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Natural desiccated thyroid hormones or thyroid extract, refers to a thyroid hormone preparation made from porcine thyroid glands, which was first developed in the late 1800s, and is still used by some today to treat hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland).

It is marketed as Armour® by Forest Labs, Naturethroid and Westhroid by Western Research Labs/Time Caps, and as Qualitest or generic desiccated thyroid by Time Caps Labs. Canada's natural desiccated thyroid is made by Erfa and called simply Thyroid. All use the same FDA approved desiccated porcine thyroid powder, and the only difference between them are binders and fillers.

All brands contain a mixture of thyroid hormones: T4 (thyroxine), T3 (triiodothyronine) in the proportions usually present in pig thyroids, and unmeasured amounts of T2, T1 and calcitonin. Manufacturer Forest Labs states^{[citation needed]} that the latter three are not removed. Porcine thyroid contains roughly 80% T4 and 20% T3, with one grain equalling 38 mcg. T4 and 9 mcg. T3 (see Forest Labs insert below). Patients who compare their experiences in thyroid interactive groups report that generic thyroid is considerably weaker than Armour and the other brands.^{[citation needed]}

Armour is made in the following strengths: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, and 3 grain tablets. One grain contains 38 mg. of T4 and 9 mg. of T3, plus unmeasured amounts of T2, T1 and calcitonin.

History

Historically, the earliest oral treatment for hypothyroidism consisted of thyroid extract. A report of long-term success (28 years) of this form of supplementation in a patient with myxoedema (severe hypothyroidism) was first reported in 1920 by George Redmayne Murray.^[1] In the 1960s, thyroid extract began to be replaced by levothyroxine, a synthetic Thyroxine (T4).

In the early 21st century, natural desiccated thyroid hormones (thyroid extract) regained popularity due to experiential reports by thyroid patients on numerous interactive websites, in spite of the lack of "medical" evidence that adding T3 to the treatment is beneficial.^[2]^[3]

Treatment protocol

Patients and some doctors state they have found^{[citation needed]} that multi-dosing natural desiccated thyroid better imitates what their own thyroid would be doing--giving the hormones throughout the day. This is especially true of the direct T3. An example might be: 2 grains in the morning, one grain around noon, and another 1/2 grain by 3 pm. Additionally, some patients have switched from swallowing Armour to doing it sublingually under the tongue--the latter which results in getting more of the hormones.^{[citation needed]}

Controversies

It has been said by medical professionals that natural desiccated thyroid like Armour is inconsistent from dose-to-dose, dangerous, unstable, hard to dose, unreliable, and outdated. Yet, the experience of patients reported on various interactive thyroid groups has been different, stating that Armour has not only protected their heart, but they report better stamina, energy, good health, freedom from depression, lowered cholesterol and many other postive results. Patients have reported that if they had problems while on Armour or other similar products, it was due to a few identifiable issues: low cortisol, low Ferritin, being held hostage to the TSH, raising doses too slowly, not raising high enough, etc.

Books

Several books explaining natural thyroid hormone replacement are available:

Steven F. Hotze, MD. Hormones, Health, and Happiness. Forrest Publishing, 2005. ISBN 0976575108.
Mark Starr, MD. Hypothyroidism, the Epidemic. New Voice. ISBN 0975262408.
Dr. David Brownstein. Overcoming Thyroid Disorders. Medical Alternatives Press, 2002. ISBN 0966088220.
Barry Durrant-Peatfield, MBBS, LRCP, MRCS. The Great Thyroid Scandal and How To Survive It. Barons Down Publishing, 2002. ISBN 0954420306.

References

^ Murray GR. The life history of the first case of myxoedema treated by thyroid extract. Br Med J 1920;i:359-60.
^ Clyde PW, Harari AE, Getka EJ, Shakir KM. Combined levothyroxine plus liothyronine compared with levothyroxine alone in primary hypothyroidism: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003;290:2952-8. PMID 14665656.
^ Escobar-Morreale HF, Botella-Carretero JI, Gomez-Bueno M, Galan JM, Barrios V, Sancho J. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy in primary hypothyroidism: a randomized trial comparing L-thyroxine plus liothyronine with L-thyroxine alone. Ann Intern Med 2005;142:412-24. PMID 15767619.

External links

Stop the Thyroid Madness - patient-to-patient site encouraging the use of natural desiccated thyroid hormones and questioning the accuracy of common blood tests used to diagnose and treat hypothyroidism.]
Forest Labs Armour insert (PDF)
Research related to thyroid
Collection of Information and Sources of Thyroid Doses
References on the usefulness of thyroid hormones in diverse age-related diseases from the Hormone Handbook by Thierry Hertoghe, MD (International Medical Books)

[1] Murray GR. The life history of the first case of myxoedema treated by thyroid extract. Br Med J 1920;i:359-60.

[2] Clyde PW, Harari AE, Getka EJ, Shakir KM. Combined levothyroxine plus liothyronine compared with levothyroxine alone in primary hypothyroidism: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003;290:2952-8. PMID 14665656.

[3] Escobar-Morreale HF, Botella-Carretero JI, Gomez-Bueno M, Galan JM, Barrios V, Sancho J. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy in primary hypothyroidism: a randomized trial comparing L-thyroxine plus liothyronine with L-thyroxine alone. Ann Intern Med 2005;142:412-24. PMID 15767619.

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 ==External links==
-* [http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com Stop the Thyroid Madness] - patient-to-patient site encouraging the use of natural desiccated thyroid hormones and questioning the accuracy of common blood tests used to diagnose and treat hypothyroidism.
+* [http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com Stop the Thyroid Madness] - patient-to-patient site encouraging the use of natural desiccated thyroid hormones and questioning the accuracy of common blood tests used to diagnose and treat hypothyroidism.]
 *[http://www.armourthyroid.com/armourthyroid_pi.pdf Forest Labs Armour insert] (PDF)
 *[http://www.thyroidhistory.net/thyroidhistory.net/index.asp/ Research related to thyroid]
-*[http://www.academicmultimediaservices.com/Thyroid/Doses.htm  Collection of Information and Sources of Thyroid Doses
+*[http://www.academicmultimediaservices.com/Thyroid/Doses.htm  Collection of Information and Sources of Thyroid Doses]
-*[http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com References on the usefulness of thyroid hormones in diverse age-related diseases from the Hormone Handbook by Thierry Hertoghe, MD (International Medical Books)
+*[http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com References on the usefulness of thyroid hormones in diverse age-related diseases from the Hormone Handbook by Thierry Hertoghe, MD (International Medical Books)]
 [[Category:Hormonal agents]]