- NP Thyroid and Armour Thyroid are both natural desiccated thyroid medications with the same active ingredients (T4 and T3), but they differ in their inactive fillers and binders.
- Sometimes switching from one NDT brand to another, even though they are in the same class, can dramatically improve your symptoms due to differences in how your body tolerates the inactive ingredients.
- NP Thyroid has gained popularity as other NDT options like Nature-throid and WP Thyroid have become harder to obtain due to supply issues.
- Both medications are dosed identically, so 60 mg of Armour equals 60 mg of NP Thyroid, making it easy to switch between them without recalculating your dose.
- If you are doing well on one NDT medication, there is generally no reason to switch. But if you are struggling with symptoms despite being on the right dose, trying a different brand may help.
NP Thyroid is a thyroid medication that is similar to but slightly different than Armour thyroid.
Will switching from Armour to NP make a difference in your body? Will it help with weight loss? Will it prevent hair loss?
The answer is maybe and it has to do with the difference between these medications.
The difference is not big, but sometimes a small difference can manifest as a large change in your symptoms.
This article will help you decide whether or not you should switch medications.
What is NP Thyroid?
What exactly is NP Thyroid?
NP Thyroid is a relatively new thyroid medication that is available. It has become more popular as it has become harder and harder to get other forms of Natural Desiccated Thyroid medications such as Nature-throid and WP Thyroid.
It’s important for you to understand that NP thyroid is another formulation of Natural Desiccated thyroid hormone and medication.
What does that mean?
It means that it contains the same active ingredients as Armour thyroid but it differs in the type and amount of inactive ingredients.
Both medications are considered natural and both are sourced from animal thyroid glands (porcine-derived).
Both Armour thyroid and NP Thyroid are dosed in the same way with equivalent doses.
That means 60mg of Armour thyroid is equal to 60mg of NP Thyroid.
Each grain of NP Thyroid contains 38mcg of T4 thyroid hormone and 9 mcg of T3 thyroid hormone which is similar to other brands and formulations of NDT (*this is also true of Armour thyroid).
Does that mean that you will react the exact same way if you switch medications?
Not exactly and that’s part of the point of this article.
In fact, sometimes simply switching from one type of thyroid medication to another (even if it’s in the same class of medications) can dramatically improve your symptoms.
Much of this has to do with how your body tolerates the inactive ingredients and how well they are absorbed into your bloodstream from the intestines (1).
NP thyroid has fewer inactive ingredients when compared to Armour thyroid which may influence this absorption.
What’s the Difference Between NP Thyroid and Armour Thyroid?
NP thyroid is worth considering especially if you are currently using Armour thyroid due to several important reasons:
#1. It is slightly cheaper when compared to Armour Thyroid.
And #2. It contains fewer inactive ingredients than Armour Thyroid.
The number and type of inactive ingredients found inside medications are actually quite important because some medications contain starches or plant products that can cause digestive issues.
Other medications (such as Synthroid) contain lactose products (2) which can cause reactions if you suffer from lactose intolerance!
So how does Armour Thyroid differ from NP thyroid?
The ingredient list of Armour Thyroid includes:
- Triiodothyronine (active ingredient)
- Thyroxine (active ingredient)
- Calcium stearate
- Dextrose
- Microcrystalline cellulose <— May cause reactions in some people
- Sodium starch glycolate
- Opadry white
- Minor amounts of calcitonin, T1, T2, and proteins
Armour thyroid contains 2 active ingredients (thyroid hormones) and 5 inactive ingredients.
The two inactive ingredients that may cause issues for most people include starch and microcrystalline cellulose.
These can be difficult to digest in some individuals, especially if they suffer from low stomach acid or other digestive issues.
I’ve had many patients who simply switch from one brand of NDT to another and find that they get almost immediate relief from their symptoms.
This doesn’t happen in everyone but it’s always worth considering.
NP Thyroid Ingredient List
The ingredient list of NP thyroid includes:
- Triiodothyronine (active ingredient)
- Thyroxine (active ingredient)
- Calcium stearate
- Dextrose monohydrate
- Maltodextrin
- Mineral oil
- Minor amounts of calcitonin, T1, T2, and proteins
NP thyroid has a total of 2 active ingredients and 4 inactive ingredients. Even though NP and Armour differ only by 1 inactive ingredient that may still cause quite a bit of difference in certain people.
