Armour® Thyroid is the brand name of a preparation of thyroid hormones that is available in the US by prescription. The brand is now owned by a large, well-known pharmaceutical company called Allergan.
It is an alternative to synthetic thyroid hormone preparations like levothyroxine (brand name Synthroid) or liothyronine (brand name Cytomel).
It is a “natural” product, prepared from the thyroid gland of pigs.
Dosage forms
Armour® Thyroid is available in eight different strengths: 1/4th grain, 1/2 grain, 1 grain, 1 1/2 grains, 2 grains, 3 grains, 4 grains, and 5 grains.
Each grain of Armour® Thyroid contains 38 mcg of T4 and 9 mcg of T3. From this, we can easily calculate how much T3 and T4 the other tablets contain.
We must remember that T3 is four times more potent than T4. So, one grain of Armour® Thyroid is equivalent to 38 mcg plus 36 mcg (9 X 4) = 74 mcg of T4.
Related Pages
Thyroid hormones for psychopharmacologists: What’s what
Pros and cons of liothyronine (T3) and levothyroxine (T4)
Levothyroxine (T4) for augmentation of antidepressants?
Thyroid hormone for adjunctive treatment (augmentation) with an SSRI?
Liothyronine (T3) adjunctive treatment: How much and for how long?
References
Armour® Thyroid Prescribing Information
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