Armour Thyroid is a brand-name oral tablet that’s prescribed for certain thyroid conditions. Armour Thyroid contains the active drug desiccated thyroid and belongs to the thyroid hormone drug class.
Specifically, Armour Thyroid is prescribed to:
- treat hypothyroidism in people of all ages
- lower thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in people of all ages with certain thyroid nodules and goiters
- lower TSH levels in people of all ages with thyroid cancer
Drug details
You’ll find key information about Armour Thyroid below.
- Drug form: oral tablet
- Generic available? no
- Prescription required? yes
- Controlled substance? no
- Year of FDA approval: see Note below
Note: Armour Thyroid has been available since before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began its drug approval process. For this reason, the drug has not been approved by the FDA. To learn more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Armour Thyroid is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.
A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Generics typically cost less than brand-name drugs.
Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Armour Thyroid, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.
The following drugs are similar to Armour Thyroid:
- other brand-name forms of desiccated thyroid, including NP Thyroid, Adthyza, and others
- liothyronine (Cytomel)
- levothyroxine (Synthroid, Unithroid, others)
The Armour Thyroid dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the condition you’re taking Armour Thyroid to treat
- your age
- your body weight in kilograms (kg)*
- other medical conditions you may have
- other medications you’re taking
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
* For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).
Drug form and strengths
Armour Thyroid comes as an oral tablet. It’s available in the following strengths:
- 15 milligrams (mg)
- 30 mg
- 60 mg
- 90 mg
- 120 mg
- 180 mg
- 240 mg
- 300 mg
Dosage for hypothyroidism
Armour Thyroid is prescribed to treat hypothyroidism.
For this use, the typical starting dosage of Armour Thyroid is 30 mg once per day. Your doctor may increase your dose by 15 mg every 2–3 weeks. They’ll do this until your thyroid hormone levels reach the desired range. The typical dosage of Armour Thyroid is 60–120 mg once per day.
Your doctor may prescribe a different dosage in certain situations, such as for people with cardiovascular disease. If you have questions about the dosage that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for thyroid nodules and goiters
Armour Thyroid is prescribed to lower thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in people with certain thyroid nodules and goiters.
Your doctor will prescribe an Armour Thyroid dosage that helps your TSH level reach the desired range. They’ll calculate your dosage and may adjust it over time based on your treatment plan.
Dosage for thyroid cancer
Armour Thyroid is prescribed to lower TSH levels in people with thyroid cancer.
Your doctor will prescribe an Armour Thyroid dosage that helps your TSH level reach the desired range. They’ll calculate your dosage and may adjust it over time based on your treatment plan.
Children’s dosage
Armour Thyroid is prescribed to:
- treat hypothyroidism in children of all ages
- lower TSH levels in children of all ages with certain thyroid nodules and goiters
- lower TSH levels in children of all ages with thyroid cancer
The children’s dosages for each use are described below.
Children’s dosages for hypothyroidism
The table below provides the typical dosage ranges of Armour Thyroid for hypothyroidism in children. Your child’s doctor will determine the exact dosage depending on the child’s age and body weight.
| Child’s age | Recommended dosage | Typical dosage range |
| under 6 months | 4.8–6 mg/kg once per day | 15–30 mg once per day |
| 6 months to under 1 year | 3.6–4.8 mg/kg once per day | 30–45 mg once per day |
| 1–5 years | 3-3.6 mg/kg once per day | 45–60 mg once per day |
| 6–12 years | 2.4–3 mg/kg once per day | 60–90 mg once per day |
| over 12 years | 1.2–1.8 mg/kg once per day | over 90 mg once per day |
Your child’s doctor will calculate their dosage. As an example, if your child is age 7 years, their doctor may prescribe 3 mg/kg of Armour Thyroid once per day. If your child weighs 20 kg (about 44 lb), their dosage would be 60 mg of the drug once per day.
Your child’s doctor may adjust their dosage over time until your child’s thyroid hormone levels reach a desired range. They may also adjust their dosage over time as the child grows.
Children’s dosage for thyroid nodules and goiters
For thyroid nodules and goiters, your child’s doctor will prescribe an Armour Thyroid dosage that helps their TSH level reach the desired range. They’ll calculate your child’s dosage and may adjust it over time based on their treatment plan.
Children’s dosage for thyroid cancer
For thyroid cancer, your child’s doctor will prescribe an Armour Thyroid dosage that helps their TSH level reach the desired range. They’ll calculate your child’s dosage and may adjust it over time based on their treatment plan.
About taking Armour Thyroid
Below you’ll find information about key dosage issues.
- When to take. You should take Armour Thyroid once per day, typically 30–60 minutes before your first meal.Taking the medication around the same time of day helps keep a steady level of the drug in your body. This helps Armour Thyroid work effectively.
