- Armour thyroid is not the only NDT medication available, and if it doesn't work for you, other formulations like NP Thyroid or Adthyza may be a better fit.
- Armour thyroid contains both T4 and T3 thyroid hormones in a fixed ratio, which gives it an advantage over T4-only medications like levothyroxine for many patients.
- Inactive ingredients and fillers in Armour thyroid can cause reactions in some patients, so switching to a different NDT brand with different fillers may solve the problem.
- Your doctor may not be aware of all the NDT options available, so being an informed patient and knowing what alternatives exist can help you advocate for better treatment.
- Armour thyroid dosing is measured in grains, with each grain containing 38 mcg of T4 and 9 mcg of T3, and your optimal dose will depend on your individual needs and lab results.
I’m a big fan of Armour thyroid (and other formulations of NDT) and have used it on many, many patients.
But, like any prescription medication, Armour thyroid has some important aspects that you should be aware of as a patient.
If you are someone who is considering using Armour Thyroid, if you are someone who is already taking Armour Thyroid, or if you just want to be an informed thyroid patient, then I think you’ll find this information both helpful and interesting.
#1. It’s not the only NDT formulation
Armour thyroid is one of the oldest drugs available to treat hypothyroidism.
It has fallen out of favor but because it’s so old many physicians (both old and new) are aware that it exists.
And, believe it or not, this plays a big role in why so many people are taking it.
Many physicians are simply not aware of the newer medications (some of which have come out in the last year or two) such as Tirosint and Tirosint-Sol (these are T4-only medications but I’m using them to point out that most physicians are not educated when it comes to thyroid management).
It’s very possible, and perhaps probable, that your doctor is really only aware of a handful of thyroid medications.
These may include medications such as Synthroid, levothyroxine, and perhaps Armour thyroid.
If Armour thyroid is the only formulation of NDT that your doctor is aware of then it’s probably the first thing that he/she will put you on if you don’t do well on Synthroid/levothyroxine.
This may be fine for some of you, but I want you to at least be aware of the other formulations as well.
Why?
Because these formulations can be used in instances where you may not respond to Armour thyroid.
Due to reasons such as inactive binders/fillers, you may not respond to Armour thyroid and it may actually make your symptoms worse.
But, even if this does happen it doesn’t mean that you need to avoid all formulations of NDT!
In fact, simply switching to another formulation of NDT may be enough to resolve your symptoms.
Before you jump off the NDT bandwagon be sure to at least check out these other formulations.
I’ve written in detail about these thyroid medications (and others) and their pros and cons in other articles which you can look to for more information.
Other formulations of NDT include:
- NP Thyroid
- Nature-throid (not currently available)
- WP Thyroid (not currently available)
- Adthyza
- Thyrolar (1)
- Armour thyroid (the one we are discussing today)
- And many others depending on the country you live in (these may be referred to as NDT or natural desiccated thyroid hormone)
#2. Armour thyroid may be better for weight loss compared to other thyroid medications
I go over this topic a little more in detail on #7 when I discuss that many people actually prefer NDT formulations over T4-only formulations.
You can skip there to see the studies that cite that Armour thyroid helps promote weight loss more than T4-only medications.
Here, I just want to introduce you to that fact and explain it in a little more detail.
Are some thyroid medications better at helping with weight loss?
The answer to this question is quite complex but I can say the answer is a definitive yes.
I’m not going to go into all of the details about why this is the case but I do want to point out one major reason.
And that reason has to do with T3 thyroid hormone.
T3 thyroid hormone is the most active thyroid hormone and Armour thyroid contains this medication.
This is unique because most patients are taking Synthroid which does NOT contain T3.
T3, because it is the most potent thyroid hormone, has been shown to directly stimulate your metabolism (2).
By revving up your metabolism it will help increase your basal body temperature, normalize your heart rate, and improve the amount of energy that you burn.
All of these things contribute to the thermogenic effect (3) seen when using T3.
So, T3 absolutely can help with weight loss but it shouldn’t be used as a weight-loss therapy.
What do I mean?
I mean that T3 thyroid hormone should only be used if you are deficient in this hormone.
If you abuse it (meaning if you take it while still having normal thyroid function), you open the door to potentially causing harm to your body.
The good news is that most people with thyroid-related issues ALSO have low T3 levels.
This means that using T3, in this setting, is perfectly safe and healthy.
In fact, it’s probably just bringing your metabolism up to what it should be assuming you had a normal and healthy functioning thyroid.
The fact that many people with thyroid disease are overweight probably suggests that many of these people have a sluggish metabolism due to their thyroid.
#3. It’s one of the most expensive formulations of NDT
Believe it or not, Armour thyroid is the most expensive formulation of NDT!
