Armour Thyroid and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Lit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2020

For Underactive Thyroid "I started taking Armour again after trying Nature-Throid and NP. I had previously taken Armour for many years, but the price went up, so I asked my Endo to find a cheaper alternative. However, after being on both Nature-Throid (which gave me chest pains) and NP (smelled like cat urine and tasted bad), I decided I had to go back on Armour. Armour is not the same as it was years ago. I used to do so well on it. Now I am anxious, cold, not sleeping well, itchy, experiencing heart palpitations, and having vision problems. I know something has changed with the formula. I don't know what to take. Synthroid is not an option. Why did they change Armour when it was fine the way it was and also raised the price??"

• Ami...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 4, 2022

For Underactive Thyroid "Here we go again! Problematic batches of Armour have started to emerge as of 2021-present. Stop the thyroid madness has reported on it as well. AbbVie/Allergan if you’re reading this, please look into your Armour Thyroid medication, as some component of this new formula is causing problems for a lot of us! Something’s changed for sure, because the new pills look and taste different. I have an old batch from early summer 2021 to prove it, hasn’t made me feel as terrible as these new ones have. Feels almost like a repeat of when NP Thyroid went bad. Dizziness, nausea/stomach issues, bloating, weird head pressure, vision problems, daytime fatigue, nighttime insomnia, anxiety/depression, mood swings, ear ringing, general unwell feeling, etc. Not good!"

• Spi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 11, 2022

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "WHAT IS HAPPENING? I've been on Armour since 2018 (before that NP) and I've never in the 15 years that I've been on NDTs experienced this type of thyroid hell. Gained 20 lbs despite being in a calorie deficit, dry skin, insomnia, anxiety through the roof, achy joints, painful heavy periods, and a 24-day cycle. TSH is anywhere between 1-3 (it's usually suppressed down to zero). FT4 is between 0.7-0.9 (usually 1.4) and FT3 is between 2.1-2.9 (usually 3.5). Again, I repeat WHAT IS HAPPENING? I'm praying I can get ahold of NP again or I'm gonna have to go back to synthetic, and I haven't been on those since 2007. I don't even know what dose I'd be on."

• flo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2014

For Hashimoto's disease "I started off in Oct 2013 on 15 mg of Armour for hypothyroid symptoms. I slowly increased it up to 180 mg by December as per doctor's instructions. I felt a little better, but still bouts of severe fatigue. Suddenly, I woke up last week very energized and started buzzing around cleaning. I felt like I had 3 cups of coffee. Racing heart and anxiety in my chest. I found myself having to find a quiet place to sit and meditate just to try and lower my heart rate. Two days later I went for blood tests. TSH 0.009, Free T3 4.1, and Free T4 1.41. Iron levels and adrenals are fine. Now I am hyperthyroid I guess. I am down to 60mg of Armour. Hopefully I will be able to find a happy balance."

• cof...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 19, 2022

For Hashimoto's disease "I took Armour more than 10 years ago and had good results but had to switch to NatureThroid due to shortages. Started Armour again last year when NatureThroid was pulled from the market. I felt pretty good on NatureThroid, but with Armour, my anxiety went through the roof. I assumed this was just due to other causes, but it kept getting worse until I was completely miserable and dysfunctional. I just had labs done and my levels are 'normal,' so I am clearly reacting strangely to the medication. I even went off for two weeks, felt much better but tired and cold, then tried half a pill today and had another panic episode. Something is off with this formula."

• Anonymous
• April 7, 2010

For Hashimoto's disease "I was on Synthroid for 1 1/2 years. I gained 10 pounds and had anxiety. For the first year, I had full trust in my doctor, but later I was not feeling right. I had memory fog, anxiety, and my weight was a problem. I used to be a size 4, and now I am a size 12. That alone was depressing. I took charge and researched Hashimoto's Disease. I later told my doctor that I wanted to go on Armour and that I was done with Synthroid. He said okay and put me on 60mg because he thought we would have to adjust it. Well, here I am a year later taking 60mg and 10 pounds less without working out."

• lis...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 3, 2023

For Hashimoto's disease "I have been on Armour Thyroid 60 mg for the past thirty years with good results. I split my pill in half and took it twice a day. But in the past three months, it seems that the medication is no longer what it used to be. My hair started falling, my hands grew icy cold in the evening, and I had a ringing in the ears. Indigestion, gas, and a feeling of anxiety. In the past two weeks, I fell repeatedly flat on my back with no warning. Unable to get up, my husband called the paramedics to take me to the hospital. There, they did not find anything and glossed over my report that I am hypothyroid and that I am taking medication for it. Instead, they focused on my cholesterol level of 257 and recommended Lipitor. The Armour formulation is not the same."

