Dear Customers - We have just launched a new improved website. If you already had an account, you will need to create a new password to access it. Sorry for any inconvenience.

mini cart
0 $ 0.00
Shopping Cart

No products in the cart.

View products

($) USD (Default)
  • (£) GBP
  • ($) AUD
  • (¥) JPY

What is Desiccated Thyroid and What Does it Do?

Dried and desiccated thyroid medicine is available under many different brand names such as Armour Thyroid, Nature Thyroid and NP Thyroid. These are natural alternatives to synthetic thyroid medications.

Those diagnosed with hypothyroidism are likely to automatically be put on a medication known as levothyroxine. This is known under various brand names such as Levoxyl and Synthroid. These synthetic medications work to provide a specific thyroid hormone that you are missing with hypothyroidism – T4.

There are several different hormones produced by the thyroid. The most important of these, in terms of managing symptoms and maintaining wellbeing if you have hypothyroidism, are T3 and T4. Some people who take the synthetic T4 levothyroxine find that they are still symptomatic. They may then be prescribed a synthetic T3 and T4 medication known as liothyronine, which is often sold under the brand name Cytomel.

The importance of both the T3 and T4 hormones is quite complex. Many people want to benefit from both T3 and T4 in the management of their hypothyroidism. They may also prefer more natural options, which also contain T2 – a hormone we currently know very little about.

Desiccated thyroid – the natural thyroid medication

The good news is that there are natural ways to treat thyroid problems. The most common approach is to use desiccated thyroid. This is a natural product which is made using dried porcine thyroid glands. It contains both T3 and T4 thyroid hormones.

T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) are the most important hormones that the thyroid gland produces. With hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland isn’t producing enough of these hormones and that causes the symptoms you experience, such as fatigue, weight changes, pain, and low mood. This is because these hormones are critical to regulating your metabolism. When you don’t have enough, your body will struggle to convert the calories from food, and the oxygen from your blood, into the energy you need to live a normal life.

T3 and T4 in desiccated thyroid

Despite standard synthetic thyroid medications only containing T4, T3 is actually more powerful. It has around four times the strength of its counterpart. This is due to how the thyroid produces these hormones. T3 is available and ready to use – it’s active. It’s what comes from T4. T4 has to be changed, through monodeiodination, into T3. If we’re thinking in terms of chemistry lessons, the change is that it’s lost an atom of iodine.

The problem with synthetic T4 thyroid medication is that it doesn’t guarantee that your body is capable of turning it into the available version, T3.

The reason that pharmaceutical companies have focused on the synthetic production of levothyroxine (T4) only, is that when T3 is added synthetically, the body may actually absorb too much. In these cases, the individual can swing from hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) to hyperthyroidism (too much). With levothyroxine alone, the body absorbs and processes the T4 hormone more gradually. But, as stated above, this assumes the body can synthesize the hormone and create T4. That’s not always the case, but is often not picked up on standard thyroid blood tests.

It’s a debate, so what do you do?

Almost certainly, you will be put on T4-only thyroid medication, when you are first diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The mainstream medical community still largely pushes this as the only hypothyroid treatment.

However, desiccated thyroid has actually been in use since well before synthetic options were available. These natural T3 and T4 combinations are gaining more and more favor in endocrinology circles with more specialists realizing that certain genetic defects, such as deiodinase polymorphism, limit the individual’s ability to make the active T3 from the T4. Frustratingly, probably owing to its status as a ‘natural’ product, the American Food and Drug Association (FDA) doesn’t even recognize desiccated thyroid as a hypothyroidism treatment!

It’s therefore difficult to know what the best approach to take for the individual is, especially if you are unable to get natural thyroid medication on prescription, for example in the UK.

Most people do respond well to synthetic medication. However, for those who are still experiencing symptoms, or who would prefer a more natural replacement of the missing thyroid hormones, then desiccated thyroid treatment is the answer.

Formulation and dosage of desiccated thyroid

Desiccated thyroid is a natural substance. As such, it isn’t possible to absolutely ascertain the volume of hormones included. This may be one reason why scientists prefer the more easily measurable synthetic option. However, this doesn’t mean that it is unsafe, or that you aren’t in control of the amount you can take.

Desiccated thyroid brands typically present as a kind of off-white tablet and different strengths are provided. These are usually measured in ‘grains’ which are then also labelled as milligrams, to make it easier to compare. It’s easiest to start at a lower dose and gradually increase in six week intervals, until you aren’t symptomatic. Most individuals find that 180 mg taken each day is right for maintaining the balance between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, but it may take a little trial and error.

Does desiccated thyroid cause any side effects?

The most likely issue with taking desiccated thyroid is inadvertently taking too much and therefore swinging the other way, into hyperthyroidism. The solution is to titrate onto the treatment slowly, only increase the dosage every six weeks, and maintain the dosage when your symptoms are controlled. You should also have regular thyroid blood tests to check and monitor your levels.

Whilst most doctors will automatically prescribe synthetic T4 medication, most will support your decision to take control of your thyroid treatment, and will help you understand and interpret blood tests. However, you’ll need to order your own desiccated thyroid.

Beyond the risk of hyperthyroidism, if you overuse desiccated thyroid, other side effects are very rarely reported. There have been some occasional reports of skin reactions.

Desiccated thyroid shouldn’t be used if you have adrenal insufficiency or have thyrotoxicosis.

With a lifelong condition like hypothyroidism, it is hugely important that you feel in control of your condition and your treatment. Desiccated thyroid, such as Armour Thyroid, can put you in the driving seat. You can buy various natural desiccated thyroid treatments through International Pharmacy.