This information is according to the cash price (also confirmed by calling local pharmacies) on goodrx.com.
This website shows the cash price of a 30-day supply of 60mg of Armour thyroid:
It will run you around $30.00 per month if you don’t have insurance (sometimes it will be that price even if you do have insurance).
You can compare this to other NDT formulations, such as NP Thyroid, which is around $8.00 per month for 30 tablets of 60mg:
So, that’s potentially a savings of around $20 per month (assuming cash price) if you use one formulation over the other.
While price is certainly not the only thing you should consider or even the most important thing you should consider, when looking at your thyroid medication, it can still be an important factor for many people.
If you find that you’ve already tried NP thyroid it didn’t work for you then paying more for Armour thyroid may make sense.
But if you are paying just because your doctor put you on it without trying other formulations then you may want to at least consider them.
You can switch to a different formulation of NDT such as NP thyroid or Adthyza on a grain-for-grain basis.
So, let’s say you are currently taking 1.5 grains (90 mg) of Armour thyroid.
This would get you the same equivalent doses of T4 and T3 even though the mg dosage is slightly different (this doesn’t affect the amount of T3 and T4 that you are consuming).
#4. Armour thyroid contains animal products
Hopefully, this doesn’t come as a surprise to you but Armour Thyroid contains animal products.
In fact, it is sourced from the thyroid glands of pigs (porcine-derived).
Armour thyroid is created by taking the thyroid glands, mashing them, drying them out, and then ensuring that each ‘grain’ of medication contains a specific amount of T4 and T3 thyroid hormones.
The fact that Armour comes from pigs is not necessarily a big deal by itself, but it certainly should be something that you are aware of.
Why?
For a couple of reasons:
The first is that it contains animal proteins in addition to the thyroid hormones that your body needs.
These animal proteins are important because they are not HUMAN proteins.
It is possible (though it does not happen often) for your immune system to react negatively to these proteins and to trigger an immune response.
This immune response may lead to the triggering of autoimmune thyroid symptoms from thyroid antibodies or other low-grade symptoms such as headache, fatigue, etc.
This problem remains mostly a theoretical problem in that it’s something that can potentially happen but doesn’t occur in most people.
For most people, your intestinal tract and stomach acid are sufficient to completely (or at least sufficiently) break down these animal proteins so that they don’t enter into your bloodstream.
As long as your body is producing sufficient stomach acid then this is probably not an issue you need to worry about.
Also, by the way, there may also be some additional benefits to consuming animal glands beyond the benefits that thyroid hormone provides directly.
Many supplements, including my thyroid/adrenal supplement, contain what are known as animal glandulars.
These are desiccated and concentrated components of the glands of animals that seem to provide a stimulatory response in the body. They probably also contain ingredients that can help stimulate our own target organs.
You can read more about these glandulars and how they may positively impact health here.
While it may seem weird to consume the gland of another animal it’s not that weird when you consider humans have been eating the organs of animals (such as the liver) for many health benefits.
Liver, for instance, is incredibly high in Vitamin A and iron (4), and, as an organ meat, is considered to be a healthy source of vitamins and nutrients.
These organ meats were considered to be the healthiest part of the animal in some modern hunter/gatherer tribes.
So try to forget about how weird it is and keep your eye on the benefits.
#5. Armour Thyroid contains both T4 and T3
This one probably isn’t a surprise for many of you but it’s still worth pointing out.
Armour thyroid falls into the class of Natural Desiccated Thyroid medications.
These medications are notoriously beneficial because they contain more than just the standard T4 thyroid hormone (known as Thyroxine) in medications such as levothyroxine and Synthroid.
Armour thyroid contains BOTH T4 and T3.
Each grain of Armour thyroid contains 38 mcg of T4 and 9 mcg of T3.
This ratio is roughly about 77:23 which is somewhat close to the 80:20 ratio of T4:T3 that your thyroid gland produces naturally.
Some doctors will suggest that Armour thyroid (and other NDT formulations) should not be used because they contain too much T3 compared to what the body produces naturally.
But more recent studies (5) show that healthy thyroid glands produce around 80% T4 and around 20% T3.
Some doctors try to suggest that the thyroid gland produces 95% T4 and 5% T3 (or somewhere near that amount) but these values are not supported by more recent studies.
Why should you care that it contains T3?
I think the most important reason is that T3 is by far the most biologically active thyroid hormone (6).
It’s roughly 300x more potent than T4 at stimulating the thyroid receptors in your cells.
Pretty much everything you want thyroid hormone to do stems from the direct actions of T3 thyroid hormone.
Why isn’t it used more frequently?
Most doctors are simply not comfortable using it or feel that it is too powerful or too difficult to dose.