• Ang...
• October 2, 2022

For Hashimoto's disease "What is going on with Armour? The last few lots I've had have caused severe anxiety and panic that I have never experienced before on NDT. My suspicion is that they have changed API suppliers and that we are suffering as a result. Please change it back. Something isn't right here."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2021

For Underactive Thyroid "I was prescribed this medication for mild hypothyroidism. I think doctors need to be very careful when prescribing thyroid medications for people who have mild hypothyroidism. I wish I would have done my research beforehand, otherwise, I would have really reconsidered taking this medication. Anyhow, I started at a very small dose, 15 mg for about two weeks. Then increased to 30 mg for a few days until I woke up one night with heart palpitations. It was a very scary experience. I had a slew of other symptoms after that such as dry mouth, eyes, insomnia, anxiety, diarrhea, and the list goes on. My body definitely did not want/need this medicine. After about 2 1/2 months of discontinuing this medicine, the side effects are mostly gone, however, not completely. I share my story because I think people need to really do their research on medicines. I had a terrible reaction, and sometimes doctors think they are prescribing a medicine to help, when at times it can be harmful."

• Jan...
• September 17, 2019

For Hashimoto's disease "I took this medicine, Armour Thyroid, prior to 2015 with excellent results. Six weeks ago, I went back on it because NP Thyroid had been reformulated. I had a bad reaction to Armour, both the 45 mg and 90 mg tablets. I could no longer get up in the morning, took naps at 2, had a severe rash on my fingers and scalp, felt anxious, depressed, and was not sleeping. I am in adrenal fatigue and can’t think straight. I don’t know if these reformulations are a way to push people towards synthetic medications, or if some new fillers have been added, or if the pig thyroid is being processed differently. My main concern is that my symptoms became much more pronounced within days of taking it, to the point where I could not function at 20% of my prior activity level. Also, the medicine seemed to be very uneven in consistency, I had several pills that almost made me feel like I was speeding, while 95% of the other ones put me in bed. TSH, which had been in the normal range for 11 years, plummeted to the edge of 0."

• gui...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 8, 2022

For Hashimoto's disease "Today is Sept 8 of 2022, I have had them all from expensive Tirosint SOL to pathetic Synthroid generics. They all have terrible side effects that I can't handle. Lately, I've been a guinea pig to Armour Thyroid for the past year and guess what? I've been pushed to see a psychiatrist because of the anxiety, depression, insomnia, and panic attacks it's caused me. I was fine on NP Thyroid for 2 years before the big distributors and politicians decided to stick their greedy hands in what did not involve THEIR own health. Ever since the 2020 downfall, I have been forced to anti-depressants and counseling... as if 'WE' THE PATIENTS have no absolute idea what our bodies feel like after living in it for years or changing medications. And surviving COVID wasn't difficult enough. For now, I am stuck with anxiety, chest pains on and off, depression, and somewhat hair loss. If anyone knows a better remedy... please pass it on. Best of luck to everyone out there still fighting the uphill war."

• Emy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 26, 2021

For Underactive Thyroid "Armour is sadly not working well for me! Someone needs to investigate. My labs this month (July 2021) have officially tanked. On a fairly decent dose (210 mgs) plus I still have my own thyroid. Yet my free T4 is very low at 0.90, my reverse T3 has skyrocketed to 17.5, which has never happened before, at least not since all this time I’ve been on NDTs (2014 onward). Free T3 on the lower part of the range/still not optimal at 3.0, and I am very symptomatic; hands dry, bleeding, and cracking open, 50 lb weight gain in the last year, hair falling like crazy, so hard to get up in the mornings and function, mood swings/depression/anxiety, hard to go to sleep at a decent time, which doesn’t make sense considering I’m exhausted/dozing off all day (unless this med has thrown me into some serious adrenal fatigue). That time of the month (and the leading up to it) has become a painful, emotional nightmare. Need Nature-Throid, WP, and NP thyroid to be back and consistent the way they were before :-("

• AFF...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 16, 2022

For Hashimoto's disease "What has changed with this medication? Something's seriously off since about mid-last year. Headaches, anxiety through the roof. Is there a new API supplier? What? I've taken NDT for two decades. Never experienced anything even remotely like this."

