Armour Thyroid Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

GoodRx Health

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.

What are the different Armour Thyroid dosage forms?

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.

What's the typical Armour Thyroid dosage for adults?

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.

What's the typical Armour Thyroid dosage for children?

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:

Your child's pediatrician will likely monitor their thyroid hormone levels and adjust the dose as needed based on their response.

Are there any dosage adjustments for age or medical conditions?

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.

What happens if you miss a dose of Armour Thyroid?

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.

What should you do if you take too much Armour Thyroid?

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.

How to save on Armour Thyroid

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.

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