They can’t, nor should they try, to downplay the effectiveness of T3 in stimulating thyroid receptors.
This is probably one of the main reasons that many people do better on Armour thyroid compared to thyroid medications which contain just T4.
#6. Armour thyroid contains other ingredients beyond just thyroid hormones
I mentioned this previously in another section when I discussed that Armour thyroid contains both T4 and T3.
Because Armour is sourced from animal thyroid glands, it also contains additional ingredients which are also found inside of thyroid glands.
This includes hormones, proteins, additional thyroid hormones, and probably other pre-cursors that we aren’t aware of.
Most important to this conversation is the fact that Armour contains the thyroid hormone T2 and Calcitonin.
T2 is a biologically active thyroid hormone that is found in humans and seems to play an important role in regulating fat burn and metabolism (7).
As long as you have a functioning thyroid gland your body will produce T2 in addition to T3 and T4.
But, if you have had your thyroid gland removed by surgery or destroyed by RAI then your body isn’t producing it anymore.
For this reason, it has been suggested that Armour thyroid (and other brands of NDT) may be preferable to this patient population over T4-only formulations such as Synthroid.
Why?
Because it can be argued that Armour provides a more complete array of thyroid hormones and other hormones that the body needs.
It’s of course still possible to not have a thyroid and do somewhat well on T4-only medications, but the chances are high that you will feel even better on a T4 + T3 combination, especially one that includes the other thyroid hormones such as T2.
This concept has become more popular recently as studies have shown that people without a thyroid tend to have lower T3 levels than healthy people if they only take T4.
I suspect that over the coming years (perhaps around 10 years or so) it will be much more common for people without a functioning thyroid to be placed on a combination of both T4 and T3.
#7. It has a better track record compared to levothyroxine/Synthroid
Surprisingly, this is not only my own personal opinion but also the opinion of certain clinical studies.
Researchers have already done some of the heavy lifting for us so let’s evaluate one study to get a better idea of how people respond to medications such as Armour thyroid.
In this study (8), researchers placed patients on either levothyroxine or thyroid extract (another name for NDT).
They kept these patients on these medications for 16 weeks and then swapped them for another medication.
So some patients were placed on levothyroxine first for 16 weeks and then transitioned to thyroid extract for another 16 weeks.
The other group of patients was on thyroid extract first for 16 weeks and then transitioned to levothyroxine for another 16 weeks.
At the end of this 32-week period they then simply asked patients how they felt on the different medications.
What did they find?
They found that those people who were on thyroid extract (abbreviated DTE which stands for desiccated thyroid extract) experienced more weight loss compared to the people who were only on levothyroxine alone.
The study also concluded that about half of the people or around 48.6 percent of people had a preference for DTE over levothyroxine.
They also showed that patients lost around 4 pounds simply switching thyroid medication and had a subjective improvement in their symptoms (meaning they felt less fatigue, less hair loss, fewer aches/pains, better concentration, better sleep, improved memory, etc.).
One important factor that this study revealed was that people who are overweight and those with a higher reverse T3 level tend to prefer NDT over T4.
So if you are someone who has some extra weight to lose your body may do better on Armour.
If, on the other hand, your weight is relatively normal (or just slightly higher than you’d like), T4-only medication may be preferable.
This isn’t an exact science but something to consider.
Lastly, another important point worth mentioning is that people in this study did NOT experience any negative side effects on either therapy which suggests that Armour (if dosed correctly) is quite safe.
#8. It is not the name brand of NP thyroid
This is important to understand because your pharmacy likely considers Armour Thyroid to be the name brand for NP thyroid.
Both medications are formulations of Natural Desiccated Thyroid but they are certainly not the same.
Both medications have the same amounts of T4 and T3 grain for grain, but they do differ in their inactive ingredients.
Armour thyroid contains the following ingredients (9):
- Triiodothyronine (active ingredient)
- Thyroxine (active ingredient)
- Calcium stearate
- Dextrose
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Sodium starch glycolate
- Opadry white
- Minor amounts of calcitonin, T1, T2, and proteins
NP thyroid contains the following ingredients:
- Triiodothyronine (active ingredient)
- Thyroxine (active ingredient)
- Calcium stearate
- Dextrose Monohydrate
- Maltodextrin
- Mineral oil
- Minor amounts of calcitonin, T1, T2, and proteins
Why does this matter?
Because the inactive ingredients found in these medications may have an impact on how well you tolerate it!
Switching from Armour to NP thyroid or from NP thyroid to Armour may actually be enough to trigger the onset of hypothyroid symptoms.
You should be aware of the difference between these medications so that you know if your pharmacy tries to swap the medications on you without you knowing it.