• Mpc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2020

For Underactive Thyroid "I had a total thyroidectomy 13 years ago. I was put on Synthroid, or generic versions. I only noticed some paranoia/anxiousness with those over the years. About a year ago, I started feeling like I was taking the meds for nothing, as I was tired, foggy, etc. I went to see a new doctor who prescribed Armour Thyroid and suggested '2 grains,' which is two pills. I took one to start, and it made me totally anxious. I started taking half and made myself stick with it for a week. I had been having headaches to begin with. I decided to up to one pill and have done that for about 5 days. I am totally foggy, my body aches, I’m extremely anxious. I’m not taking this anymore. I feel disconnected, like I’m not even myself. I hope to go back to my previous doctor and start back on Synthroid. I’m happy Armour helps so many people, but unfortunately, I am not one of them. ;("

• BNA...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 7, 2022

For Underactive Thyroid "Echoing the many recent negative reviews on Armour. Since mid-2021, the medicine hasn't been the same. I have had depression, anxiety, panic, and after feeling better on an older compounded med, decided to try again since I felt my own system had settled down. Big mistake. By the end of the week trial, I was non-functional. In addition, I'd had an elevation of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies which I've never had before in my 26-year history as a thyroid patient. I have reported my issues to the FDA and talked to them at length, but told them many patients need NDT, but we need it to be safe, reliable, and effective. Encourage everyone having problems or an interest to do the same."

• Jul...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 3, 2016

For Hashimoto's disease "I've been taking levothyroxine for 15 years or so, and I just felt that it had become stagnant after all those years. I started taking Armour and it was fine for the first 2 to 3 years. Then I noticed that I have been having anxiety, trouble sleeping, and I just overall feel like I'm hyperthyroid. Blood levels are fine, but we just thought I needed to adjust my dose. A couple of months ago, I started breaking out in random hives, allergy tests came back negative. However, it is not every day. Because of the hyperthyroid feeling, I stopped taking it for a week and felt fine. I started back on it, same feeling. I also have started getting a humming in my ears and want to know if anyone else has experienced this before I see an ENT."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2022

For Hashimoto's disease "What happened and what helped. Was prescribed Armour for Hashimoto's. Before diagnosis, I was constantly exhausted, gained 10 lbs in a short time, and experienced anxiety. On Armour, I experienced severe anxiety attacks and nightly insomnia. Took myself off of it. Removed gluten, dairy, alcohol, and caffeine from diet immediately. I also removed kale and Brussels sprouts, as I found irritation towards Hashimoto's. Incorporated fish 2x per week as well as real whole foods as close to their original form (really started to cook!). For supplements, I took with breakfast: multivitamin powder, curcumin, D3K2, selenium (my multivitamin only provided a small amount). In the evening with dinner, I took my omegas if I did not consume fish, as well as my probiotics (I have a Garden of Life 100 billion strain with sleep herbs in them). 100% turnaround. Within 6 weeks, an absolute change in everything. No anxiety. Weight dropped. Sleeping all night. It takes time but worth the investment in change."

• Gab...
• March 9, 2023

For Underactive Thyroid "I was on Armour for almost 20 years with no issues. My June 2021 refill triggered incredible anxiety and irritability, increased heart rate, heat intolerance (and I worked in heat and was acclimated to it). Like others posting reviews, I also noted jaw clenching and tooth grinding. In August 2021, I was hospitalized for an arrhythmia the doctors told me was from being overmedicated. Armour changed, either due to supply chain problems or to save money or both. I can no longer trust it and switched to levothyroxine/cytomel."

• Jam...
• August 24, 2016

For Hashimoto's disease "Was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease several years ago. My doctor prescribed step increased doses of Synthroid. I felt increasingly worse with feelings of anxiousness and insomnia. I changed doctors, and my new doctor prescribed Armour. After one dose adjustment, my TSH numbers were good, and I felt great. That was eight years ago. I still feel great and would not use synthetic TSH. So glad some doctors understand Armour works better for some patients."

• Hyp...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 4, 2021

For Hashimoto's disease "My endo told me in June of this year that Armour had stopped working for her patients. I continued on it, I trusted Armour. It has been around forever. Big mistake. I have had inconsistent dosing that made me hypo, which showed on labs and labs that showed my hyper. I had inconsistent dosing in bottles where I'd take a pill and feel fine, another hypo, another like I'd taken speed. Symptoms were terrifying: anxiety, anxiety attacks, racing heartbeat, palpitations, hot flashes, irregular periods, spotting, hot flashes, migraines, dizziness, high cortisol had to be tested for Cushing's-negative, thank goodness-high blood pressure, panic attacks, insomnia, agitation, inability to handle stress of any kind, hair fall, vision problems, nausea with the migraines, all sorts of digestive issues including food intolerances and diarrhea. I've been in fight or flight for months. I was switched to Levoxyl. My last labs on Armour were normal, but I had all the above symptoms."

