Armour Thyroid

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Pronunciation: THYE-roid
Generic Name: Thyroid
Brand Name: Examples include Armour Thyroid and Bio-Throid

Armour Thyroid should not be used, either alone or with other medicines, for weight loss or to treat obesity. In patients with normal thyroid function, normal daily doses of thyroid hormone are ineffective for weight loss. Large doses may cause serious or life-threatening toxic side effects, especially when used with other medicines that reduce appetite.

Armour Thyroid is used for:

Treating underactive thyroid. It is also used for treating or preventing certain goiters and as an aid in diagnosing certain thyroid conditions.

Armour Thyroid is a thyroid hormone. It works by replacing thyroid hormones that are not being produced by the body.

Do NOT use Armour Thyroid if: you are allergic to any ingredient in Armour Thyroid you have certain untreated adrenal gland problems or untreated high thyroid hormone levels

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Armour Thyroid:

Some medical conditions may interact with Armour Thyroid. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances if you have a history of chest pain, heart attack, heart blood vessel problems, or other heart problems if you have a history of diabetes, overactive thyroid, long-term underactive thyroid, infertility, swelling of the skin (particularly around the eyes and cheeks), or pituitary gland problems, or if you will be having surgery

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Armour Thyroid. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because the risk of bleeding may be increased Calcium, cholestyramine, colestipol, estrogen, hormonal contraceptives (eg, birth control pills), or iron because they may decrease Armour Thyroid's effectiveness Digoxin, insulin, or oral hypoglycemic agents (eg, glyburide) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Armour Thyroid

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Armour Thyroid may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Armour Thyroid:

Use Armour Thyroid as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

How you take Armour Thyroid with regard to food may affect how well it is absorbed into your body. Certain types of food (eg, soybean products) may also affect how well Armour Thyroid is absorbed. Check with your doctor about how you should take Armour Thyroid with regard to food. Do not take cholestyramine or colestipol within 6 hours of taking Armour Thyroid. Take Armour Thyroid on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it. Armour Thyroid works best if it is taken at the same time each day. Continue to take Armour Thyroid even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose of Armour Thyroid, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Armour Thyroid.

Important safety information: It may take 4 to 6 weeks for you to notice the benefits of Armour Thyroid. Armour Thyroid should not be used to treat fertility problems or obesity in patients who have normal thyroid function because serious and sometimes life-threatening side effects could occur. Large doses of Armour Thyroid, especially when taken with diet pills, may cause symptoms of toxicity. Children may experience temporary, partial hair loss during the first few months of taking Armour Thyroid. Diabetes patients - Armour Thyroid may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine. Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Armour Thyroid before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery. Lab tests, including thyroid function tests, may be performed while you use Armour Thyroid. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments. Use Armour Thyroid with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects. PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Armour Thyroid has not been shown to cause harm to the fetus if you take it while you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. Your dose may need to be changed. Minimal amounts of thyroid hormones are found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Armour Thyroid, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby. Possible side effects of Armour Thyroid:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. When used in small doses, no COMMON side effects have been reported with this product. Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); changes in appetite; changes in menstrual periods; changes in weight; chest pain; diarrhea; excessive sweating; fast or irregular heartbeat; headache; inability to tolerate warm or hot temperatures; nervousness; pounding in the chest; shortness of breath; trembling; tremors; trouble sleeping; vomiting.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Armour Thyroid side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include blood clots in the brain; changes in menstrual periods; coma; diarrhea; fast heart rate; headache; irritability; nervousness; shock; stomach cramps; sweating; tremor; trouble sleeping; weight loss.

Proper storage of Armour Thyroid:

Store Armour Thyroid at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Armour Thyroid out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information: If you have any questions about Armour Thyroid, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider. Armour Thyroid is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people. If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor. Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Armour Thyroid. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012 Database Edition 12.1.1.002 Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. More Armour Thyroid resources Armour Thyroid Side Effects (in more detail)Armour Thyroid Use in Pregnancy & BreastfeedingDrug ImagesArmour Thyroid Drug InteractionsArmour Thyroid Support Group38 Reviews for Armour Thyroid - Add your own review/rating Armour Thyroid Prescribing Information (FDA) Armour Thyroid Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum) Armour Thyroid Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information Compare Armour Thyroid with other medications Hashimoto's diseaseHypothyroidism, After Thyroid RemovalThyroid CancerTSH SuppressionUnderactive Thyroid

Armour Thyroid

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