- If you miss a dose. If you miss a dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend the best time for you to take a missed dose of the drug.
- Taking Armour Thyroid with food. You should avoid eating food for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour after taking Armour Thyroid. This is because taking Armour Thyroid with food lowers the level of the drug in your body, which may make it less effective.
- Crushing, splitting, or chewing Armour Thyroid. The drug’s manufacturer hasn’t stated whether the tablets can be crushed, split, or chewed. If you have trouble swallowing Armour Thyroid tablets, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also view suggestions in this article.
- Length of treatment. Armour Thyroid is meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Armour Thyroid is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
Overdose
Do not take more Armour Thyroid than your doctor recommends. For some drugs, doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose.
What to do in case you take too much Armour Thyroid
If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Armour Thyroid can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Armour Thyroid. These lists do not include all possible side effects.
For more information about the possible side effects of Armour Thyroid, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.
Keep in mind that Armour Thyroid has been available since before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began its drug approval process. As a result, details about the drug’s side effects were not collected in clinical trials. To learn more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: The FDA tracks side effects of drugs. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Armour Thyroid, you can do so through MedWatch.
Mild side effects
Below is a possible mild side effect of Armour Thyroid. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Armour Thyroid’s prescribing information.
A possible mild side effect of Armour Thyroid is a mild allergic reaction. For more information about this, see “Allergic reaction” below.
Mild side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: For more information about side effects and hypothyroidism, see the “Common questions about Armour Thyroid” section below.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Armour Thyroid aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.
Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:
- Hyperthyroidism. Symptoms can include:
- increased heart rate
- feeling nervous or irritable
- unintentional weight loss
- Severe allergic reaction.*
* For details about allergic reaction and Armour Thyroid, see “Allergic reaction” below.
Side effects in children
Armour Thyroid is prescribed to:
- treat hypothyroidism in children of all ages
- lower thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in children of all ages with certain thyroid nodules and goiters
- lower TSH levels in children of all ages with thyroid cancer
Most side effects of Armour Thyroid are similar in children and adults. For examples, see the “Mild side effects” and “Serious side effects” lists above.
Temporary hair loss has been reported in children who’ve taken a thyroid hormone. (Armour Thyroid is a type of thyroid hormone.) In addition, craniosynostosis (a skull condition) has been reported in infants who’ve received high doses of a thyroid hormone.
If you’re concerned about the side effects of Armour Thyroid in children, talk with your child’s doctor or
pharmacist.
Note: For more information about side effects and hypothyroidism, see the “Common questions about Armour Thyroid” section below.
ALLERGIC REACTIONAs with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Armour Thyroid. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of this drug but can still occur.
Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:
A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:
- swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
- trouble breathing
Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Armour Thyroid, as the reaction could become severe. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Armour Thyroid.
Does taking Armour Thyroid for hypothyroidism cause side effects?
It’s possible. Symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue or constipation, may be mistaken for side effects from Armour Thyroid.
Keep in mind that symptoms of hypothyroidism should go away once your thyroid hormone levels reach the target range. This typically takes a few weeks and may require dosage adjustments by your doctor.
If you have questions about hypothyroidism and Armour Thyroid treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can I switch from levothyroxine to Armour Thyroid?
Yes, if your doctor recommends it.
Armour Thyroid and levothyroxine (Synthroid, Unithroid, others) belong to the thyroid hormone drug class. Both drugs are prescribed to treat hypothyroidism and lower thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in people with certain conditions. Your doctor can recommend the thyroid hormone drug that’s right for your condition.
If you’re interested in switching from levothyroxine to Armour Thyroid, talk with your doctor.
Does Armour Thyroid cause long-term side effects?
Probably not. Armour Thyroid’s prescribing information does not include side effects that were long lasting or occurred after taking the drug for a long time.
That said, keep in mind that Armour Thyroid has been available since before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began its drug approval process. As a result, details about the drug’s side effects were not collected in clinical trials.
If you have questions about Armour Thyroid and long-term side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How does Armour Thyroid work?
Armour Thyroid belongs to the thyroid hormone drug class. It replaces a specific thyroid hormone called thyroxine (T4). Your body may have a low T4 level due to hypothyroidism, certain thyroid nodules and goiters, or thyroid cancer.
Armour Thyroid works by increasing your T4 level to a typical range. Higher T4 levels help ease symptoms of hypothyroidism and lower TSH levels. TSH helps your thyroid gland grow more cells, which may include thyroid nodule cells, goiter cells, and thyroid cancer cells. By raising the T4 level, Armour Thyroid lowers the amount of TSH your body makes. Doing so helps prevent thyroid nodule, goiter, and cancer cells from growing.
To learn more about what to expect with Armour Thyroid treatment, talk with your doctor.