• Hyp...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 4, 2021

For Hashimoto's disease "My endo told me in June of this year that Armour had stopped working for her patients. I continued on it, I trusted Armour. It has been around forever. Big mistake. I have had inconsistent dosing that made me hypo, which showed on labs and labs that showed my hyper. I had inconsistent dosing in bottles where I'd take a pill and feel fine, another hypo, another like I'd taken speed. Symptoms were terrifying: anxiety, anxiety attacks, racing heartbeat, palpitations, hot flashes, irregular periods, spotting, hot flashes, migraines, dizziness, high cortisol had to be tested for Cushing's-negative, thank goodness-high blood pressure, panic attacks, insomnia, agitation, inability to handle stress of any kind, hair fall, vision problems, nausea with the migraines, all sorts of digestive issues including food intolerances and diarrhea. I've been in fight or flight for months. I was switched to Levoxyl. My last labs on Armour were normal, but I had all the above symptoms."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2022

For Hashimoto's disease "Was taking Levoxyl for 12 years and felt great. Then went into another Hashi-toxicosis, so TSH increased and had severe hyperthyroid symptoms due to this. My thyroid started to normalize again on Levoxyl, but my primary doctor wanted me to try Armour, so I did. HUGE mistake! I took it only for one week, and it gave me seizures with fear and extreme anxiety, depression, mood changes. TSH rapidly increased, nausea, no appetite, and I started feeling depressed after the very first day taking it. Even after I stopped taking it, I am still dealing with the horrible side effects three months later, especially the anxiety! I never had anxiety, depression, or seizures prior to taking Armour. Stay away from this drug."

• Hei...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 18, 2021

For Hashimoto's disease "Was put on Armour after NP Thyroid recall, they never told anyone they changed their formulation. NP Thyroid made me really sick. Even though I took my meds every morning, I ended up with a TSH of 19. I switched to Armour and was doing fine until last year in December when I started having racing heartbeat, palpitations, insomnia, cortisol spikes, vision changes, diarrhea, chest pain, tightness in my back, neck, shoulders, digestive issues, and hot flashes. Irregular periods, really bad anxiety, and even a panic attack. My TSH has been all over the place like a yo-yo. One month it's suppressed, the next it's in the 1's, then it jumps to the 3's, and then drops back down again. If my TSH is doing all that, you know my free T3 and T4 are all over the place too. One day I'd take my meds and feel fine, two days later, anxiety and complete instability. I ended up on blood pressure medications to control the racing heartbeat. My endo said a few months back that Armour had stopped working for people."

• Arm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 6, 2022

For Underactive Thyroid "I was taking Levoxyl for 12 years and doing fine. Then went into another Hashitoxicosis due to either progression of Hashimoto’s or extreme stress. After several months of trying to get my thyroid stable again, it finally started to level out with Levoxyl. My Dr. suggested I try Armour, so I did. HUGE mistake!! From the first day I took it, I felt something was off, and I only took it for 7 days - depressed, nauseous, low pulse, tired, felt cold, allergic reaction with fever blisters, itchy rash, and swollen eyes. On the 7th day, I started having seizures, extreme severe anxiety, depressed, I felt like it was causing a mental issue/breakdown/extreme nervousness and fear. I NEVER had seizures or anxiety or depression before the Armour. My TSH increased rapidly, and T4 decreased just two weeks after I started taking it. Went back to Levoxyl. Three months later, and I’m still having anxiety and trying to recover from the extreme damage it caused."

• Nin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2021

For Hashimoto's disease "Since 2017, I was doing very well on my NP thyroid. Then May 2020 hit and all changed. No more NP, so I was placed on Synthroid, then Tirosint tablet, then Tirosint SOL, and finally Armour. I hesitated at first to re-try Armour because it had caused me hives back in early 2017. But this time it didn't. Even though I started back in Sept. 2020, I have NOT been able to increase because it increases my anxiety to the point that I'm suffering attacks and chest pains. By doctor's orders, I went to see a psychiatrist and therapist, but my therapist states she's not convinced this anxiety IS mental, but leaning more towards the Armour. Now I'm on the verge of getting a DNA test done to help see if I have any exclusive sensitivities that'll tie it all down for me. Don't get me wrong, I do like this med since it has way, way less side effects, but I would like to know if anyone else is experiencing chest pains with it, or am I exclusive?"