Difference Between Armour Thyroid And Np Thyroid

Are There Any Recalls Or Recalls On Armour Thyroid

Synthetic vs Desiccated Thyroid Medicine

The FDA Alert below may be specifically about Armour Thyroid or relate to a group or class of drugs which include Armour Thyroid . MedWatch Safety Alerts are distributed by the FDA and published by Drugs.com. Following is a list of possible medication recalls, market withdrawals, alerts and warnings.

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About Natural Desiccated Thyroid

Natural desiccated thyroid also known as thyroid extract, natural thyroid, and porcine thyroid is a thyroid hormone replacement drug used to treat hypothyroidism. The brand names in the United States include Nature-throid, WP Thyroid, and Armour Thyroid. A generic NDT, NP Thyroid, is also available here. NDT is made from the desiccated thyroid gland of pigs. It contains thyroxine , triiodothyronine , and other thyroid hormones including T1, T2, and calcitonin.

Noted endocrinologist Wilmar Wiersinga, M.D., has written that hypothyroidism was an untreatable condition until the early 1890s, when patients started getting injections of thyroid extract derived from sheep. After that time, tablets were made from sheep thyroid as a treatment for hypothyroidism.

Eventually, NDT was introduced in the early 1900s as the sole hypothyroidism treatment on the market and has been available by prescription since that time. It is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administrative , but because it was on the market before the creation of the FDA, the drug has not gone through the formal new drug approval process and was instead grandfathered by the FDA.

Strict Adherence Required For Consistent Absorption And Effectiveness

Studies have found that many people dont adhere to thyroid medication usage guidelines. They wont take it on an empty stomach , and theyll take it with their morning coffee or their acid reflux medication, without the required wait time. All of this can impact their medications absorption and its effectiveness. If adherence is an issue for you, the best T4 medication might be the hypoallergenic T4 medication, Tirosint, which Ill talk about in a moment.

I am always a bit dismayed to hear from people that they did not know about the impact on their medications effectiveness by not following these basic guidelines, but research has found that ingesting food with T4 medication decreases its absorption from approximately 80 percent to 40 percent. Coffee impacts absorption, too. Its all about the gastric pH level and how foods, drinks and medications reduce the acid levels within the gastrointestinal system. Without this acidity, tablets take longer to break down, and there are direct effects on absorption that occur.

Thyroid medications have a narrow therapeutic index, meaning that they are goldilocks hormones, and careful dose titration is needed to get things just right. Doses that are incorrect by just a tiny amount can result in symptoms from over-treatment or under-treatment. So the above issues can all result in ineffective thyroid treatment.

In order to overcome the absorption issues, I recommend the following:

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Levothyroxine Vs Armour Thyroid

Hypothyroidism patients everywhere have been freaking out ever since their favorite thyroid medication, Naturethroid went on backorder. So on top of the normal Pandemic pharmacy problems I was already having with pharmacies not processing my prescriptions and messing everything I tried to do up… the cherry on top of my horrific 2020 was suddenly having hundreds of patients all need their thyroid medication changed at once when they could no longer obtain Naturethroid.

In my practice full of patients with food allergies and food sensitivities this was no simple task and caused me to work 12-15 hour days constantly calling pharmacists that were also pulling their hair out from stress.

The purpose of this thyroid article is to guide you through the pros and cons of the current thyroid hormone options available, if you are not happy on the thyroid hormones you are currently taking.

When thyroid dose is not correct patients can become depressed, anxious, gain weight and experience worse pain and chronic fatigue. The majority of my thyroid patients in my Holistic Hormone practice feel better on Armour Thyroid than Levothyroxine .

The main issue with pig gland thyroid is that pigs have a higher ratio of T3 to T4 than humans generally have and for some patients, the T3 is overstimulating for them and can cause palpitations, hot flashes, chest pain, headaches, diarrhea and increased sweating.

“Should I take Tirosint?”

Dr. Nicole Sundene, NMD

Is Armour Thyroid Better Because Its Natural

Many holistic blogs claim that desiccated thyroid extract is superior because its natural.

However, all of these products contain synthetic fillers to hold the pill together, meaning they are never 100% natural .

Because synthetic T4 and T3 are biologically identical to the natural hormones, they produce exactly the same actions within the body .

The only difference is that Armour Thyroid also contains calcitonin, T1 and T2, which may be biologically active .

However, there does not appear to be any evidence that they produce any significant effect in these amounts.

Summary: Synthetic thyroid hormones are biologically identical to animal hormones and will produce the same effects. No pills are 100% natural all contain synthetic fillers regardless.

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Is Np Thyroid And Nature

Both NP Thyroid and Nature-Throid are natural medications since they are made from a desiccated gland rather than synthetic resources. This reason is why Desiccated Thyroid medications can be used for T4 and T3 hormone replacement.

Importantly, as the FDA report, natural and synthetic components may produce a difference , which mainly depends on the individual.

