Is Armour Thyroid discontinued? A drug called Armour Thyroid is manufactured from the dried thyroid glands of pigs. It is also referred to as “natural desiccated thyroid” (NDT) or “porcine thyroid.” Desiccated thyroid extract has been marketed under Armour Thyroid and other names since the turn of the 20th century. Armour Thyroid and other DTE medications were added back into clinical usage even though they weren’t officially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They can only be obtained with a prescription.
The company voluntarily recalled all lots of Nature-Throid and WP-Thyroid in September 2020. It’s a result of the fact that they had fewer thyroid hormones than they should have. All strengths of WP-Thyroid and Nature-Throid are no longer available as of October 2022.
The most expensive dried thyroid extract product is Armour Thyroid. But other DTE brands, including Nature-Throid, NP Thyroid, and WP Thyroid, are on par with or less expensive than levothyroxine trade names.
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Where is Armour Thyroid manufactured?
Armour Thyroid is manufactured by a company called Allergan, Inc.Armour Thyroid is a natural thyroid supplement. It is made from pigs and is commonly used by health enthusiasts as a weight-loss medication. It is produced in Dublin, Ireland, by Forest Pharmaceuticals, LLC, an Allergan subsidiary.
Animals, typically pigs, cows, or sheep, provide the source for naturally produced thyroid treatments. Before the development of levothyroxine, dried thyroid was the only natural substance used to treat hypothyroidism. It has a strong and distinctive smell.
The most prevalent dried thyroid is the armor thyroid. Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine are combined in this thyroid hormone from pigs (T4). Armor Thyroid needs to be properly researched because there are few clinical studies. Furthermore, the FDA has yet to give its approval for use.
Desiccated thyroid extract has been marketed under Armour Thyroid and other names since the early 1900s. Cardiac issues can result from using too much Armor Thyroid (desiccated thyroid). It is more common in the elderly or those with certain heart conditions.
What happened to Armour Thyroid?
Friedman recently learned that there is a shortage of Armour thyroid. Also, there is a shortage of the other desiccated thyroid products, Nature-Throid and Westhroid. Dr. Friedman has some advice for his patients who are using Armour and are feeling its benefits.
Since a nationwide recall in 2021, Nature Throid and WP Thyroid have been discontinued. The manufacturer itself launched this voluntary recall. This recall happened after FDA inspections discovered more than expected variations in the actual strengths of the completed drugs. By October 2022, all doses of WP-Thyroid and Nature-Throid were discontinued. This may fuel the shortage of Armour thyroid.
Side Effects of Armour Thyroid:
Armour thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine are endocrine hormones found in the thyroid (T3). It is applied to deal with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). To treat some kinds of goiters (enlarged thyroid glands) and thyroid cancer, it is also used to reduce thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
While many individuals take Armour Thyroid effectively, others may be allergic to the chemicals. Some people also have drug interactions or discover that Armour Thyroid is ineffective in managing hypothyroidism. If that’s the case, one may want to talk to their doctor about switching to an alternative hormone therapy drug.
Alternatives for Armour Thyroid
Thyroid hormone replacement therapy for hypothyroidism is divided into two categories. They are natural hormonal preparations produced from animal thyroid and synthetic versions. T4 and T3 are both present in natural remedies like Armour Thyroid. The active drug content of natural formulations has been regulated by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). Midway through the 1950s, synthetic medicines were created, and they only had T4 (levothyroxine) or T3 as an active element (liothyronine).
The ideal thyroid medicine is different for each person. The effectiveness of a given medicine can vary due to individual symptoms and treatment responses. Here is a list of products that can be substituted for Armour Thyroid. They are:
- Levothyroxine
- Cytomel (liothyronine sodium)
- Euthyrox (levothyroxine)
- Levoxyl (levothyroxine)
- Synthroid (levothyroxine)
- Tirosint (levothyroxine)
- Unithroid (levothyroxine)
- Other desiccated thyroid extracts (DTEs)
- Natural alternatives to Armour Thyroid (Vitamins and supplements)
Other alternatives to Armour Thyroid include the following:
- Nature-Throid (thyroid supplement)
- NP Thyroid (thyroid USP)
- Westhroid (thyroid USP)
- WP Thyroid (thyroid USP)
Processed food and sugar can cause the body’s natural thyroid hormone activity to become overly active. This could increase thyroid diseases. Since weight gain is frequently a symptom of hypothyroidism, cutting back on sugar and processed foods may be good for thyroid health and weight loss.
Stress on the body and the mind can also affect thyroid function. Additionally, stress might worsen hypothyroidism symptoms. Daily self-care practices like exercise, meditation, aromatherapy with essential oils, or any other calming activity can help us manage our stress.
Conclusion
Treatment has a varied effect on each individual. It may take some time to find the best treatment for hypothyroid patients. Also, switching to a new thyroid medication is only sometimes the best course of action. Levothyroxine is advised as the preferred therapy for hypothyroidism in the American Thyroid Association’s treatment recommendations. It is also an FDA-approved treatment choice that can offer regular and exact dosing. We recommend that people consult with their endocrinologist or another healthcare professional for the best medical advice.