Armour Thyroid vs. Nature-Throid
See how Armour Thyroid and Nature-Throid compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Armour Thyroid and Nature-Throid are both animal-derived desiccated thyroid extracts containing T4 and T3, unlike synthetic levothyroxine-only medications.
Both drugs start titration at 15 mg once daily, but Armour Thyroid includes an extra incremental step before reaching its maintenance dose.
Neither drug has gone through a formal FDA New Drug Application; both are grandfathered pre-1938 products that have faced recurring supply shortages.
Armour Thyroid vs. Nature-Throid Drug Summary
Armour Thyroid
Armour Thyroid is a natural desiccated thyroid hormone made from porcine thyroid gland, used as replacement therapy for hypothyroidism and to suppress pituitary TSH in certain thyroid conditions. It contains both T4 and T3, unlike synthetic levothyroxine, and is taken as a once-daily oral tablet with the dose raised gradually over several weeks.
Nature-Throid
Nature-Throid is also a natural desiccated thyroid hormone derived from porcine thyroid gland, prescribed for hypothyroidism of nearly any cause and for pituitary TSH suppression in thyroid nodules or goiter. Like Armour Thyroid, it delivers both T4 and T3 in a once-daily oral tablet, with dosing labeled in both milligrams and traditional grain units.
Armour Thyroid vs. Nature-Throid Side Effects
Armour Thyroid
Nature-Throid
Armour Thyroid vs. Nature-Throid Dosage
Armour Thyroid
Nature-Throid
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 15 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 60-120 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | As tolerated |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 15 mg (1/4 grain) daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 60-120 mg (1-2 grain) daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | As tolerated |
Armour Thyroid
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 15 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 60-120 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | As tolerated |
Nature-Throid
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 15 mg (1/4 grain) daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 60-120 mg (1-2 grain) daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | As tolerated |
Armour Thyroid vs. Nature-Throid Indications
Armour Thyroid
Armour Thyroid is FDA-labeled for hypothyroidism caused by problems in the thyroid, pituitary, or hypothalamus, and for suppressing TSH in thyroid nodules, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, multinodular goiter, and thyroid cancer. It is not approved for weight loss or for infertility unrelated to low thyroid function.
Primary, secondary, or tertiary hypothyroidism
TSH suppression in thyroid nodules
Hashimoto's thyroiditis and multinodular goiter
Adjunct therapy in thyroid cancer management
Nature-Throid
Nature-Throid is FDA-labeled for hypothyroidism of any cause except transient hypothyroidism during recovery from subacute thyroiditis, and for TSH suppression in euthyroid goiters, nodules, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It also carries an added label as a diagnostic agent for thyroid suppression testing, a use Armour Thyroid does not have.
Hypothyroidism of any etiology (with exclusions)
TSH suppression in thyroid nodules and goiter
Hashimoto's thyroiditis and multinodular goiter
Diagnostic agent for thyroid suppression testing
Armour Thyroid vs. Nature-Throid Pros and Cons
Armour Thyroid
Armour Thyroid and Nature-Throid share nearly identical clinical profiles since both are desiccated porcine thyroid extracts with overlapping grandfathered FDA status. Armour Thyroid's titration schedule includes one more incremental step before maintenance, and its label does not carry the diagnostic-use indication or explicit contraindications found on Nature-Throid's label.
Pros
Extra titration step (+15 mg increments) allows more gradual dose increases
Label does not list thyrotoxicosis as an explicit contraindication
Dosing measured only in milligrams, without legacy grain conversions
Cons
No FDA-labeled diagnostic use for thyroid suppression testing
Still subject to periodic supply shortages typical of desiccated extracts
Broader hypothyroidism label lacks the exclusions Nature-Throid specifies
Warns of adrenal crisis risk if used before corticosteroid replacement
Nature-Throid
Nature-Throid offers an added FDA-labeled diagnostic use for thyroid suppression testing and dosing labeled in traditional grain units alongside milligrams. It has also experienced a specific 2020 recall for subpotent tablets that led to extended supply shortages, and its label carries stricter contraindications than Armour Thyroid's.
Pros
FDA-labeled as a diagnostic agent for thyroid suppression testing
Dosing labeled in traditional grain units alongside milligrams
Label details trace T1, T2, calcitonin, and iodine content
Cons
Experienced a 2020 recall for subpotent tablets causing prolonged shortages
Explicitly contraindicated in uncorrected adrenal insufficiency and thyrotoxicosis
Overdose symptoms may be delayed several days, complicating recognition
Excludes transient hypothyroidism from subacute thyroiditis recovery
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