Tirosint Levothyroxine Gel Caps

Description: Tirosint is a newer thyroid medication that is a hypo-allergenic version of levothyroxine. I recently wrote an entire article focused on Tirosint. In my survey, 26 percent of respondents said they felt better taking Tirosint. Out of those that switched to Tirosint gel caps , 68 percent saw an improvement in their labs, 62 percent saw an improvement in energy levels, 32 percent an improvement in hair loss, and 50 percent saw an improvement in mood.

Because of how quickly and consistently Tirosint is absorbed, it has also been found to be a better option for people who have certain gastrointestinal challenges , who are taking antacids/acid blockers/PPIs, or who are otherwise experiencing low stomach acid.

Dose: Tirosint gel caps are available in 12 different dosage strengths, ranging from a 13 mcg dose to a 200 mcg dose. Because this medication is more readily absorbed than other forms of levothyroxine, some people may find that they require a smaller dosage of Tirosint to keep thyroid hormones within optimal range.

Pros:

Potential Cons:

Just like with all T4 medications, the effectiveness of Tirosint may be impacted if a given individual is experiencing poor T4/T3 conversion. Here are some additional things to consider:

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What Can I Take In Place Of Armour Thyroid

There are two categories of thyroid hormone replacement medicines for the treatment of hypothyroidism: 1) natural hormonal preparations derived from animal thyroid, and 2) synthetic preparations. Natural preparations, such as Armour Thyroid, contain both T4 and T3. The United States Pharmacopeia has standardized the active drug content of natural preparations. Synthetic preparations were developed in the mid-1950s and contain only a single active ingredient T4 or T3 .

There is no one thyroid medication that is best for everyone. Individual symptoms and responses to treatment vary, and effective doses of a particular medication can vary. Following is a list of alternatives to Armour Thyroid.

How To Talk To Your Healthcare Provider About Dte

If you’re being treated for hypothyroidism with levothyroxine alone and you still have symptoms of persistent hypothyroidism, talk to your healthcare provider about the possibility of trying DTE. Though it has been in use for more than 100 years, DTE is still somewhat controversial and it can be a challenge to find healthcare providers who will prescribe it. Most healthcare providers today were taught in medical school that levothyroxine is the only acceptable option for treating hypothyroidism.

Thyroid Disease Doctor Discussion Guide

Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.

Along with that, many healthcare providers aren’t aware that DTE is still available or that it can be used safely to treat some hypothyroid patients. Some believe that prescribing DTE is difficult. These ideas are unfortunately reinforced by negative opinions from levothyroxine sales representatives, unfounded rumors that DTE is going off the market, and other anecdotal information.

Let your healthcare provider know that you’ve done your homework on DTE and that recent studies have shown that it can be very beneficial for people who aren’t doing well on levothyroxine. Though, in 2012, the American Thyroid Association said that DTE should not be used to treat hypothyroidism, it conceded in its 2014 recommendations that some people respond well to DTE or a combination of synthetic T4/T3 therapy.

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Other Desiccated Thyroid Extracts

In addition to Armour Thyroid, there are several other DTEs including Nature-Throid, NP Thyroid, Westhroid, and WP Thyroid. These thyroid medications can have variations in the amount of T4 and T3 since they are derived from an animal source. Because of this variability, a persons T4 and T3 blood levels can differ between the different medicines and even between new lots of the same branded drug.

Other differences between the various DTEs are the amount and kinds of inactive ingredients. For example, Armour Thyroid contains inactive ingredients such as starch and microcrystalline cellulose which can be difficult to digest in some individuals, especially if they suffer from low stomach acid or other digestive issues.

How To Switch To An Armour Thyroid Alternative

Every person responds to therapy differently. Finding the best treatment for hypothyroid patients may take time, and changing to a different thyroid medication is not an easy decision. FDA-approved treatment options can provide consistent, and precise dosing and the American Thyroid Associations treatment guidelines recommend levothyroxine as the standard of care for hypothyroidism. We encourage patients to talk to their endocrinologist or other health care provider for the appropriate medical advice.

When switching from Armour Thyroid to levothyroxine products, desiccated thyroid 60 mg is considered approximately equivalent to levothyroxine 100 mcg. When switching from Armour Thyroid to Cytomel desiccated thyroid 60 mg is considered approximately equivalent to Cytomel 25 mcg. All desiccated thyroid brands that are commercially available contain the same active ingredient which means all must meet the same manufacturing standards, therefore substitution between brands would be the same strength. When switching from Armour Thyroid to a different thyroid medication, serum thyroid stimulating hormone should be measured in six weeks and the dose adjusted as necessary.

The following conversions may be used when switching from Armour Thyroid to levothyroxine:

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Levothyroxine Vs Natural Desiccated Thyroid: What Is Right For You

Lets take a quick trip back in history to the late 1800s. It was a time when hypothyroidism was, for some patients, a fatal and untreatable condition. Those who survived still lived a life of fatigue, depression, weight gain, and dulled thinking and concentration.

