone levels back up to normal. The active ingredients come from an animal source, so it might be a good choice if you're looking for a natural thyroid replacement. You typically take a dose by mouth just once daily, and side effects are rare unless you take too much of it.
Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) is a naturally-derived combination of the triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) thyroid hormones made by your thyroid gland. Thyroid hormones have important functions like controlling your metabolism, body temperature, heart rate, and more. When the amount of hormone is too low, taking thyroid replacement hormones like Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) can bring your levels back to normal.
| Common Brands | Armour Thyroid |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Thyroid hormone replacement (T3 / T4) |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Changes in appetite
changes in menstrual periods
fast or irregular heartbeat
hand tremors
headache
irritability
leg cramps
nervousness
sensitivity to heat
shortness of breath
sweating
trouble sleeping
vomiting
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) shouldn't be used for weight loss. It’s not recommended, safe, or effective for this purpose. Taking high doses of Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) can cause serious or life-threatening side effects, especially if used with other medications for weight loss.
In rare cases, you can have low thyroid hormones and low adrenal hormones at the same time. If this happens, replacing the thyroid hormones first can cause your adrenal hormones to drop even lower and make you feel unwell. Your prescriber should check the level of your adrenal hormones before prescribing Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid). If you experience long-lasting tiredness, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, stomach pain, or dizziness, get medical attention right away.
Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) can change the required dose of your diabetes medications. Check your blood sugar levels as directed by your prescriber. Talk to your prescriber if you notice blood sugar levels that are higher than usual. They might need to raise the dose of your diabetes medication.
Taking too much Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) can cause heart problems, especially in older adults or in people with certain heart conditions. Contact your prescriber or get medical care right away if you have rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Your prescriber might need to lower your dose if you experience new or worsening heart problems while taking this medication.
Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) can cause changes in the levels of certain medications in your body. These medications include oral anticoagulants, insulin, and oral diabetes medications. On the other hand, other medications can have an effect on the levels of Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) in your system. This can include certain cholesterol medications and oral contraceptives.
Before you start taking Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid), talk to your prescriber about all the medications you take. They may need to change your dose or help you plan when to take each medication during the day. This makes sure your medications work well and lowers the chance of any interaction.
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30mg | 30 tablets | $32.40 | $1.08 |
| 60mg | 90 tablets | $108.00 | $1.20 |
| 90mg | 30 tablets | $56.70 | $1.89 |
| 120mg | 30 tablets | $66.00 | $2.20 |
| 15mg | 30 tablets | $27.60 | $0.92 |
| 180mg | 30 tablets | $49.50 | $1.65 |
| 240mg | 30 tablets | $60.00 | $2.00 |
| 300mg | 45 tablets | $105.97 | $2.35 |
The dose of Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) depends on what you're taking it for. Your prescriber will adjust your dose based on your response to the medication and the results of your thyroid level lab tests.
Hypothyroidism: The typical starting dose is 30 mg by mouth daily. The dose can go up to 120 mg a day, depending on your body's needs. Your dose might be lower if you have certain health problems. The starting dose for children is based on their age and body weight.
Lowering TSH: The dose is calculated by your prescriber based on your body weight and is typically given for 7 to 10 days.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) will not be safe for you to take.
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It's typically recommended that people take synthetic (man-made) thyroid replacement medications like levothyroxine (Synthroid) as a first-choice treatment, because there can be inconsistencies between different batches of Armour Thyroid. Talk to your healthcare team if you have questions about using this medication over the other.
The term natural thyroid medication means that the hormones come from an animal source instead of from synthetic (man-made) ingredients. Armour Thyroid contains thyroid hormones that come from pigs. It also contains other chemicals in the medication that help hold the tablets together.
No. While Armour Thyroid and levothyroxine (Synthroid) are both thyroid hormone replacement medications, they can't be substituted for one another. Levothyroxine (Synthroid) contains only the T4 hormone, while Armour Thyroid contains both T3 and T4. Usually, prescribers recommend starting with levothyroxine (Synthroid) because it's the first-choice treatment for hypothyroidism. But if your symptoms don't get better with levothyroxine (Synthroid) treatment, some healthcare professionals might try switching you to Armour Thyroid.
Yes. In September 2020, all lots of Nature-Throid and WP-Thyroid were voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer because they contained less thyroid hormone than they were supposed to. As of June 2024, all strengths of Nature-Throid and WP-Thyroid are unavailable. The company that makes these medications hasn't provided a date for when they'll become available again. If you've been taking Nature-Throid or WP-Thyroid, talk to your prescriber about switching to one of the brand-name medications that are currently available.
Taking too much Armour Thyroid can cause symptoms like mood swings, hand tremors, anxiety, forgetfulness, and fast heart rate. If you're experiencing these effects or suspect you're taking too much of this medication, have a discussion with your healthcare professional.
Changes in thyroid hormone levels can affect your metabolism and your body weight. Since Armour Thyroid is a thyroid hormone replacement medication, it can potentially affect your weight. In general, taking Armour Thyroid as prescribed is unlikely to change your weight by a lot. Using any kind of thyroid replacement specifically for weight management isn't effective and can be dangerous. In fact, taking higher than recommended doses of Armour Thyroid for the purposes of weight management can raise your chance of having serious side effects or long-term complications. If you're looking for weight management options, talk to your primary care provider to learn about what's safe and effective.
It typically takes about 2 to 3 weeks for your thyroid hormone levels to get back to normal after you start taking Armour Thyroid.
Children taking Armour Thyroid can experience some hair loss in the first few months of treatment. This typically doesn't last long, and hair growth will go back to normal.
