Armour
® Thyroid (
thyroid USP) is a prescription thyroid medication. It is considered to be a "natural" product, since it is made from thyroid glands of pigs.
The drug is manufactured by Forest Laboratories, Inc.
Contrary to what is implied by many Web sites, Armour Thyroid (as well as all other thyroid USP products) has never been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, this is not necessarily as bad as it sounds. Many prescription medications have never received FDA approval. Almost always, these are old medications that were in use long before the FDA existed or before certain laws and regulations were in place. For instance, phenobarbital (Luminal
®), a prescription
seizure medication, has never received FDA approval.
Synthetic thyroid replacement medications, sold under the name
levothyroxine (
Levoxyl®,
Levothroid®,
Synthroid®, and others) were also unapproved until recently. The FDA required each of these medications to perform the necessary studies and seek approval. It is possible that the FDA may require natural thyroid products to do the same in the future. Until then, the lack of FDA approval for Armour Thyroid may be a cause for concern. For instance, the prescribing information for the drug does not meet the usual FDA standards, since it does not list the possible side effects, except for a few listed with the warnings and precautions.
Armour Thyroid contains thyroid USP, which means that the manufacturer has prepared the medication according to the formulation or "recipe" of the United States Pharmacopeia (a non-governmental organization) and that Armour Thyroid should meet certain consistency and potency standards.
How Does Armour Thyroid Work?
The thyroid gland makes two different thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and
thyroid USP (T4). Usually, the thyroid gland produces much more T4 than T3; however, T3 is much more active than T4. The body can convert the T4 hormone into T3 as necessary. If your thyroid does not make enough thyroid hormones, there are a few different ways to increase your levels.
Most people with an underactive thyroid are treated with synthetic T4, also known as
levothyroxine (
Levoxyl,
Levothroid,
Synthroid, and others). However, some people prefer to be treated with natural thyroid products, such as Armour Thyroid. Armour Thyroid consists of ground-up pig thyroid glands, so it contains both T3 and T4.
When and How Do I Take It?
General considerations for when and how to take Armour Thyroid include the following:
- The medication comes in tablet form and is taken once a day.
- Although the prescribing information for Armour Thyroid does not mention this, it is best to take the drug on an empty stomach, 30 to 60 minutes before a meal.
- Since the tablets contain ground-up pig thyroid, they have a very characteristic odor that many people consider to be unpleasant.
- Your healthcare provider will adjust your Armour Thyroid dose based on certain blood tests. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have missed any of your doses, as this may affect any adjustments.
- Try to take your dose at the same time each day to keep an even level in your blood.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. It will not work if you stop taking it.
The dose that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- The results of certain thyroid blood tests
- Your age
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Any other medications you are taking.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Armour Thyroid. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. Serious side effects are less common.
Some of the possible side effects of Armour Thyroid include, but are not limited to:
(Click Armour Thyroid Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Armour Thyroid if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What If I Take an Overdose of Armour Thyroid?
People who take too much Armour Thyroid may have overdose symptoms that can include:
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you forget to take your Armour Thyroid dose, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose. Each time you get your blood tests to monitor your thyroid function, be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have missed any doses, as this may affect any dose adjustments.
The tablets come in the following strengths:
- Armour Thyroid ¼ grain (15 mg)
- Armour Thyroid ½ grain (30 mg)
- Armour Thyroid 1 grain (60 mg)
- Armour Thyroid 1½ grain (90 mg)
- Armour Thyroid 2 grain (120 mg)
- Armour Thyroid 3 grain (180 mg)
- Armour Thyroid 4 grain (240 mg)
- Armour Thyroid 5 grain (300 mg).
Is There a Generic Version of Armour Thyroid?
Currently, several different generic versions of Armour Thyroid are available, although there is no way to know whether they are really equivalent to Armour Thyroid, since none of these products are approved by the FDA.
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