Why Doctors Don’t Like Armour Thyroid

It is true that most doctors do not prescribe Armour Thyroid or other Natural Desiccated Products (NDPs). There are a few reasons for this, which I will explain.

Definitions First

What is NDP?

• NDP stands for Natural Desiccated Product.

• It is a dried-up thyroid gland from a pig, processed into tablets of different strengths.

• NDP is natural and contains:

  • Real T4 and T3.

  • Precursors of thyroid hormones.

  • Vitamins and minerals naturally present in the thyroid gland.

What is Synthroid?

• Also called levothyroxine sodium.

• Made in a laboratory from T4 by removing one hydrogen atom and replacing it with a sodium atom.

• Results in an unnatural substance that does not exist in nature.

• Cannot truly be called T4 anymore — hence the name Synthroid.

• Looks like natural T4 but still needs to be converted to T3 to be active.

• Contains no minerals or vitamins, only synthetic T4.

Why Most Doctors Don’t Prescribe Armour

• During medical school and residency, future doctors are primarily taught about Synthroid.

• Armour Thyroid is rarely mentioned in training.

• By the time doctors finish residency, they may be skilled at prescribing Synthroid but unaware of Armour Thyroid.

• Some who have heard of Armour receive negative impressions from conventional medicine, which tends to favor synthetic drugs over natural ones.

• Prescribing Armour requires specialized knowledge because it contains both T4 and T3. Most doctors aren’t trained in managing this combination, so they feel uncomfortable prescribing it.

Common Myths About Armour Thyroid

1. Armour Thyroid contains only T3

Truth:

• Armour Thyroid contains both T4 and T3 in a 4:1 ratio, just like a human thyroid gland.

• This is why it can benefit most patients with hypothyroidism.

2. Medical guidelines recommend Synthroid, so Armour must be inferior

Truth:

• Guidelines often recommend synthetic drugs over natural substances, partly because pharmaceutical companies help shape these guidelines.

• Armour Thyroid is identical to human thyroid, containing all key hormones and nutrients, making it a complete option compared to synthetic T4 alone.

3. There’s no scientific evidence supporting Armour Thyroid

Truth:

• Armour has been used since the 1800s with great results, long before Synthroid existed.

• Multiple studies show that using a T4 + T3 combination (like in Armour) can lead to better symptom improvement and patient satisfaction compared to T4 alone.

4. Armour is outdated and was replaced by better drugs

Truth:

• Armour has a 200-year history and is still prescribed today, especially for the 20–30% of patients who don’t respond to Synthroid.

• “Old” doesn’t mean ineffective — many older remedies and products remain valuable over time, just like vintage cars or vinyl records.

5. Taking Armour Thyroid causes dependency or addiction

Truth:

• Armour Thyroid, like Synthroid, replaces missing hormones — it doesn’t cause addiction like narcotics do.

• Armour is more complete because it contains both T4 and T3.

• It’s similar to insulin for diabetics — replacing what the body can’t make on its own.

6. Armour Thyroid must be taken multiple times per day

Truth:

• Many patients do well taking Armour once a day.

• Some doctors may recommend splitting the dose, but in my experience, it’s usually unnecessary.

• I’ve successfully used it as a once-a-day medication for years.

7. Pregnant women shouldn’t take Armour

Truth:

• While levothyroxine is often preferred in pregnancy, some women safely continue Armour Thyroid under close medical supervision.

• Regular monitoring of thyroid hormone levels is essential.

8. Armour works instantly because it has T3

Truth:

• Hypothyroidism often develops over months or years; it can’t be corrected instantly.

• You can’t start with the full necessary dose right away, as too much at once can be harmful.

• It usually takes about 4 weeks to see full effects from a starting dose, and adjustments may be needed over several months.

9. Armour is dangerous because it contains animal products

Truth:

• Armour is derived from pigs, similar to bacon, pork chops, or hot dogs.

• However, it is pharmaceutical grade, highly purified, and carefully processed.

• This makes it much safer than eating regular pork products.

10. Armour is safer because it’s natural

Truth:

• Being natural is not a guarantee of safety — many natural substances can be harmful (e.g., spoiled food, bacterial toxins, snake venom).

• Armour Thyroid contains potent hormones and must be used under medical supervision.

• Both Synthroid and Armour can cause side effects if dosed incorrectly.

Would you like me to merge this with the previous “Armour vs Synthroid” blog so both articles are in one cohesive, well-structured post? That way you can publish them together as a full educational guide.