If you react to the inactive ingredients then you may suffer from unexplained side effects such as dizziness, headaches, rashes, stomach pain, gas or bloating after taking your thyroid medication.
These symptoms can be confusing, especially if you aren’t sure if you are being dosed correctly, but they may be a sign that you are reacting to the inactive ingredients in your medication.
Cost of NP Thyroid
The cash price of NP thyroid is right around $14 – $15 per month.
Most insurances will cover it but in case yours doesn’t you can use a tool like goodrx.com to help reduce the price by using cash coupons.
I generally compare the cash price of medications here so that you get an idea of what they cost on a monthly basis.
The prices of medication will vary slightly based on your location but it shouldn’t be much more than $15 per month for the 30mg tablets (1/2 grain).
How does that compare to Armour Thyroid?
The cash price of Armour thyroid is almost double with a monthly cost of $26 – $27 for a 30-day supply of 30mg tablets.
If you find that your prescription cost is climbing steadily over a period of months to years then it may be a good idea to consider switching from Armour to NP thyroid.
NP Thyroid and Weight Loss
Does NP thyroid cause weight loss and will it help you?
The answer is that it really depends.
If you are already on Armour thyroid and interested in switching to NP thyroid then it probably will not help with weight loss significantly.
If, on the other hand, you are taking Synthroid or levothyroxine and you want to switch over then it might help.
Why is that?
It has to do with the thyroid hormone content in each tablet of medication.
NP thyroid contains a combination of both T4 and T3 in the ratios described above.
The real benefit of using these medications stems from the fact that T3 is included in them.
Studies have shown that weight loss, especially in thyroid patients, is heavily influenced by both the free T3 and total T3 levels.
The easiest way to increase both your free T3 and total T3 is with the use of thyroid medications that contain pure T3.
This includes NP thyroid but also other medications such as Cytomel and liothyronine.
Another strategy to increase your free T3 is by using natural therapies which can help enhance thyroid conversion.
Therapies such as certain supplements, managing inflammation, and taking botanicals can help. I’ve written about how to do this naturally in this 8-step guide which you can learn more about here.
NP Thyroid Side Effects
All thyroid medications can potentially cause negative side effects.
Most of the time, though, these side effects are self-limiting and dose-dependent.
What does that mean?
It means that if you reduce your dose these side effects tend to go away. And some side effects tend to go away on their own even without manipulating your dose.
The most concerning side effects, from a patient perspective, include increased hair loss and heart palpitations.
Both of these tend to be dose-dependent, but hair loss may be directly related to the medication itself.
If you have hair loss while using NP thyroid then you may need to switch to a different medication entirely as this side effect may not go away.
You can learn more about managing hair loss with thyroid disease here.
Potential side effects of using NP thyroid include:
- Hair loss
- Heart palpitations
- Weight loss
- Tremors
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
- Migraines
- Stomach pain
If you experience any of these side effects you should reach out to your prescribing Doctor and get your blood drawn.
More serious but rare side effects on NP thyroid include (usually related to a very high dose):
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Bone loss
- Heart enlargement
These side effects are quite rare and tend to occur only in susceptible patients. If you experience any of these then you should seek medical attention immediately.
Is NP Thyroid Considered Natural or Synthetic?
NP thyroid is considered to be a natural thyroid medication because it is derived from animal thyroid glands.
The hormones contained in this medication were created by the thyroid gland of animals and not in a lab.
Natural thyroid medications (Armour thyroid, Nature-throid, WP thyroid, and NP thyroid) should be differentiated from synthetic medications (Synthroid, levothyroxine, Cytomel, liothyronine, and Tirosint).
Just because NP thyroid is natural does not mean that it is superior to other forms of thyroid medications, however.
Some people do quite well on clean T4-only thyroid medications such as Tirosint, especially when combined with T3-only thyroid medications.
The benefit of using these medications separately is that you can easily titrate your T4 and T3 doses.
If you’ve tried all of the different types of natural thyroid medications and you still aren’t feeling well then you may want to give a cleaner T4 + T3 thyroid medication combination a try.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
If you are wondering whether or not you should switch from your medication to NP thyroid then I would consider the following questions:
Are you currently happy with your medication? (If the answer is no then you may want to consider switching)
Do you feel that your medication is helping reduce your symptoms? (if the answer is no then you may want to consider switching)
Are you experiencing symptoms that may be related to inactive fillers or binders? (if the answer is yes then you may want to consider switching)
Are you happy with the current price of your medication? (if the answer is no then you may want to consider switching)
Depending on how you answered these questions you may want to consider altering your medication.
