Armour Thyroid Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Armour Thyroid Tablet (generic name: desiccated thyroid) is a prescription oral tablet made from thyroid hormones taken from pig thyroid glands. It belongs to the thyroid hormone replacement class and is used to treat low thyroid hormone levels and other thyroid conditions in adults and children. It carries an FDA boxed warning about serious or life-threatening side effects if taken for weight loss.

What is Armour Thyroid Tablet

Armour Thyroid is a prescription oral tablet made from thyroid hormones taken from pig thyroid glands. It is used to treat low thyroid hormone levels and other thyroid conditions in adults and children.

Armour Thyroid Tablet uses

• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid, low thyroid hormone levels)
• Euthyroid goiters
• Multinodular goiters
• Thyroiditis
• Thyroid cancer

Benefits of Armour Thyroid Tablet

• Thyroid Hormone Replacement: Replaces thyroid hormones when the thyroid gland does not produce enough.
• Hypothyroidism Management: Helps control symptoms associated with an underactive thyroid.
• Metabolism Support: Helps maintain normal metabolic activity.
• Energy Support: May improve tiredness caused by inadequate thyroid hormone levels.
• Hormone Balance: Helps restore thyroid hormone levels toward the normal range.

How Armour Thyroid Tablet works

Armour Thyroid contains two thyroid hormones (levothyroxine and liothyronine) taken from pig thyroid glands. These replace the thyroid hormones your body is not making enough of, helping your body use energy normally again.

Armour Thyroid Tablet dosage

Most people with hypothyroidism need to take this medicine for life. Don't change your dose on your own, even if you feel off — talk to your prescriber first. Tell your healthcare team about any new, persistent, or worsening symptoms so they can check your thyroid hormone levels and adjust treatment if needed.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Armour Thyroid Tablet

Common

• Fast heart rate
• Heart palpitations
• Tremor
• Muscle weakness
• Sweating or feeling too hot
• Nervousness or anxiety
• Frequent bowel movements
• Weight or appetite changes
• Trouble sleeping
• Hair loss

Serious

• Thyroid storm (dangerously high thyroid hormone levels) — a medical emergency
• Serious or life-threatening effects if taken for weight loss (boxed warning)
• Chest pain or shortness of breath
• Loss of bone density and higher risk of fractures
• Severe allergic reaction with swelling or trouble breathing

Warnings and precautions

Armour Thyroid carries the FDA's most serious type of warning (a boxed warning) about the risk of serious or life-threatening side effects, such as a dangerously fast heart rate, high blood pressure, high fever, and heart failure, if it is taken for weight loss by someone with normal thyroid hormone levels. It should not be used as a weight-loss aid.

Tell your doctor about your health history before taking Armour Thyroid, including heart disease, diabetes, adrenal gland problems, previous allergic reaction to Armour Thyroid, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

Armour Thyroid is not FDA approved, and it can be hard to make sure each dose is consistent, which may lead to side effects.

Certain medicines can interact with Armour Thyroid, including blood thinners, cholestyramine, colestipol, some birth control pills, estrogen, insulin, and oral diabetes medicines.

Armour Thyroid may make heart disease worse, especially in older adults or people with a history of heart problems, and it may worsen symptoms in people with diabetes.

People with a history of differentiated thyroid cancer are generally advised to avoid Armour Thyroid because it may raise levels of a protein used to monitor for cancer returning.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking Armour Thyroid. Tell your doctor about kidney disease or reduced kidney function. Inform your doctor about significant liver disease.

Storage

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist.

When to see a doctor

Call your doctor right away if you develop serious side effects while taking Armour Thyroid.

Get emergency medical care immediately if side effects seem life-threatening, such as a racing heart rate over 140 beats per minute, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, high fever, shaking, confusion, fast breathing, diarrhea, or yellowing of the skin or eyes — these can be signs of a thyroid storm.

Seek emergency care right away if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing.

Get emergency care immediately if you have chest pain or shortness of breath, as these can be serious and may signal a heart problem.

Alternatives

• Levothyroxine
• Liothyronine
• Levothyroxine + Liothyronine