And yes, pharmacists can do this because these medications are considered “bioequivalent” (10) from the insurance perspective.
So if your insurance wants the cheaper formulation (which is NP Thyroid), your pharmacist can make the switch.
If you want to ensure that you get Armour thyroid filled you may need to have your doctor write “dispense as written” on your prescription.
In addition, you can make a special request for Armour thyroid when you go to pick up your medication and just pay the cash price.
Don’t be afraid to do this, especially if you feel worse on NP thyroid, because the cash price is typically around $20-30 per month.
It may be worth the extra expense if it dramatically improves your quality of life.
#9. Transferring from levothyroxine to Armour requires dose adjustments
If you are switching from levothyroxine or Synthroid over to Armour thyroid then you must consider how to adjust your dose during the transition.
Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as just saying “Well, I’m taking 100mcg of levothyroxine so I will need 100mg of Armour thyroid”.
Why is the transition so difficult?
The main reason has to do with the fact that Armour thyroid contains T3 in addition to T4.
And, because T3 is so much more powerful when compared to T4 it’s difficult to pinpoint what an equivalent dose would be.
Most standard textbooks will give you a conversion chart that looks similar to this:
The standard conversion states that 100mcg of Synthroid/levothyroxine is equal to 60mg of Armour thyroid.
But there’s one big issue with this conversion chart…
Most people who go by this conversion chart end up with a rising TSH and persistent symptoms of hypothyroidism when they transition.
These symptoms seem to suggest that using this chart results in insufficient dosing.
In fact, newer studies (11) suggest a conversion that is more similar to this:
This chart suggests that 100mcg of T4 is equivalent to 68mg of Armour thyroid (which is more than the “standard” conversion listed above).
My own personal experience suggests that 1 grain of Armour thyroid is probably closer to 75mcg of T4.
Because there’s quite a bit of debate about how to transition appropriately, just be sure that you give your body enough time to acclimate to the changes and be sure to monitor your thyroid lab tests.
Also, don’t be alarmed if you suddenly increase some worsening symptoms upon transitioning.
This will most likely be temporary and is probably related to your dose, especially if it is insufficient.
#10. Armour may impact your thyroid lab tests differently than other thyroid medications
Lastly, you should be aware that Armour thyroid causes some changes to your thyroid lab tests which are not necessarily the same as levothyroxine.
Because Armour contains T3 it tends to cause a more pronounced and powerful drop in your TSH.
It has been estimated that T3 is roughly 3-4x more potent (12) than T4 at reducing the TSH.
This may cause more of a drop in your TSH than you are used to with other T4-only medications.
In addition, because it contains T3, Armour will cause a more pronounced increase in your free T3 levels.
It may also cause a drop in your free T4 levels as well.
This pattern may be confusing to newer patients (and plenty of physicians) so it is something you should be aware of.
The pattern itself is not necessarily an issue but it may make interpreting your lab tests slightly more difficult.
To recap, you may find the following changes to your thyroid lab tests when transitioning to Armour thyroid:
- A more pronounced drop in TSH compared to T4-only medications.
- A more pronounced rise in free T3 levels compared to T4 medications.
- The potential for a drop in free T4 levels (T4 medications tend to raise this value)
- The potential for a drop or rise in reverse T3 (depending on the situation)
- A more pronounced rise in total T3 levels
- The potential for a drop in your thyroid antibody levels
*Note: These are only rough guidelines and may not apply to all patients.
Conclusion
Armour thyroid is a great thyroid medication, but it’s certainly not the only game in town.
I find that Armour thyroid is a great option, especially for patients who do not have a thyroid or for whom their thyroid has been destroyed.
This is probably because it contains special ingredients and thyroid hormones not found in other formulations.
But, that doesn’t mean it won’t or can’t work for other patient populations as well.
I find that Armour (or other formulations of NDT) represents a GREAT starting point for many thyroid patients.
Now I want to hear from you:
Are you someone who is currently using Armour Thyroid?
Are you someone considering using Armour Thyroid?
If you are taking it, how are you responding?
Do you feel your dose is adequate?
If you are considering it, what things are preventing you from using it?
Leave your questions or comments below!
Scientific References
#1. https://reference.medscape.com/drug/thyrolar-liotrix-342737
#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5974034/
#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8808101
#4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3417664/
#5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12915350/
#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699302/
#7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4272398/
#8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23539727
#9. https://www.allergan.com/assets/pdf/armourthyroid_pi
#10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4157693/
#11. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/98/5/1982/2536971
#12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/402379
THANK YOU SO MUCH for this information!!!
My TSH dropped, just as you mentioned.
But, I was puzzled until I read your page!!
jb
Hi Jb,
Glad you found it helpful!