As long as you switch our your medication for an equivalent dose (which is easy if you are on Armour thyroid) then there shouldn’t be a problem with the transition.
If you don’t experience any positive benefit after a 2-month trial on the new medication then you can simply switch back.
But, on the other hand, if you experience a positive change then it may be worth sticking with it.
Not everyone will experience a positive change when or if they switch, but it’s always worth a shot, especially when your health is on the line.
Now I want to hear from you:
Are you currently taking NP thyroid?
Are you considering switching from whatever you are taking to NP thyroid?
What is holding you back?
Leave your questions or comments below!
Scientific References
#1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26375604
#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17123345
#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28138133
I left a message on another topic for Thyroid when I was a new thyroid patient, soon after my total thyroidectomy and Dx of PTC. I love reading your articles on this subject, I learn so much, and am able to approach my endocrinologist with an informed presentation.
When I first started this unplanned journey, I was put on the traditional Levothyroxine, the “cookie cutter” treatment. I soon developed severe side affects of this medication that prevented a good quality of life. Switched to Synthroid, and QOL improved but still something missing. Cytomel was added, and created side affects same as when on Levothyroxine. So, back to just Synthroid, and feeling like only half a person.
Then I learned about Armour Thyroid, and other Natural hormone replacements. That they are in fact used for folks like me who lost their thyroid to cancer, etc. I approached my Endocrinologist with this information that I’d like to try a natural thyroid replacement, adding a T3, and have my labs at optimal level rather than just good.
HE APPROVED MY REQUEST !!!! I was told that positive results would happen immediately, I was thinking over a couple weeks or so, GOSH! was I pleasantly surprised! The very first morning I took a dose of Armour Thyroid, I felt great! It felt like someone turned the lights on! Brain fog lifted, alertness improved, memory improved, and simply had an all around good feeling about myself. Thoughts of low self worth and self esteem seemed to immediately disappear. I asked if this was normal or if I was in a “mind over matter” feeling. I was told, and the person telling me this had an ear to ear grin, that yes, it is true, it does happen this quickly! Reminding me that I will need dosage changes over a period of time to tweak to a dose that is right for me. I don’t care! I have my life back! I hate that I have to rely on a pill to simply live, but at least now I feel human again! I feel like I have some self worth again! The depression left within the next couple days when I realized it was real, feeling better does happen that quickly!
I am on 30 mg of NP Thyroid, have been on it about six months. my hair is getting thinner coming out by the brush full. Is it the NP, and will Armor do the same thing? My sister takes Armor and her hair came back in.
Also should the dose be 60 mg by now, I don’t feel any different except for my hair loss.
I was on 120 mg NP thyroid , switched from Armour thyroid about 1.5 Yrs ago and synthroid a few yrs before. Went to NP because of much better price. But just got a recall notice from the pharmacy that my batch might be defective and asked Dr to switch me back. Turns out that batch is fine but I am going to watch to see if feel a difference . I can’t say I felt better with any of these. Any suggestions before I pay so much , if I don’t notice a change. Frustrated to take these for life
Does Aamir convert the T3 issue or is there more of T4 in armor?
Hi Boles,
Armour does not convert T4 into T3 but it does contain T3. It contains more T4 than T3.
Hi there,
I was taking Levothyroxine for about 4 years and did not feel it was doing anything for me. I then switched to a DO who did some blood work and put me on Armour Thyroid. While I was happy on Armour and felt better for a time, i did have a racing heart at 60mg qd. He then put me down to 45mg. HOWEVER, there is no 45 mg so I had to pay for 2 separate rx’s, a 30 mg and a 15mg. It was just way too expensive and my husband was not happy. I then tried Synthroid but ended up having issues of dryness and sleep issues. Here is my question: I have not been given an RX for DP thyroid for 15mg. I’m worried that it might not be the correct dose, so how would I know if it’s enough where I was on 45mg of Armour?? Thanks, Shay
Hello, I am currently on 65 mg and 97.5mg of NatureThroid. I am having difficulty getting refills because of manufacturers. I am considering switching to another natural thyroid medication. I’ve never taken any other since my thyroid removal in 2016. I will make an appointment with my doctor, but I like to have information in hand before my visit.
