Armour Thyroid Uses

Thyroid hormones exert an influence on many important functions in the body, such as metabolism, temperature regulation, and heart rate. Both low and high thyroid hormone levels can cause problems. Armour Thyroid is used to treat underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). It replaces thyroid hormones in people who have low levels of these hormones. 

Armour Thyroid is also used to suppress thyroid function in people with conditions such as multinodular goiter, thyroid nodules, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and thyroid cancer.

There may be other uses of Armour Thyroid. Your health care professional or pharmacist can give you further drug information.

Armour Thyroid Mechanism of Action

Armour Thyroid contains natural thyroid hormones obtained from animal thyroid glands, specifically pig (porcine) thyroid glands. It is used for maintenance thyroid replacement therapy in people who do not have enough thyroid hormone.

Armour Thyroid Doses

Armour Thyroid is available as tablets in doses of 15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg, 120 mg, 180 mg, 240 mg, and 300 mg. Thyroid hormone dosage depends on the condition being treated. For hypothyroidism, the typical starting dose is 30 mg by mouth once a day. Your healthcare provider may increase the dose by 15 mg every 2-3 weeks, depending on clinical and laboratory evidence of response. Most people require maintenance doses of 60 mg to 120 mg a day to maintain normal serum T3 and T4 levels. 

For thyroid suppression therapy, the dose is calculated based on body weight and treatment usually lasts for 7-10 days. 

In some cases, for example, during radioisotope scanning procedures, liothyronine (T3) may be used instead of levothyroxine (T4).