My Armour was switched to NP without my knowledge. After the recent formulation problems it has made me feel awful and hypo and hyper symptoms: tired, depression, anxiety, no energy, digestive issues and feeling shaky after taking the med.
I want to switch back to Armour, will that be difficult? I am on 30 mg of NP, lowered from.60 due to weight loss. All my blood work is normal, TPO is 33 and I don’t have my reverse t3 back yet.
I would like to stop it all together but have been taking it for over 10 years and they say it isn’t possible.
Thank you!
Hi Kim,
It should not be difficult to get Armour thyroid. Some pharmacies consider NP thyroid the generic to Armour thyroid and may swap you to NP thyroid if your insurance doesn’t cover Armour. You just need the doctor to write DAW “dispense as written” on your prescription and it will force the pharmacy to fill Armour instead of NP thyroid.
What is the best way to take armour thyroid when pregnant? My endocrinologist didn’t know what to do and it resulted in a miscarriage. I was also under a lot of stress do to a custody battle for my stepson. Please help so I can avoid a miscarriage in the future. Armour thyroid was the only time that I can get pregnant.
Hi Yana,
I’m not sure I understand the question. Are you referring to the dose or how to actually take the medication? In either event, I would recommend reading this article which outlines the use of T3 during pregnancy: https://www.restartmed.com/using-t3-thyroid-hormone-during-pregnancy-is-it-safe/
I have been using Armour for 5 and 1/2 years now and switched from Levo. because I did not convert T4 to T3 well. I have no other frame of reference than my experience and what I have read from others. I am not the same after a thyroidectomy and am beginning to think I never will be. Life is different but I am thankful for Armour.
Hi Thomas,
It’s definitely possible to get close to 100% even after thyroid removal but it does take a lot of work and micromanaging of thyroid medication.
Hi,
I had my thyroid removed due to medullary thyroid cancer 5 years ago. I am currently taking 100mg of Synthroid. My doctor is now wanting to add Armour 15mg to my current dose of Synthroid. Is this common or is it dangerous to take 2 thyroid medications? I am fatigued very easily. Please let me know your opinion on this. Thank you
Hi Angie,
It’s very common to use more than 1 thyroid medication so that isn’t an issue. Adding Armour thyroid to Synthroid is a little unusual but still happens. It’s often best to add pure T3 to Synthroid like Cytomel or liothyronine but pretty much any combination has the potential to work.
Can you please tell me why so many people have thyroid issues? I am just curious. I’ve had hypothryoidism since I was 19 years old… I’m 53 now.
Thank you,
Kathi
Hi Kathi,
It’s likely a combination of more awareness, better and more readily available testing, and an increase in lifestyle factors that contribute to its development (stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, lack of exercise, endocrine disruptors, etc.).
I am a 56 year old post menopausal woman with slightly low free T4 (1.0, range 0.8-1.8) and free T3 (3.2, range 2.3-4.2) and a TSH of 2.24, range 0.4-4.50 and Reverse T3 of 10. I was recently put on Armour 30 mg, starting it on Jan.1, 2023. Since then, my fasting blood sugars have risen at least by 20 points! My average FBS in Oct. was 90…today mine was 120! This is despite following Whole30 diet all of January. I have been keeping my carbs low and eating very little added sugar. I eat a clean, whole foods diet. Doing some research, I’m finding that Armour can raise your blood sugar. I would like to go off of the Armour 30 mg and simply try natural supplements to boost my thyroid. Have you noticed a rise in blood sugar with Armour? And what supplements do you think would benefit me? Thanks for you help!
Hi Jo,
Thyroid hormones have the potential to impact blood sugar levels but only if your dosing is off. If you are using them appropriately then they shouldn’t impact insulin or blood sugar levels negatively. Having said that, it’s always a good idea to try natural treatments. In terms of supplements, you’d want to look at this bundle: https://www.restartmed.com/product/hypothyroid-bundle/
could not tolerate synthroid. made me speed. i have no wight or energry issues.
My insurance doesn’t want to cover it alot. pays a little. it s worked for me, dr has had to adjust dose, it ‘s fine now.
Hi Elf,
You can always pay cash for Synthroid even if your insurance won’t cover it. It’s not usually crazy expensive.
Hello Dr. Childs,
Do you feel basal body temp is a good way to regulate the thyroid? Mine goes up and down but recently, all my hair began to fall out and now is totally brittle to the point where I can no longer brush it and it is a huge mat on my head. I lost 15 pounds as well. It could be just from severe stress and overdoing but I wonder if I am taking too much armour as all is in range but t4 is low plus I also ingest an herbal formula with kelp.
