NP Thyroid and Joint Pain: What Users Say

• Den...
• February 12, 2020

For Underactive Thyroid "I’ve been on NP for 4 months. I haven’t been feeling well and have a splitting headache, so I googled side effects. I don’t know what made me think it could be thyroid medicine. For some reason, it just popped into my head. I have very bad headaches daily, bloated stomach, constipation, I’m very cold all the time, foggy, and just out of it. I’m so tired and have a 'I don’t care' attitude. I used to take levo and didn’t have any of these problems. My numbers aren’t changing, so the doctor keeps increasing the dosage. Now at 120 mg, I have such blurry vision, which is sometimes double vision. Heart palpitations. Chest pain. Joint pain. I can’t sleep. I'm glad I came here to read, I thought I must have a terrible disease. Seeing doctor in a few days."

• PM ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2019

For Hashimoto's disease "If I could list -1 as a rating, I would. Proceed with caution with this medication. I did not know what was happening to me until I spoke with two mutual friends over the holiday weekend. The confusion, depression, exhaustion, unable to sleep, and rapid heartbeat are the short list. I started NP Thyroid in May of 2019 and reached out to my doctor to switch me back to my RX in October. I've been on my old script for less than a month, but my symptoms are still present. Gained 15 lbs quickly, and joint pains are overwhelming. My life has been affected! Be careful... please!"

• Gid...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 3, 2019

For Hashimoto's disease "I started taking this medication when I could no longer get WP thyroid. I was happy with the switch until this last refill in the beginning of October. I’ve gained almost 10 pounds, my joints hurt, the medicine smells and tastes horrid. I don’t know what they did, but they did something. If I complain to my doctor, she’s going to stick me back on Synthroid, and I’m going to get even sicker. Please fix this."

• Lys...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 3, 2023

For Underactive Thyroid "I started taking this back in July 2022 because my insurance didn't cover Armour. This was a horrible mistake. At first, I didn't notice a huge difference, but within a couple of months, my hair started falling out, I had aching joints and weird back pain that I had never experienced. I gained lots of weight, too. I got my labs done, and they did not show hypothyroid, but all my other female hormones were a mess. I am going back to Armour and praying I go back to feeling like myself."

• Mom...
• January 27, 2019

For Underactive Thyroid "Was doing well on Naturethroid, up until they seemed to change the formula. So switched to NP. Fatigue okay, but brain fog much worse, painful joints, stiffness in muscles, and leg pain that feels similar to restless legs. The worst symptom though is headaches-constant. Am now experimenting with altering my dose (again!), but I’ll have to swap to Armour, I think. I’m in the U.K. Getting hold of NDT is like finding a unicorn. I despair. I wish Naturethroid had never changed. I know they deny a reformulation, but it worked like a dream for me before their manufacturing issues, and I felt well. Now I’m back in the hypo pit, and it’s dreadful."

• Kya...
• June 7, 2020

For Underactive Thyroid "NP Thyroid failed me and made me lose my baby. Or perhaps it was the pharmacy that switched my medication without informing me. I was on Armour for about 5 years, doing fine. Then I suddenly had a regression of all my hypo symptoms in about 2 weeks. The third week, I skipped a day, then took the pill. Within a few hours, I was fatigued, had headaches, joint pain, incredible water retention, and chest tightening... After doing this a second time, I knew for sure it was the medication. I then noticed that my med bottle said “NP Thyroid.” I called the pharmacy, and they said they had replaced Armour with NP 6 weeks before. They did not inform me! NP totally didn’t work at all for at least a month. And while I took this failure of a medication, my pregnancy failed because I had no functional thyroid hormone to sustain it. I found that NP costs cents while Armour does not. It’s a case of insurance companies trying to pay out less $$, even at the expense of real people’s health."

• Anonymous
• October 25, 2021

For Underactive Thyroid "I was on Armour Thyroid for many years. Pharmacy recommended NP because of the price difference, so switched me to NP, and I noticed extreme flu-like symptoms, headaches, hair loss, insomnia, swelling (even facial swelling), all-over body pain, and constant exhaustion. I asked to be switched back to Armour after a month of misery on NP, and to please make note on my account to NEVER give me NP again because of the terrible reactions. After new blood work, I unknowingly was given NP again and took it without realizing that it wasn’t Armour. My life became a living nightmare! The anxiety attacks have been awful. My nails break easily, hair falls out in alarming amounts, continuous dull headaches accompanied by brain fog that has been very concerning. The feeling of exhaustion is unbelievable, and I cannot sleep. Joint pain, miserable indigestion and reflux, profuse sweating, inflammation, and muscle aches. My energy is ZERO, and the crying makes me feel crazy! NP Thyroid is HORRIBLE!!"

• CBM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2018

For Hashimoto's disease "Pharmacist substituted Armour RX with NP two months ago. I didn’t notice because I didn’t read the label (12+ years taking the same thing.) Weight gain, headache, equilibrium/balance off, blurry vision, joints ache, picking up a pitcher of water difficult, memory issues. I’ve missed 4 of the last 5 days of work (I rarely take leave) because driving the hour to work is too exhausting. Only realized the switch yesterday when I called the pharmacist to request replacement pills-figured I had a “bad batch” of Armour."

