Armour Thyroid is the most expensive brand of desiccated thyroid extract, but other DTE brands like Nature-Throid, NP Thyroid, and WP Thyroid are
comparable or cost less than brand
names of levothyroxine.
What company makes Armour Thyroid?
Armour® Thyroid (
Forest Pharmaceuticals, LLC
; affiliate of Allergan, Dublin, Ireland) is a natural porcine derivative thyroid supplement that is frequently used without physician monitoring by health enthusiasts as a weight loss supplement.
Why is Armour Thyroid not recommended?
“Armour Thyroid is an antiquated product and has not been the standard of care for some time, as it is difficult to know the exact dose of thyroid hormone that the patient is taking,” Danielle Weiler, MD, a family physician in Brea, Calif., wrote in an email. “
It is generally not recommended by endocrinologists
.”
Is Nature-Throid the same as desiccated thyroid?
Desiccated thyroid extract: thyroid hormone pill made from animal thyroid glands. Currently desiccated thyroid extract is made from pig thyroids and is available as
Armour Thyroid
TM and Nature-ThroidTM.
What is the generic for Armour Thyroid?
Generic levothyroxine
and its brand name counterpart, Synthroid, are the most popular drugs for thyroid replacement therapy.
Who should not take Armour Thyroid?
You may not be able to use Armour Thyroid if you have a thyroid disorder called
thyrotoxicosis
, or an adrenal gland problem that is not controlled by treatment. Call your doctor if you have signs of thyroid toxicity, such as chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, feeling hot or nervous, or sweating more than usual.
Is there a substitute for Armour Thyroid?
Armour Thyroid is the most expensive brand of desiccated thyroid extract, but other DTE brands like
Nature-Throid, NP Thyroid
, and WP Thyroid are comparable or cost less than brand names of levothyroxine.
Which is better Armour Thyroid or levothyroxine?
Our research shows that patients generally feel
better on Armour Thyroid
compared to levothyroxine. Armour Thyroid is an effective medication to use for patients who remain symptomatic on levothyroxine and should be considered as a viable option in clinical practice.
Is natural thyroid better than synthetic?
These patients and others feel much better on a natural thyroid medication which contain T3 and T4 and some amounts of T2, T1 and Calcitonin. In our practice most patients feel
much
better, with more energy, and relief of symptoms when switching from synthetic to a natural thyroid.
How quickly does Armour Thyroid work?
Adequate therapy usually results in normal TSH and T4 levels after
2 to 3 weeks of therapy
. Readjustment of thyroid hormone dosage should be made within the first four weeks of therapy, after proper clinical and laboratory evaluations, including serum levels of T4, bound and free, and TSH.
What’s the best thyroid medication?
The most common treatment is
levothyroxine
(Levoxyl, Synthroid, Tirosint, Unithroid, Unithroid Direct), a man-made version of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4). It acts just like the hormone your thyroid gland normally makes. The right dose can make you feel a lot better.
What are the benefits of Armour Thyroid?
- irregular menstrual periods.
- anxiety.
- shallow breathing.
Is Armour Thyroid natural?
It is
a natural product made from animal thyroid glands (usually a pig’s)
. It replaces or provides more thyroid hormone, which is normally produced by the thyroid gland. Low thyroid hormone levels can occur naturally or when the thyroid gland is injured by radiation/medications or removed by surgery.
Why was Nature-Throid discontinued?
On September 3, 2020, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary recall by RLC Labs, Inc. for all batches of Nature-Throid
®
and WP Thyroid
®
. These products are being
recalled due to sub-potency with amounts of liothyronine (T3) or levothyroxine (T4) lower than specified
.
What is a substitute for Nature-Throid?
In 2017 patients faced similar shortages of Nature-Throid
®
and WP Thyroid
®
due to a world-wide shortage of pharmaceutical grade Thyroid USP.
NP Thyroid
®
(Acella Pharmaceuticals)
and Armour Thyroid
®
(Allergan) are two commercially available alternatives that patients and their practitioners may consider if appropriate.
Does Armour thyroid affect blood sugar?
Thyroid desiccated may interfere with blood glucose control
and reduce the effectiveness of metFORMIN and other diabetic medications. Monitor your blood sugar levels closely.