Thank you
Mineral oil does not sound good either as that is a petroleum product.
Hi,
I take 90 mg of Armour a day, supplemented with two 5 mg doses of straight T3. Many of my hypo symptoms are improved but weight loss has still been impossible, even with a gluten and dairy free diet. Any advice? Do you think a switch to NDT might help?
Hi Natalie,
I would check out this article for more information on the topic: https://www.restartmed.com/best-thyroid-medication-weight-loss/
Dr. Westin,
I used to take Synthroid 75 mcg for my Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism and a year ago switched to NP Thyroid. Started with 60mg for 3 months and last 9 months have been taking NP Thyroid 90mg. However, my TSH now is very low at 0.08 and my T4 is also low at 0.85. My doc wants to increase the dosage of NP Thryoid from 90 mg to 120 mg to bring up T4 levels. I have been gaining weight and generally feel lousy/tired when my TSH goes so low (close to or lower than the reference limit of 0.45) and T4 so low as well. I feel increasing to 120 mg of NP Thyroid will worsen both TSH and T4 levels as well weight gain and energy levels. I saw the conversion chart by Acella and it says that 75 to 88 mcg of Synthroid is equivalent to 45 mg of NP and 100 mcg of Synthroid is equivalent to 60 mg of NP. I want to ask my doctor to switch me to 60 mg or 45 mg of NP and retest to see if my TSH moves up higher and if T4 moves up too. I feel better when TSH is above 0.5. Any thoughts or advise you have will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I am wondering why the comparison of NP to Armour only when there are other NDT’s available.
Why does the new formulation of np thyroid taste like male cat spray smells? No I’m not kidding.
Disgusting.
Do better.
Hi Lilly,
I’m not sure, but several others report the same.
I was using Naturethroid 16.25 and doing well. When it no longer became available I tried Armour and didn’t feel good -then tried NP and felt worse – heart palpitations and feeling unbelievable wired and eyebrow and hair loss after one day. I’m now going to try a compounded T3 and 4 medication and really hope it works. No one can tell me when Naturethroid will again be available or if ever.
Hi M,
You can find more information about Nature-Throid here: https://www.restartmed.com/nature-throid-shortage/
Dr Westin,
I was taking Armour Thyroid 45 mcg for several years without any problems and then when the price started increasing sharply, I switched to NP Thyroid 45 mcg. Within 6 months of switching, I started having an extremely dry mouth which has been a problem now for several years (I’m still on NP Thyroid). My dental checkups have resulted in multiple cavities, which I had never experienced prior to switching to NP Thyroid. My question is whether you’ve ever heard of dry mouth being a side effect of NP Thyroid. I can’t find anything on the Internet that ties dry mouth with NP Thyroid, but I’m not sure what else could have caused the sudden change in my oral health.
Thanks!
Hi Anne,
Symptoms related to thyroid medication usually stem from dose issues and are not medication specific. I can’t say that I’ve ever heard of someone experiencing dry mouth but I wouldn’t say it’s outside of the realm of possibility. Even it it were, though, you can fix that sort of issue by focusing on your gut and other natural therapies.
I’m currently on amour thyroid and can save a considerable amount of money if I switch to NP I just wonder is NP the same as amour and you can’t drink/take calcium for four hours after taking the pill?
Hi Deb,
Yes, it’s the same in that regard.
I was put on NP Thyroid in Feb. 2021. Started with 60mg and then 120mg after 2 weeks. I did lose about 20lbs but my biggest complaint was hand tremors and random heart palpitations. The doctor that prescribed these is no longer practicing and I will have to start over with someone else. I’m not sure it made me feel better but I did lose weight. She also prescribed so many other drugs that my gynecologist was baffled about. Anyways, I have decided to take a break from the NP Thyroid and have been off them for about 4 weeks. I was thinking of trying them again. It is ok to start them up again because I have been picking up my prescription? Is this safe or is it ok to start again? Do I start with 60mg and work my way back to 120mg. And should I be worried about the tremors and heart palpitations if they occur again? Any help would be great since my doctor left me high and dry. Thanks for all your interesting and valuable information.
