Desiccated Thyroid (Armour, NP Thyroid)
Desiccated thyroid contains thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) taken from pig thyroid glands. This is the medicine itself, not an added ingredient. Armour, NP Thyroid, and the other US versions are all made from pig thyroid glands; no plant-derived version of this medicine exists.
What this means
Desiccated thyroid contains thyroid hormones from pig thyroid. A synthetic form, levothyroxine, is not animal-derived and is a different medicine. Talk to your doctor about your treatment.
- Keep taking it as prescribed, and do not change or stop it without your prescriber.
- Tell your doctor the source matters to you, and ask whether levothyroxine, a synthetic form that is a different medicine, is appropriate for you.
- Bring this to a scholar you trust.
This answered your Armour Thyroid question. What about your other medications?
Armour Thyroid is animal-derived in the medicine itself, so the answer is the same whoever makes it. Most medications are different: the animal ingredient is a hidden one, like the gelatin in a capsule or a coating, and its source changes depending on which manufacturer made your bottle. The label never says which.
A licensed pharmacist asks the manufacturer of your exact medication, in writing, and reports the stated source. Check one of your medications →