16/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 16/08/2024 16:17
Key takeaways:
Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) contains thyroid hormones. It's taken to restore your thyroid hormone levels when they're low. But it's considered an unapproved medication, since the FDA hasn't confirmed that it is safe and effective.
The suggested starting dosage for adults is 30 mg once daily. Your prescriber will likely adjust your dosage every few weeks after that. Most adults end up taking 60 mg to 120 mg daily. The Armour Thyroid dosage for children is based on the child's age and body weight.
Armour Thyroid contains thyroid hormones from animals. And the amount of hormones isn't always consistent in each tablet. So be sure to let your healthcare team know if you experience symptoms of low or high thyroid hormone levels while you're taking Armour Thyroid.
Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) is a thyroid hormone medication that treats low thyroid levels in the body (hypothyroidism). Other medications for hypothyroidism, such as levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl) and liothyronine (Cytomel), contain lab-made versions of thyroid hormones. But Armour Thyroid contains thyroid hormones taken from animals, usually pigs. So some people consider it a more "natural" thyroid replacement option.
Armour Thyroid isn't FDA approved for any thyroid-related condition. It was on the market well before the FDA started requiring studies showing a medication's safety and effectiveness. Because of this, Armour Thyroid has an "unapproved" status and was grandfathered into use. This status means the FDA can't confirm that it's a safe and effective treatment.
Below, we'll review the suggested Armour Thyroid dosages. These are general guidelines, so your prescriber may recommend a dosage that differs from what's described here.
Armour Thyroid versus levothyroxine: Here's how these two thyroid hormone treatments compare.
Is Armour Thyroid Safe? Learn about the possible risks and benefits of older thyroid hormone treatments like Armour Thyroid.
Is your thyroid medication working? These are some simple ways you can tell if your thyroid medication is working the way it should.
You may see your Armour Thyroid dose expressed in mg, grains, or both. One grain equals about 60 mg. And 60 mg (one grain) of Armour Thyroid contains about 38 mcg of T4 and 9 mcg of T3.
Your thyroid also makes both T3 and T4. But the amounts in Armour Thyroid aren't the same as what your thyroid normally makes. This may make it harder to find the right Armour Thyroid dosage for your needs.
Armour Thyroid is available as oral tablets in the following doses:
15 mg (¼ grain)
30 mg (½ grain)
60 mg (1 grain)
90 mg (1 ½ grain)
120 mg (2 grain)
180 mg (3 grain)
240 mg (4 grain)
300 mg (5 grain)
Armour Thyroid is only commercially manufactured in tablets, so it may be difficult for young children to swallow. Speak with your healthcare team about the best way to give Armour Thyroid to your child in this case. They may recommend a different form of thyroid hormone medication.
The suggested starting dosage for Armour Thyroid in adults is 30 mg by mouth once a day for hypothyroidism. Your prescriber will likely check your thyroid function about 2 to 3 weeks after you start Armour Thyroid and adjust your dose based on those results. It's recommended to adjust your dose by 15 mg at a time.
A typical maintenance dose is 60 mg to 120 mg taken orally once a day. Doses of 180 mg or more aren't common. If it seems like you need a dose this high, it may be a sign that you aren't absorbing Armour Thyroid properly. A different medication may be necessary in this case.
Good to know: Currently, Armour Thyroid isn't recommended by the FDA or American Thyroid Association for the treatment of hypothyroidism or other thyroid-related conditions. But it's sometimes prescribed for those who don't respond well to levothyroxine, the first-choice treatment option. And some people report feeling better when taking Armour Thyroid versus levothyroxine. Be sure to speak with a healthcare professional about the risks and benefits of Armour Thyroid treatment before starting it.
In children, the Armour Thyroid dosage for hypothyroidism depends on age and weight. Younger children need more thyroid hormone to grow properly. As children get older, their thyroid hormone needs decrease.