As with all medications, the cost of Armour Thyroid can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.
Drug coupons. You can visit Optum Perks* for price estimates of Armour Thyroid. These estimates are based on the use of Optum Perks coupons. Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.
Financial and insurance assistance. If you need financial support to pay for Armour Thyroid, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.
To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.
Generic version. Armour Thyroid is not available in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.
This drug comes with several precautions.
FDA warning: Not for use as a weight loss aid
This drug has a
Not for use as a weight loss aid. Armour Thyroid is not prescribed as a weight loss aid. Taking the drug for weight loss can lead to harmful effects that may be life threatening. Examples include chest pain and palpitations.
Because of this risk, doctors will not prescribe Armour Thyroid as a weight loss aid. If you’re interested in options for weight loss, talk with your doctor.
Other precautions
Before taking Armour Thyroid, discuss your health history with your doctor. Armour Thyroid may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:
- adrenal insufficiency (a condition that occurs when the adrenal glands do not make enough of certain hormones)
- type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- cardiovascular disease
- past allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
- pregnancy and breastfeeding (see the “Things to consider when taking Armour Thyroid” section below)
Armour Thyroid is prescribed for certain conditions.
Note: Armour Thyroid has been available since before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began its drug approval process. For this reason, the drug has not been approved by the FDA. To learn more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Armour Thyroid for hypothyroidism
Armour Thyroid is prescribed to treat hypothyroidism in adults and children of any age.
With hypothyroidism, your body doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones to function as it should. Symptoms can include depression, fatigue, and weight gain.
Doctors prescribe Armour Thyroid for different types of hypothyroidism. Among others, these include congenital hypothyroidism, myxedema, and primary hypothyroidism.
Doctors typically won’t prescribe Armour Thyroid for hypothyroidism related to subacute thyroiditis (a rare type of thyroid inflammation).
Armour Thyroid for thyroid nodules and goiters
Armour Thyroid is prescribed to lower thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in adults and children of any age with certain thyroid nodules and goiters.
With nodules and goiters, noncancerous cells grow in your thyroid gland and make the gland appear larger than is typical. Symptoms can include neck pain, trouble breathing, and trouble swallowing.
Doctors prescribe Armour Thyroid for different types of nodules and goiters. Among others, these include multinodular goiter and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Armour Thyroid for thyroid cancer
Armour Thyroid is prescribed to lower TSH levels in adults and children of any age with thyroid cancer.
With thyroid cancer, cancerous cells grow in your thyroid gland and may spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms can include pain or swelling in your neck. Thyroid nodules are also possible.
For this purpose, Armour Thyroid may be prescribed after radioactive iodine treatments for thyroid cancer.
Armour Thyroid and children
Armour Thyroid is prescribed to help treat hypothyroidism in children of all ages. It’s also prescribed to lower TSH levels in children of all ages with certain thyroid nodules, goiters, and thyroid cancer.
To learn more about these conditions, talk with your child’s doctor. You can also see these sections above:
- “Armour Thyroid for hypothyroidism”
- “Armour Thyroid for thyroid nodules and goiters”
- “Armour Thyroid for thyroid cancer”
Armour Thyroid can interact with several other medications and certain foods. It isn’t known to interact with supplements.
Before taking Armour Thyroid, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
Interactions with medications and foods
Below is a list of medications and foods that can interact with Armour Thyroid. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Armour Thyroid. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
| Medications that can interact with Armour Thyroid | • bile acid sequestrants such as cholestyramine (LoCholest, Prevalite) and colestipol (Colestid) • diabetes drugs such as metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza) and insulin • certain birth control pills, such as ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone (Aranelle, Gildagia, others) and ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate (Estarylla, Sprintec, others) • warfarin (Jantoven) |
| Foods that can interact with Armour Thyroid | soy infant formula |
Alcohol interaction
Alcohol is not known to interact with Armour Thyroid. It’s likely safe to consume alcohol while taking Armour Thyroid.
If you have questions about how much alcohol is safe to drink while taking Armour Thyroid, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy, birth control, and breastfeeding.
Armour Thyroid and pregnancy
In general, Armour Thyroid is considered safe to take during pregnancy. However, you should still ask your doctor whether they feel it’s safe for you.
Armour Thyroid and birth control
Armour Thyroid is generally considered safe to take during pregnancy. Still, if you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re taking the drug.
Keep in mind that Armour Thyroid may interact with certain birth control pills. (See the “Armour Thyroid interactions” section above for examples.) Your doctor can recommend birth control options that don’t interact with Armour Thyroid. They can also recommend what to do if you take birth control pills that interact with this drug.
Armour Thyroid and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether Armour Thyroid should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Armour Thyroid, see the “Armour Thyroid side effects” section above.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.