Official Answer. Armour Thyroid and Synthroid are both thyroid hormone replacement therapies. Synthroid is a brand name for levothyroxine, a synthetic (man-made) form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine, or T4. Armour Thyroid is a brand name for a natural form of thyroid hormone.
Just so, can Armour Thyroid be purchased over the counter?
Official Answer. Armour Thyroid, or desiccated thyroid extract (DTE), cannot be purchased over the counter. You need a prescription from a doctor to take Armour Thyroid. It is used to treat low thyroid hormone in the body, but it is not considered the standard treatment.
Similarly one may ask, why is Armour Thyroid not recommended?
Due to the potential drug interaction between both natural and prescribed thyroid hormone and testosterone supplements, patients should be discouraged from self-administration of thyroid or anabolic steroids. Due to the lack of standardization in the T3 content, the use of Armour Thyroid should be avoided.
Who should not take Armour Thyroid?
You may not be able to use Armour Thyroid if you have a thyroid disorder called thyrotoxicosis, or an adrenal gland problem that is not controlled by treatment. Call your doctor if you have signs of thyroid toxicity, such as chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, feeling hot or nervous, or sweating more than usual.
Is NDT better than levothyroxine?
NDT is FDA-regulated and legal to prescribe. Research also shows that NDT is as safe and effective as levothyroxine in many patients, and significantly more patients prefer NDT over levothyroxine to treat their hypothyroidism.
Can Armour Thyroid make you gain weight?
Weight gain is an uncommon side effect of Armour Thyroid but may occur if the dosage of Armour Thyroid is not supplementing your low thyroid levels enough. It is not uncommon for people with low thyroid levels to lose up to 10% of their body weight when starting thyroid medications, such as Armour Thyroid.
How quickly does Armour Thyroid work?
Adequate therapy usually results in normal TSH and T4 levels after 2 to 3 weeks of therapy.
Can I drink coffee with Armour Thyroid?
In studies, coffee reduced the body’s absorption of thyroid medications by about 30%. That’s why experts recommend that you wait at least 60 minutes after drinking coffee to take your thyroid replacement medication. After taking your thyroid med, you should also wait at least an hour before drinking coffee.
What are the side effects of too much Armour Thyroid?
What Are Side Effects of Armour Thyroid?
- allergic reactions.
- severe dizziness,
- trouble breathing),
- increased sweating,
- sensitivity to heat,
- mental/mood changes (nervousness, mood swings),
- tiredness,
- diarrhea,
Is Armour better than Synthroid?
Our research shows that patients generally feel better on Armour Thyroid compared to levothyroxine. Armour Thyroid is an effective medication to use for patients who remain symptomatic on levothyroxine and should be considered as a viable option in clinical practice.