Below are the recommended Armour Thyroid dosages for children based on age and body weight:
Age |
Daily dose based on weight |
0-6 months |
4.8-6 mg/kg |
6-12 months |
3.6-4.8 mg/kg |
1-5 years old |
3-3.6 mg/kg |
6-12 years old |
2.4-3 mg/kg |
Over 12 years |
1.2-1.8 mg/kg |
Your child's pediatrician will likely monitor their thyroid hormone levels and adjust the dose as needed based on their response.
If you have a heart condition, you may need a lower dose of Armour Thyroid. The suggested starting dosage in this case is 15 mg once daily. Your prescriber will check your thyroid function labs after a few weeks and adjust your dose from there.
If you develop chest pain, the dosage should be decreased. So be sure to report any heart-related side effects, such as a fast heartbeat or chest pain, to your healthcare team right away.
Adults over the age of 65 may also be at risk for heart-related side effects from Armour Thyroid. It's not recommended for older adults to take Armour Thyroid, owing to this risk.
If you miss an occasional dose of Armour Thyroid, it probably won't have a significant effect on your health. But missing multiple doses in a row may cause your hypothyroidism symptoms to return.
If you miss an Armour Thyroid dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it's almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed. You shouldn't take two doses at one time to make up for a missed dose.
Keep in mind that Armour Thyroid is usually a life-long medication. And if you're having trouble remembering to take it, it can affect your health. Consider using tools like a phone alarm or medication reminder app to help you remember. And let your prescriber know if you're forgetting doses, since it may affect your blood test results. If they don't know you're missing doses, they may think you need a higher dose than you actually do.
Since Armour Thyroid comes from an animal source, the amount of T3 and T4 in each tablet varies. This not only makes it harder to manage your thyroid levels, it can also put you at a greater risk of getting too much (or too little) of the medication.
Symptoms of too much Armour Thyroid are similar to the symptoms of having high thyroid hormone levels (hyperthyroidism). These include:
Fast heartbeat
Heat intolerance
Diarrhea
Feeling anxious or nervous
Sweating
Trouble sleeping
Contact your healthcare team if you notice any of these symptoms. They may check your thyroid hormone levels and adjust your dose.
Taking large amounts of Armour Thyroid can be dangerous. Coma, seizures, and mental changes can happen in severe cases. If you or a loved one takes a large amount of Armour Thyroid, contact your prescriber or reach out to Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away - even if you don't notice any symptoms. Overdose symptoms may take 3 to 10 days to appear in some people, so it's best to seek treatment before that happens.
There are ways to save on Armour Thyroid, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help make your prescription more affordable. And if you're uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Armour Thyroid's patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.
Armour Thyroid is made from thyroid hormone taken from the thyroid gland of pigs. Some people consider it a more "natural" form of thyroid hormone. But the ingredients can vary slightly between batches, which makes them less reliable than lab-made thyroid hormone. Since Armour thyroid is made from pigs, it may not be an appropriate treatment option for those who avoid pork products for religious reasons.
Both weight gain and weight loss are possible Armour Thyroid side effects. Though, it seems that weight loss is more commonly reported. Armour Thyroid may also result in more weight loss than treatment with levothyroxine for some people. Keep in mind that weight changes are common with hypothyroidism. Your healthcare team can review any weight changes that are concerning and take the appropriate action to help you manage them.
Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) helps restore your body's thyroid hormone when your levels are low (hypothyroidism). It isn't considered a first-choice medication for hypothyroidism, but may be helpful for those who don't respond to other treatments.
The suggested starting Armour Thyroid dosage for adults is 30 mg once daily. Your prescriber will likely adjust your dose every few weeks from there. Most adults take between 60 mg and 120 mg daily. The Armour Thyroid dosage for children is based on their age and body weight. Your pediatrician will help determine the best starting dosage for your child.
Keep in mind that Armour Thyroid isn't an FDA-approved medication, and the amount of thyroid hormone in each tablet can vary. So be sure to let your healthcare team know if you notice a change in your symptoms. They may want to check your thyroid hormone levels to make sure they're where they should be.
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