Since I am ingesting the kelp, perhaps I do not need the Armour at 6-8 15 mg tabs daily? Should i try just using the kelp and see if my hair gets better. It is also very very difficult to gain weight and I am quite thin at 105 pounds at 5′ 6″. How will I know you respnded to this? Will it be in my email box? Hope you can help as docs no zilch- just writing hte prescrip based on tsh. my ferritin,rbc,wbc tad low as well. LDL slightly above range? Too much sugar or sat fat? Trying to only eat veggies, beans. whole grains, soaked nuts and seeds, fruit. Thank you for any feedback.
Hi Doctor, I’m 73 years old and have been on Armour thyroid since I was 50. I had cervical disk problems and had two surgeries excisions where they come in thought the front of the neck. The larynx and thyroid must be moved aside to get at the discs. The two surgeries were only months apart. After the first during therapy where I had to lift ten pound weight from low to higher shelves. It was during this the second disc went that necessitated another disc excision. Whittington a matter of months I began having thyroid issues and started on Armour …I asked my doc for it and he said ok let’s try.
In past six months after my doctor wanted to give me a lowered dose, my hair started to fall out and I felt like crap. My t3 and t4 lowered significantly so I asked to go back to original dose. I have been back on it now for about a month and see less hair loss and even some new growth!
Can you tell me what the optimum reading from blood work would be. I see the range after blood test and I’m always on the low end for both reading t3 and t4.
Thanks
Hi Kristin,
You can find the optimal levels for all thyroid lab tests here: https://www.restartmed.com/normal-thyroid-levels/
Thank you for this information. I am currently on 180mgs of Armour and I was wondering if I should add some t2. I am have put on approx 10 lbs over the last year and having trouble getting it off despite a good healthy diet and excercise.
Thank you
Hi Teri,
It can definitely be considered. My general approach for T2 is a trial to see how someone does while taking it. From there they can determine how they feel and whether or not they should continue taking it for the long-term.
Hello Dr Childs –
Yes I am on Armour thyroid. Have been since Natures Thyroid recall.
If you are taking it, how are you responding?
I was on Natures Thyroid (97.5) before the recall and was feeling great! Weight was awesome ! Hardly any issues. Labs were fine. all in line.
Recall late 2020 / early 2021 – Then the switch to Armour , nothing but down hill. Throw in some high stress and even more down hill. Pandemic .
No diet change. No Alcohol. Gluten free as much as possible. No Dairy. 100% grass feed proteins and organic seafood. lots of good vegetables. Good fats – avocado, coconut. Weight gain even though I work out and do yoga weekly. I take vitamin supplements for thyroid health.
My Armour dosage is up to 3 grains, triple what the natures thyroid dosage was.
My pharmacist tells me that Natures Thyroid is becoming more available again , I am going to request my DO to switch back.
I dont feel that Armour Thyroid has been working for me.
Suggestions?
Hi Bob,
You can learn more about alternatives to Armour thyroid and what thyroid medications are working best for thyroid patients right now in this article: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-medications-that-work/
I have only used Armour and it has been many years. Last fall I was unaware of an abscessed tooth because it was draining. My January dental exam made me aware of it. I thought my thyroid needed an adjustment because my usual off feelings were there and constipation was bad. I also became dizzy. So knowing the abscess was draining I wondered if this was the cause as I’d never been dizzy before. My TSH was lower than I ever had, my free T4 was down a bit and free T3 was high, much like your description of transition from synthetic to Armour. My blood pressure has also become high. I am still fuzzy brain and low energy. Is my Armour dose too high? I don’t feel jittery but am concerned that my blood work this week has remained the same: very low TSH with high T3. My doctor not concerned but isn’t real knowledgeable about Armour. My endocrinologist who started me has retired a few years ago. Is blood pressure something that should lower if thyroid is stable? Thanks for any insight you might give.
Hi Linda,
Low thyroid function leads to high blood pressure and taking too much thyroid medication can cause the same problem. You can learn more about the relationship between thyroid medication, thyroid status, and blood pressure in this article: https://www.restartmed.com/weight-loss-naturethroid/
RAI Therapy put me on Levo, followed by Synthroid, since 2008 which started 15+ years of no sleep, dizziness, high blood pressure, weight gain, etc. Last August I started taking Armour (due to negative side effects I read about Synthroid) and I no longer have shakiness before bedtime, my blood pressure has normalized, and the dizziness has stopped. The rough part has been getting the proper dosage. 90mg was too high, 60mg too low, and now I’m alternating. Just hoping Armour turns out to be the best solution.