Hi Lesli,
Heart palpitations are not necessarily a problem but the hand tremors usually indicate that your dose was too high. You can assess this by checking your thyroid lab tests, specifically your free T3 and total T3.
Hi. I was taking NP Thyroid once and I was call by the pharmacy to stop taking it because it was causing cancer. Is it true? I was jus given NP thyroid again instead of Armour thyroid and I am concern. Thank you.
Hi Myriam,
That is definitely not true, NP thyroid does not cause thyroid cancer.
Hi Dr childs,
Thanks for this awesome website!!
I just switched from armour thyroid 30 to NP 30mg two days ago thinking that they were same and just cheaper but I m experiencing low energy, not even wanna wake up, constipation just within 2 days.
Should I wait and see if my body adjusts or just switch back? I was doing well on armour.
Hi Ajinder,
It would be reasonable to wait 4-6 weeks before determining if it’s working or not. From there you can determine if you want to switch back.
For years I was on Synthroid and was constantly annoyed that every time I had blood work done, my dosage of Synthroid had to be changed, up and then down, etc. After 8 years of this, I sought out the services of a specialist 2 1/2 hours from my home. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and was very low in every vitamin and mineral that my body needed. This specialist also changed my thyroid medication from Synthroid to Armour Thyroid, and I began the long journey back to health. (I continue see this specialist 16 years later.) The past 9 months I have felt like I was backsliding, with more fibro fog, low mental and physical energy, no ambition, weight gain, etc. I checked back on my Thyroid prescription history and noticed that someone–not my specialist–had switched me from Armour Thyroid to Thyroid NP–9 months ago!! When I saw my specialist last week and told him of my discovery, he sent a new prescription order to my pharmacy for Armour Thyroid and wrote “no substitutions”. I expect to start feeling a lot better!
Hi Diana,
It was most likely your pharmacist. Some pharmacies consider NP thyroid the generic to Armour thyroid so the pharmacist can sometimes switch between the two for insurance purposes. If your doctor writes “dispense as written” on your prescription then it will force the pharmacy to fulfill whatever medication is listed on the prescription.
Thanks for this post! I’ve been taking Armour for 14 days and have had a multi-year challenge with constipation, bloating, gas. I have a tiny bit of thyroid left (just a bit less than 1/4) from removal of a benign nodule ~30 years ago. I’m not Hashimoto’s and have a fantastic physician. We’ve recently realized that my Free T3 dropped on Synthroid only and tried a combination of Synthroid + Cytomel for a couple of months, yet this wasn’t achieving the right levels.
Having had good experiences a few years ago with a small amount of NatureThroid added into my mix, a bit more than two weeks ago we transitioned to Armour + small amount of Cytomel. After recent labs, dosing needed to be increased.
Over the two+ weeks using Armour, I’ve begun experiencing significant gas and bloating that I’ve not had in quite a while. We discussed potential inactive side effects of gas/bloating – and then I read your post speaking to the same. We’re moving to NP Thyroid now.
Here’s my question: I’ve been taking the Armour each morning one hour before breakfast. The gas seems to come a bit later in the day – so I wasn’t imagining the cause could be Armour. Are these side effects you’ve seen with Armour the type that can begin in the late afternoon even when the dose is taken first thing in the morning?
Thank you!
Hi AM,
Theoretically, yes, but practically it’s hard to know if they are related based on the information provided.
Does np thyroid cause anxiety and sleeplessness?
Hi Darlene,
It’s possible that any thyroid medication (including NP thyroid) may cause those symptoms if dosed incorrectly. Those would be symptoms associated with an excessively high dose, typically.
I moved to a new area and am seeing a different endocrinologist. Based on labs and symptoms he switched me from 120mcg synthroid to 90mg np thyroid.
My 2nd month on np thyroid I’ve had 3 menstrual cycles within 30 days as well has heart palpitations and anxiety.
My tsh went from 0.6 to 4.6 so he increased my dose of np thyroid to 120mg. I’ve voiced my concerns but he said my symptoms will go away as my body adjust to the medication. I don’t have another appointment with him for another 6 months. I’m nervous because I can’t find any research that says this is normal. I just started my new dose today but i plan to call his nurse tomorrow and set up lab work in 6 weeks. I do have hashimotos and read switching brands can flare up the immune system. Is this something you have seen and do symptoms subside? It’s only been 2 months with this new dr and medication but I super skeptical
Hi Emily,
Some people are just more sensitive to the T3 found in certain thyroid medications. If sensitivity is the problem then you’ll need to look at other factors before you jump into T3 medication (such as iron status and adrenal health). Your doctor is also potentially right in that some of those symptoms may subside over time as your body gets used to it but there’s no guarantee that that will occur.