Thats why it was so groundbreaking when in 1981, Dr. George Redmayne Murray began using an extract from the thyroid glands of sheep to treat the most severe cases of hypothyroidism successfully. Dr. Murrays lifesaving discovery eventually evolved into natural desiccated thyroid drugs. NDT, made from the desiccated thyroid glands of pigs, is still in use today as one treatment option for hypothyroidism. In the United States, the NDT brands available include Armour Thyroid, Nature-throid, WP Thyroid, and NP Thyroid.

Levothyroxine didnt come on the scene until the middle of the twentieth century. This synthetic form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine was touted as the modern treatment for hypothyroidism, casting NDT as old-fashioned and out-of-date. We currently have several levothyroxine brands available in the US, including Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, and Euthyrox tablets several generic manufacturers of tablets and Tirosint gel capsules and Tirosint-SOL oral solution.

Ahead, a look at why some doctors dont support treatment with NDT.

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Is Armour Thyroid Better Because It Contains T3

One of the main arguments for the use of Armour Thyroid is that it contains T3 as well as T4.

Its possible that a minority of people will do better on a combination of T3 and T4 replacement therapy. However, there is only a small amount of evidence available to support this theory .

A trial of combination T4 and T3 therapy is recommended for patients who do not experience symptom relief on Synthroid. This is experimental and should be stopped if no positive results are seen after three months .

While it may be beneficial, there are some issues associated with using Armour Thyroid to replace T3, including:

• Inconsistent dosage in Armour Thyroid: There may still be inconsistencies and stability problems in the preparation of Armour Thyroid. This can result in fluctuating blood levels of thyroid hormones.
• Difficulties maintaining T3 levels: The ratio of T4 to T3 in Armour Thyroid is much higher than that typically excreted from a healthy human thyroid. Additionally, T3 does not last as long in the body and is much more difficult to maintain a consistent level.

T3 levels may spike or become elevated and symptoms such as heart palpitations and others seen in hyperthyroidism can occur. Slow release or multiple daily doses of synthetic T3 are likely to produce much more consistent blood levels and less side effects .

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Where Does The Thyroid In Armour Come From

The active ingredient in Armour Thyroid is derived from porcine thyroid glands of pigs processed for human food consumption and is produced at a facility that also handles bovine tissues from animals processed for human food consumption. As a result]

The active ingredient in Armour Thyroid is derived from porcine thyroid glands of pigs processed for human food consumption and is produced at a facility that also handles bovine tissues from animals processed for human food consumption. As a result]

Armour thyroid is often considered superior and more powerful than those medications because it contains both T4 and T3 .

When you take Armour thyroid , you should see your TSH drop, your free T4 increase and your Free T3 increase as well. This pattern doesnt always hold true, however. Some individuals will find that their TSH will drop, their T4 will drop and their free T3 will increase.

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Understanding Synthetic Versus Natural Thyroid Medications

What is the difference between synthetic versus natural thyroid medications? Natural Thyroid formulations such as Nature-Throid, Armour, and WP Thyroid are derived from desiccated porcine thyroid glands which contain not only T4 like in synthetics but also T3. Natural thyroid from desiccated thyroid have been used to treat thyroid problems for more than 100 years as reported in medical journals and books. Natural thyroid formulations also target T2, T1 and Calcitonin which can be beneficial. Synthetic thyroid medications such as Synthroid and Levothyroxine contain Thyroxine , which is the identical hormone produced by the thyroid gland.

In our practice most patients feel much better, with more energy, and relief of symptoms when switching from synthetic to a natural thyroid. In addition, natural thyroid seems to address other medical problems by improving immune system, aiding in in depression, lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, and stabilizing cortisol levels.

Some people have concerns with the stability of natural thyroid formulations. Therefore to ensure that natural thyroid formulations are consistent analytical tests are performed on the raw material and on the actual tablets to measure actual T4 and T3 activity.

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Interactions Between Armour Thyroid And Other Medications

Armour Thyroid may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Armour Thyroid . Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

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Choice No : Armour Thyroid

Armour thyroid is a good substitute for Nature Throid or NP thyroid. The active ingredient of Armour Thyroid is dessicated Thyroid, which is the same ingredient in Nature Throid and NP Thyroid. In other words, Nature Throid, Armour Thyroid, and NP Thyroid are various brand names of dessicated Thyroid.

Over the years, I have used dessicated Thyroid in most of my hypothyroid patients. I have found all the brands of dessicated Thyroid to work well, although there is a marked difference in their prices Armour Thyroid being the most expensive one.

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What Is Desiccated Thyroid

Desiccated thyroid is a combination of hormones that are normally produced by your thyroid gland to regulate the body’s energy and metabolism. Desiccated thyroid is given when the thyroid does not produce enough of this hormone on its own.

Desiccated thyroid treats hypothyroidism . Desiccated thyroid is also used to treat or prevent goiter , and is also given as part of a medical tests for thyroid disorders.

Desiccated thyroid should not be used to treat obesity or weight problems.

Desiccated thyroid may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.