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EspañolNp Thyroid overview
BRAND NAMES:
WP Thyroid, Armour Thyroid, Nature-Throid, NP Thyroid, Westhroid, Cytomel, Euthyrox, Levoxyl, NP Thyroid 120, Synthroid, Thyrolar, WP Thyroid, Unithroid
Generic Names:
Np Thyroid
Uses:
Treats hypothyroidism (the body does not produce enough thyroid hormone).
Therapeutic Classes:
Thyroid Supplement, Diagnostic Agent, Thyroid Function, Endocrine-Metabolic Agent
Forms:
Capsule, Tablet
How it’s taken:
By mouth
What is Np Thyroid used for?
Armour Thyroid is a medication that has been used to treat underactive thyroid problems (hypothyroidism) caused by a variety of thyroid disorders. Armour Thyroid is a thyroid extract from animal thyroid glands.
Armour Thyroid is the brand name for desiccated thyroid or thyroid extract from pork sources. Desiccated thyroid is a natural product that has been available for over 100 years. For the treatment of hypothyroidism, the use of Armour Thyroid is not as common as in the past. Due to its dependency on a natural source, there have been times where the raw materials needed to produce this drug are unavailable, and the drug is in short supply.
Thyroid hormone prescription medications are best taken first thing in the morning, at least 1 hour before you have anything else to eat or drink.
It is important to take your dose every day and not miss a dose. Missing doses can affect your thyroid levels a great deal and make it hard for your doctor to manage your condition.
Your doctor will need to monitor other functions in your body such as heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose to make sure all aspects of your health are being addressed.
While there are many benefits of this medication, there are some side effects as well. If you experience serious adverse events such as chest pain or rapid heart beats, contact your doctor or seek care immediately.
What form(s) does Np Thyroid come in
Tablet
15 mg
30 mg
60 mg
90 mg
120 mg
What are common Np Thyroid doses?
In the treatment of hypothyroidism, regardless of the cause, there are different dosing strategies based on age, weight, and current thyroid levels. Dosing is typically started low, and the blood test is repeated at a frequent interval to determine if the dose needs to continue to increase.
Adults: Begin with 15 mg or 30 mg once daily. Increase by 15 mg increments every 2 to 3 weeks. The majority of patients will achieve normal blood levels at doses between 60 mg and 120 mg daily.
Children 6 years and older: Begin with 15 mg or 30 mg once daily. Increase by 15 mg increments every 2 to 3 weeks. The majority of patients will achieve normal blood levels at doses between 60 mg and 90 mg daily. Adolescents may need to go above 90 mg.
Children under 6 years of age: Begin with a low dose once daily. Increase by 15 mg increments every 2 to 3 weeks. The majority of patients will achieve normal blood levels at doses between 30 mg and 60 mg daily.
Special conditions such as myxedema coma or thyroid cancer may require doing our of these ranges.
Common Np Thyroid prescriptions
NP Thyroid
90 tablets bottleNP Thyroid
120mg tabletNP Thyroid
15mg tabletNP Thyroid
30mg tabletNP Thyroid
60mg tabletNP Thyroid
90mg tablet
How to take Np Thyroid
Your doctor will tell you how much to take and how often.
Take your medicine at the same time every day.
Take the medicine on an empty stomach.
Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor, you may need to take smaller and smaller doses before completely stopping the medicine.
What to do if you miss a dose of Np Thyroid
Take your medicine as soon as you remember that you missed a dose.
Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose.
You should not use two doses at the same time.
Np Thyroid contraindications
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to any type of thyroid hormone.
Np Thyroid warnings
Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor.
Check with your doctor before taking this medicine if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or an underactive adrenal or pituitary gland.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Large doses of thyroid hormones, especially when taken with diet pills, can result in dangerous side effects.
Make sure you see your doctor for regular check-ups so your condition can be followed closely.
Np Thyroid interactions
Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking a blood thinner (like Coumadin), medicine for diabetes, estrogens, birth control pills, or products used for colds, asthma, appetite control, hay fever, or sinus problems.
If you are taking Questran (cholestyramine), take it either 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take levothyroxine.
Np Thyroid side effects
Some side effects to NP Thyroid therapy can be bothersome. Some may become anxious or have trouble sleeping. There are some potentially very serious side effects to thyroid hormone therapy that require immediate attention from your medical professional. If you experience chest pain or rapid heartbeat, these could be signs of something serious like a myocardial infarction, the medical term for heart attack. If you have a history of a cardiac medical condition, this is more likely to happen when you take NP Thyroid. Be upfront about your medical history when seeing a new prescriber. Your doctor may start your dose very low and make small incremental changes to try and avoid this effect. Older adults are also at a higher risk of cardiac events.
Women on higher doses of NP Thyroid may experience bone mineral density loss. It is important to do regular screenings, especially in postmenopausal women taking thyroid therapy. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. You should check with your pharmacist for a complete list.
Serious Side Effects
Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
Chest pain
Inability to stand heat
Skin rash or hives with intense itching
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Severe irritability or nervousness, tremors
Severe diarrhea or intense sweating
Irregular blood sugar levels
Decreased bone mineral density
Less Serious Side Effects
Irregular menstrual periods
Headache
Appetite changes, weight loss
Anxiety
Trouble sleeping
Sources:
NP Thyroid, DailyMed by National Library of Medicine (2023)
Hypothyroidism, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease
Hypothyroidism StatPearls, National Institutes of Health