I have been on this thyroid roller coaster for 20+ years. I have tried all the different medications but found my best results with Armour Thyroid. Recently, and without my consent, Kaiser ( it wasn’t my PCP ) switched my medication to NP thyroid. I just went with the program thinking it was a generic brand. In these last few months I have been a wreck. For whatever reason I never thought about questioning the change until I had symptoms of vertigo. I had my levels checked and my TSH checked and it was pretty bad. Standard range 0.35-4.00 mcIU/ml. My value was 47.40 mcIU/ml. Needless to say I questioned everything and demanded to be put back on Armour where I have always been fine. Going to pick it up this morning and looking forward to feeling good again.
Hi Dr. Childs,
I have just found your podcasts and have been binge listening. Which brought me to your website. I’m just getting started on all of your posts, but love what I’ve found so far. I started on NatureThroid and did great for years. Upped the dose occasionally but felt great. Then it became unavailable. Tried Armour and it was terrible. Hair fell out so bad. Switched doctors and switched to NP. It’s definitely been way better for me. Probably equivalent to NatureThroid. I just wish my doctor would leave it alone. She keeps messing with the dosage because my TSH is very low, even though T3 & T4 are good. I finally asked her to just leave it alone for awhile and she agreed. I’d considered switching to a T4 only med because I’d read it’s better to keep your body working to make the conversion rather than giving it both without it having to do any of the work. But for now I think I just need to let things settle.
As a side note, have you seen any side effects of Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism being anemia and/or low white blood count? I’ve been battling both with no answers for two years now.
Hi Kristie,
Yes, to the anemia question. Please see these articles for more information:
https://www.restartmed.com/hypothyroidism-iron-deficiency/
https://www.restartmed.com/anemia-and-hashimotos/
Hello,
I am hypothyroidand take NO thyroid 75mcg. I have fibromyalgia too. I’ve been reading research articles that are suggesting that the fibromyalgia is a direct result of underegulated hypothyroid per Dr John C.Lowe specifically. Wondering your thoughts on this as Inwould like to explore this further since my pain is unbearable sometimes. He talked a lot about being thyroid resistant in some people with FM and that taking straight T3 may be beneficial and may actually lead to a cure once the thyroid is adequately regulated. I’d appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.
Hi Sharon,
I’ve quoted Dr. Lowe and elaborated on his work with my own experience in using T3 to treat chronic pain and fibromyalgia here: https://www.restartmed.com/hypothyroidism-chronic-pain/
I would recommend checking out that article which takes a deep dive into that topic.
I’ve been taking natural thyroid for 55 years. At 14 my PCP was concerned about my thyroid size (enlarged). I was monitored for 2 years and then it was decided that it Had to come out! Apparently the docs thought it might be cancerous and so at 16 it was removed. Worst sore throat that could ever be imagined. No cancer, no tumor. Years later I found out they called it Hashimoto’s disease. Back in the sixties an Armour thyroid bottle of 1000 60mg tablets was $4.00. At two tabs a day it lasted over a year. Nowadays it’s harder and harder to find, it has to be ordered, and the prices are unpredictable. The synthroid they push is not a good option for me. Leg cramps are unbearable within the first few days of switching. I had to go back to the natural porcine formula.
Yes, I live in the Thyroid Belt. Almost the same as the Rust Belt. My third daughter had the same issues that I had around 14 to 16 years old. Huge growth spurt before burning itself out and stopped functioning. No surgery for her. She was put on Synthroid and told the gland would just shrink away on its own. She tolerates the Synthroid but will still have take it as long as she lives.
That’s my rant!!
