Q. I have taken Armour Thyroid for decades and have had absolutely no problem with this medication. Now my doctor maintains it is not a good medication any more, but he hasn’t been specific about the problem. He just says my insurance company will no longer pay for it. I would gladly pay for it myself. He said he could get into trouble for just prescribing it. Can you solve this mystery?
A. Doctors have been prescribing dried thyroid gland for more than 100 years. Brands such as Armour, Erfa, Naturethroid and Westhroid contain a mixture of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4). Synthetic levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid) contains only T4. Some people report that they feel better on this natural replacement hormone.
There is much more information about the benefits and risks, side effects and interactions of Armour Thyroid in our Guide to Thyroid Hormones. We find it hard to imagine that a physician would get into trouble for prescribing this medication, especially for a patient who has done well on it for as long as you have.