Hi Susan,
It may be! It always requires trial and error to figure out what works best for each person: https://www.restartmed.com/how-to-optimize-thyroid-medication/
I was originally on level thyroxine felt horrible then was put on level thyroxine and liothyronine didn’t seem much different then put on armor thyroid 60mg and liothyronine 5mcgand my last test came back that my t3 was just one point low so my doctor doesn’t know if I should just take Armour Thyroid only or liothyronine only or go back on level thyroxine. I don’t understand his way of thinking.
Dr. Childs,
I am currently on 50 mg of Synthroid. I told my primary that recently more hair was falling out, skin was much dryer, and I was having trouble getting my weight down. She prescribed 15 mg of Armour to take along with the 50 mg of Synthroid. Is this common and safe to do? I actually forgot to ask her about this as we were discussing hormones and time got away. I trust you! Thanks in advance for any suggestions or guidance.
Hi Pat,
I wouldn’t say it’s common but some providers do it. In my opinion, it’s usually better to just take all Armour thyroid or to combine levothyroxine with liothyronine instead of using both levo + armour together.
Interesting info! I don’t know where Armour Thyroid is as inexpensive as stated in your article. Where I live it is $99/mo with Good Rx across the board. And now the pharmacy is having trouble filling the Rx is there a shortage? Medicare + Supplemental pharmacy ins does not cover it.
Hi Monica,
It looks like the prices have fluctuated since I originally wrote the article. As far as pricing goes, though, it’s not uncommon for prices to vary somewhat dramatically from location to location and from pharmacy to pharmacy. But I can confirm that I am also seeing $99 for Armour Thyroid in my location as well so it’s possible they may have standardized the price more recently.
It does appear that there are some shortages for certain doses, including the 30, 60, and 120 mg tablets, so that may be what’s contributing as well.
I’ve been on Armour Thyroid for 25 years. I started out trying all of the synthetic meds and couldn’t tolerate them. Since I became post menopausal in 2020, my Thyroid has been impossible to regulate! My current endocrinologist wants me to switch to tirosint(levothyroxine sodium). I’m terrified! She also gave me an estrogen patch. It seems that my Thyroid is fluctuating with my female hormones, so I’d rather try the estrogen and see if my Armour can then get my Thyroid back under control. What do you you think? Any advice appreciated!
Hi Cristy,
The best thing you can do is drop your endo for someone who actually knows what they are talking about: https://www.restartmed.com/endocrinologist-for-thyroid/
From there, you just need a combination of T4, T3, T2 to get to optimal ranges. Sprinkle in some progesterone and a few lifestyle changes and you’ll be set. It’s pretty simple, provided the person giving the medication knows what they are talking about.
Here are some resources:
https://www.restartmed.com/normal-thyroid-levels/
https://www.restartmed.com/diet-low-carbohydrate-high-fat/
Thank you so much!
I am hypo for 30 years now and I can even distinguish stages of severity.
Under T4 Mono I am hypo all the time. Under T3 Mono all my issues resolved but returned in extreme form when the T3 was dropping. This was impossible to handle. And now – surprise: I now tried NDT and I have the exact same issues with the T3 bound to protein. When the T3 drops I get very hypo. When the T3 drops I get my most severe hypo symptoms, especially in brain and heart. My hypo gets even more severe than under T4 Mono. So at the end I prefer feeling sick all day instead of these extreme ups and downs. The ups and downs are even more sickening then feeling constantly sick.
As soon as I have a T4/T3 combination in my body (no matter if Levo and T3 or NDT) it seems to use up the T3 very fast and then gets hpo. Have you ever heard of these issues? Why does my body not use the T4 at all? As soon as I have T3 in my system from medication, the T4 conversion seems to slow down even more.
I come to the conclusion that the extreme duration of me being hypo is the problem and in reality the need of T3 is so high, that my body craves it very much.
To be honest I was shocked, that I have the same dropping issues with NDT than with the T3.
I was wrongly advised with T3 only and had to return to T4 again, because the drops were unbearable. I once wrote here that I felt like a Junkie. Since T3 mono T4 works even far less which is pretty logical since my body again activated the pathways for it. I have no idea how to get the T3 into my system without suffering even more. I doubt that T4 and T2 would do the trick.
I WISH I knew what to think about Armour. At 18 years post total thyroidectomy, I’ve been through about every medication there is. Currently on Armour 60 mg once per day and Liothyronine 25 mcg twice per day. My main issue right now is that I’ve had traumatizing hair loss for 5 years. It began when I was on NP Thyroid, but accelerated after starting my current Armour/Lio dose. The problem is, in that same time period, I went through menopause, had a lot of stress, and at about two years into that 5 year period, found that I had high toxicity and low mitochondrial function. I worked with my naturopath to help with the mitochondria, but I don’t think I’m back to 100%. The hair loss continues. It is the single most important thing for me to solve right now, but I don’t know which factor triggered it, so I don’t know if Armour plays a part or perhaps I could need more Armour and less Liothyronine. I’m do TONS of research and this issue is on my mind 24/7, but I’m so totally lost at this point. There are too many variables and without knowing which one is causing the prolonged hair loss, I don’t know where to turn anymore. … but I’m miserable. This has affected my whole life and outlook.