Hi Robert,
I’m sorry to hear about your struggles! There are plenty of other options available outside of Armour thyroid, though, which include combinations of T4 + T3. I would recommend checking out this article for more information: https://www.restartmed.com/thyroid-medications-that-work/
I have taken all thyroid medications including Synthroid and switched to Armour then switched to WP, but they were low on supply so switched to NP. The reason I switched from Armour to WP was because of the fillers thinking it would make a different it didn’t none of them have. I get my blood tested every three months for the past 20 or so years and it is always fluctuating. So, my doctor put me on a higher dose of NP from 60mg to 90mg had to wait 6 weeks before getting my labs done which I did. The numbers are not good my T3free is 5.8 H, TSH 0.026 L, and T4 0.97 I am going to quit taking all medications and going to try essential oils what do you think?
Hi Lillian,
There are still plenty of other medications and options to try so that’s something to consider. It sounds like your dose has never really been optimized either, based on what you’ve shared above. In terms of power and efficacy, there are much better options than essential oils but if you want to try them you can always give them a go. You can learn more about additional therapies here: https://www.restartmed.com/natural-thyroid-remedies/
I have been on natural thyroid medications for nearly 20 years, and was redirected to a compounding pharmacy when supply was cut off. I didn’t realize it at first, but I now believe the dosage or formula prepared by the pharmacy was inconsistent, as I slowly began to feel more fatigue and muscle and joint aches within the past couple of months. My doctor first had me take an extra 1/4 dose of the compounded med at which time my basal temperature was 96.2F. It rose to 97.0 4 days later. He switched me to NP Thyroid 4 days ago, and my temperature is now 97.3. I was happy to see the improvement, but disappointed that more wasn’t happening sooner. That’s when I found your site online and I now understand that it might take longer to regain my balance. I thank you for your excellent guidance! I realize that most doctors are too busy to spend time sharing all the nuances of the thyroid balancing act, so your site is invaluable to me, as it must be to all your clients. I look forward to healing and maintaining good health with you and your excellent products. I just placed my order for your multivitamin and will be learning more from you as I venture on my path to wellness. I was so surprised and pleased to read this portion about NP vs Armour Thyroid!
Hi Sharon,
Glad to hear you found it helpful! Thanks for sharing your experience.
My pharmacy switched me from Armour to NP THYROID without my doctors knowledge but she said to give it a try. Since then my TSH started to climb as does my weight. My doctor upped my dose and my TSH went even higher. NP may work for some but not for me, I’m now using a different pharmacy and switched back to Armour at the higher dose and will retest in 8 weeks.
Hi,
Ive been taking 150 mg o0f desiccated bovine thyroid for 15 years without a problem. I got my yearly blood test and found out my TSH was high.
Since then I have tried c porcine thyroid compounded 160 mg, then 155 mg. finally 147.25 mg all causing hypothyroidism and all expensive!
I have no symptoms at all when I go back to my Thyroid pro 150mg desiccated bovine thyroid pill.
Suggestions???
My pharmacy switched me from Armour to NP in about March of 2024. I noticed the pill was slightly smaller and had no A on it. But did not pay attention. ( had been on a vegan diet for 4 years prior and upped the tofu double and added chx eggs for protein)
By the end of March, I was feeling no motivation and tired and achy and upper abdominal cavity felt very bloated.
By April I was miserable from lack of energy and inability to think much. and problem solving went to zero. Quite the extra tofu and egg and added meat at the same time of requesting Armour again. not NP
Immediately started to feel better (about 3 days) and continued to improve over the next month to feeling like i wanted and could live. Very very depressing time. Hard to believe a few changes like that could have such grave consequences. I blame it on the thyroid meds. but it could be a combination.
Hi Paul,
It seems like it wouldn’t matter, but it certainly does, at least for some people, which is why I write articles like these! In either event, glad you got it figured out.
I have been on NP Thyroid 60mg for only 9 days after switching because of Adthyza 60mg being discontinued. I loved Adthyza, took for maybe 3 yrs, felt better than I ever have, energy and lost weight slowly but continually w/some diet changes as well…so Happy! NP has immediately given me palpitations, leg & ankle swelling…literally feel them swelling!…gained 3 lbs fluid already and some noticeable brain fog/cognitive stuff in that short time. I’m thinking of switching immediately to Armour and if that doesn’t work levothyroxine and generic Cytomel/liothyronine if my doc will cooperate. Would appreciate any thoughts, thanks!
I was told by my endocrinologist that I was not going to lose weight on my thyroid meds. I was told all my life that my slow metabolism and inability to lose weight was due to my hypothyroidism and being put on thyroid meds would address these issues.