• TDB...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2023

"Horrible medication. I experienced pelvic pain, water weight gain, severe joint pain in my knees, depression, mania, puffy face, profuse sweating, headaches, and bloating. I also had abdominal pain and major chills. I went back on Armour…willing to pay more money. This drug is horrible, the worst experience of my life!"

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 13, 2019

For Hashimoto's disease "Loved NP Thyroid but then started feeling really ill. Migraines, fatigue, nausea, joint pain, brain fog, etc. This was my lifesaver and now just horrible. My doctor switched me to medication from a compounding pharmacy. So disappointed in Acella Pharmaceuticals for changing what was a wonderful product."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 15, 2022

For Underactive Thyroid "I was on NP Thyroid for 6 months. I was told it was better than Levo. It seemed to work the first few months, the last couple of months, I have been extremely tired, severe joint pain, and occasional flu symptoms. Just out of curiosity, my wife looked up the side effects, and after that, I quit using it, and in a few days, I am feeling better. This stuff is garbage."

• Pun...
• March 15, 2019

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "TSH went up from 1.3 to 12.8 while taking NP Thyroid. It did nothing for me but cause terrible brain fog, joint pain, stomach issues, etc. Going back to Levothyroxine and going to add a small amount of T3."

• Kri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 2, 2019

For Underactive Thyroid "I have low T3 syndrome. NP Thyroid is the only thyroid medicine that works for me and my family. I'm not sure what is causing our T3 to tank out, but so far this is the only thyroid medicine that works, and it's like a night and day difference for us. I have energy, I sleep, joint and chest pain have stopped, and depression symptoms have lifted. I would recommend anyone searching for thyroid medicine to try one until their symptoms change. My numbers became 'normal' with other thyroid medicines, but this is the only one that fixed my actual symptoms."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2022

For Underactive Thyroid "It smelled and tasted like cat urine. I began having headaches, fatigue, and joint pain within a three-week period. I called Acella Pharmaceuticals and complained and requested a refund. They have a do-not-refund policy, which essentially means that they don't guarantee their product. My doctor wrote me a prescription for Armour, and my symptoms subsided within a month. Life lesson for me. Never again will I purchase NP Thyroid medication."

• Jea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2020

For Underactive Thyroid "5 months ago, I refilled my thyroid meds, which at the time I thought were Armour Thyroid, which I have been taking for years. Probably a week after, I wasn’t feeling well at all. I hurt all over. My legs got heavy and hurt anytime I was active. I kept getting the chills, headaches, and very fatigued. My joints and shoulders hurt. I had blood work done to see if it was my kidneys. I felt like I had a pelvic infection, and some days I felt like I had the flu. I looked online to see if there was a recall on Armour, and NP Thyroid came up, that some lots were recalled because of super potency. I then looked at my bottle, and it said NP Thyroid. My doctor never prescribed that. Today is the first day I haven’t taken it, and I already feel a little better. I’m so upset to see all the complaints. Please make sure you know what you are taking, and they have Armour in stock. If my doctor changed it, I probably wouldn’t have gone through all this for five months. He would have told me."

• JJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2019

For Hashimoto's disease "I was on levothyroxine for over 2 years and had constant palpitations, anxiety, and heat intolerance. Thyroid levels were WNL [within normal limits], saw a new endo who let me discontinue because my initial TSH was under 10. After 3 months of no meds, I had zero energy and all of my muscles and joints hurt. Started NP Thyroid, and I feel so much better, but I am gaining weight, about 6 lbs so far and don't seem to be plateauing."

• Pam...
• August 3, 2021

For Underactive Thyroid "I was taking Nature-Throid for years, and I was doing great on it. I switched to NP Thyroid after Nature-Throid became unavailable. At first, I was doing well, in the last few months, it has been a living nightmare. My labs are going up and down with each new refill. My stomach blew up, my throat feels like it is on fire, nausea, joint pain, and multiple other problems. I went to get my lab work done, and in 2 weeks' time on the new refill, my labs went from mid-range levels to over the top of the range. I am done taking this medication and will be switching to Armour Thyroid. This medication should be pulled off the market, it is dangerous."

• Ree...
• April 16, 2021

For Underactive Thyroid "This pill has a horrible smell to it. I’m in so much pain that no meds can take it away. I’m beginning to think the FDA needs to watch our meds better. Now, I’m going to fit 3 MRIs and to a neurosurgeon when it could be this drug. All my joints and muscles ache terribly."

• zop...
• August 15, 2021

For Hashimoto's disease "Stopped responding to Tirosint after a couple of years, dose was pushed up to the point tipped me towards hyperthyroidism - along with a lot of life stressors at once became clinically hyperthyroid. I was waking up shaking with anxiety and had full-on mania, requiring tons of diazepam to get to baseline of rational thought. Switched to NP 60 and feeling well 6 weeks in. I’m less stressed out, better energy, less joint pain, much less back pain, more focused (less brain fog), have been a bit apathetic, but I’m an excellent procrastinator. Everyone is different, and endocrine diseases are difficult to stabilize. I have multiple autoimmune diseases and chronic migraines. Still early days on NP. My last labs I was hypo (3 weeks off Tirosint and prior to starting NP). I’ll see what the labs say, but so far so good. “He who tastes knows.” All reviews are anecdotal, not empirical. Make your medication choices based on what you and your physician think is appropriate for you, not someone else."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2019

For Underactive Thyroid "I had intense joint pain and swelling."