Hi Dr. I was on Armour 75 for years and then in April, without my knowledge was switched to NP thyroid 75. I’ve been experiencing severe heart palpitations and sleep disturbances. Have you seen this in your patients? Am I having a reaction to NP thyroid or is my dosing to high? My TSH is a bit low, but my doctor prefers not to reduce the dosage.
Hi Lida,
It’s probably related to your sensitivity of T3 and/or your dose.
Hello Dr. Childs. Thank you for all of the helpful articles and information. I will try to quickly get to the point. I have been Hypothroid. The prescription that changed my life was compounded: I think it was Armour.
THYROID (USP) 90MG/SELENOMETHIONINE 10MG. My Dr. is trying to refill it, and the pharmacy said the formula had to be changed to 0.125. I don’t know what that means, and I have had no response from my Dr. I don’t know if this is a state thing or federal.
Question. I have Gout. I’ve had to quit eating beef. Would your desiccated bovine supplement possibly cause Gout flareups?
Thank you,
Sherron
Hi Sherron,
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to say for sure, but I would say it’s very unlikely.
My doctor took me off of armor thyroid after I’ve been on it a number of years when she changed me to Synthroid I gained 5 pounds a week for six weeks and my doctor said it was because my body just naturally wanted to be overweight. I’ve since changed back to Armour Thyroid having changed doctors, but I haven’t been able to lose weight and I have other side effects that are not side effects but things that have occurred like a change in bowel movements. It seems like my body absorbs everything I eat and does not eliminate hardly anything Are there any solutions to this so you know of thank you.
Hi Shelly,
You did not gain weight because your body naturally wants to be overweight. This almost always happens because the doctor underdosed the conversion from Armour Thyroid to Synthroid. It’s very common for patients to be shorted on total thyroid hormone when switching, which slows metabolism and causes rapid weight gain.
The solution is to get back on the dose that had you feeling stable and not rock the boat. Every time you make big switches, you risk feeling worse and stacking on more symptoms. Once you are back at your previous effective dose, track TSH, Free T4, Free T3, and Reverse T3, and adjust only in small steps.
You can also support thyroid function with targeted supplements and lifestyle changes. The most helpful for your situation are:
• T3 Conversion Booster: https://www.restartmed.com/product/t3-conversion-booster/
• Thyroid Glandular+: https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-glandular/
• Essential T2: https://www.restartmed.com/product/essential-t2/
For bowel support and regularity, add in Thyro Mag+, which provides the right forms of magnesium to promote healthy digestion and relaxation:
https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyro-mag/
Hi Dr Childs,
I have been using Armour for about 3 years, chose my endo because he uses it on most patients, including himself! I had hyperparathyroid disease and had 3 1/2 glands removed before seeing my endo and starting Armour. I started at 90mg and am now at 75mg. I’m struggling to lose weight and have thyroid belly. What do you suggest?
Hello doctor, im on 90 armour thyroid for over 10 years. My test results show my t3 is on the low end. My doctor said I have a conversion problem so he added a extra t3 at noon. Isn’t working so far with how I feel. I have major fatigue. He hasn’t checked my reverse t3. I am going to try your t2 supplement. It sounds like what I need. The extra t3 didn’t move much on my blood work!
Hi Emily,
That would be a great idea given what you’ve shared here. The issue with most doctors is that they tend to underdose T3 containing meds. So even though you are on the right medication, you may be on the wrong dose. You’d need to get a full panel to confirm that. Once you get your labs, plug them into my optimal thyroid lab test calculator: https://www.restartmed.com/optimal-thyroid-lab-test-calculator/
Your idea to start T2 right now is a great one, that will help pretty much no matter what, but you may need further optimization.
I’m not taking it because no doctor will prescribe it for me as I am wanting to conceive. I have. I doctor who will prescribe it to me. My insurance, also, will not likely cover it.
Hi Amy,
It’s a great option if you are trying to conceive! The reality is that even if your insurance doesn’t cover it, you can still get it, you just have to pay the cash price. Armour has increased more recently, but it’s still worth the higher cash price given how much better it works. Last I looked, it was about $100/month, but I’d say this is well worth it for the benefits it provides to energy, cholesterol, well-being, and mood, especially compared to the cheaper alternatives like levothyroxine.