?????
I have been on both armor thyroid and NP thyroid, and have noticed absolutely nothing in the way I feel from either. I have never felt any different taking thyroid medication. My naturopath put me on them because my thyroid levels were off. The only thing I have noticed is that I have gained 25 pounds in the last two years since being on medication. Could this be from thyroid medication? Since being on thyroid medication, my T3 and T4 are normal.
Hi Gerry,
Thanks for sharing! The fact that you feel no different on thyroid medication is a really common complaint, and it usually comes down to one of a few things.
First, “normal” T3 and T4 doesn’t always mean optimal. Standard lab ranges are very wide, and many people feel their best when their free T3 is in the upper third of the range. If your naturopath is only looking at TSH or total T3/T4, that’s worth revisiting.
Second, weight gain on NDT is not typical if the medication is working correctly. It may actually point to a dosing issue, a conversion problem, or other factors like low cortisol or insulin resistance that are interfering with how well the medication works.
A good starting point would be supporting your body’s ability to use the thyroid hormone it’s already getting. My T3 Conversion Booster (https://www.restartmed.com/product/t3-conversion-booster/) and Thyro ADK (https://www.restartmed.com/product/thyro-adk/) are two I’d look at for this. Also worth considering is whether adrenal function has been evaluated, as low cortisol can blunt the effect of thyroid medication significantly.
Hope that helps give you some direction!
I am a 76 year old female on BHRT since menopause. I was diagnosed with Hypothyroid shortly after I began perimenopause. I have tried Synthroid & Levothyroxine several times with poor results. I have never been prescribed Liothyronine. For years I have been taking NDT (currently NP Thyroid) as it has always worked best for me, but I have some additional issues I am trying to correct. I have had gut motility issues which started during perimenopause, off and on, which seemed to abate when I began taking NDT over 20 years ago. But whenever my dosage was too low, gut issue returned. They have recently returned when my DO reduced my dosage from 90mg to 60mg. This shut down gut motility again. Since then I have been able to get ~72mg/week and just recently upped it to ~77mg/week. After doing research I decided to add your T-2 BHRT pump and some Advanced Liver supplements.
The NP Thyroid dosage however is NOT optimal, as I think I would need ~75mg which they do not manufacture. If I take all 90mg is too much, and 60mg is too little, then the T-4 or T-3 is not optimal. So, I take 3-60 mg and 4-90mg per week or the reverse or 4-90mg and 3-60mg per week. This however has not resolved some of my side effects, weight gain, temperature sensitivity, gut motility and sleep issues.
Query:
1–Is it OK to take NDT at a lower dose, say 60mg, and a synthetic T-3 i.e. Liothyronine to bump up just the T-3? Would that make thyroid management more difficult because if the differences the the medications?
OR
2–Should I go on ALL synthetics to be able to manage each hormone, Levothyroxine/Liothyronine, and juggle each appropriately. It would be less expensive too as my insurance covers these.
Thank you…I would appreciate your thoughts
Hi Cj,
I responded to your same questions on another post (the one on how to build your own natural desiccated thyroid blend). Please see that comment for my response!
Website users cannot find the articles in your blog unless they copy the link when they post a query, as the blog and website has no search feature.
It would be super is one could be added. Thank you.
Dr. Childs, I’m having so much problems with weight gain and bloating. I have Celiac, so I’m on a gluten free, grain free, dairy free, soy free and whatever else could cause my Celiac rash etc. I was prescribed NP thyroid for several years, it was OK, but the tiredness, hair loss, fingernails,etc. was still an issue. Then, my Dr. now, recently switched me to Armour. I’m taking 60mg (same as what I was with the NP), she also added Levothoroxine (25)…I didn’t see any happy results except my clothes were tighter. Things that I had been wearing a month or so ago, (now my stomach/waistline is bigger) and they don’t fit. I told her about that and she increased the dosage to 50! I just quit taking any of the Levo and informed her of it. I’m beside myself, can’t lose the weight (no matter how much I DON’T eat, I feel depressed because of this, plus everything is in the toilet. I’m on a few supplements that I’ve been taking for years for my Celiac…do I need to switch doctors? I’ve read, listened and tried a multitude of natural supplements and recipes to no avail. Doesn’t anyone have an answer. Thank you, Pat