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New Armour Effects

New Armour is a newer form of the thyroid hormone Armour prescribed to people with hypothyroidism. People suffering from hypothyroidism exhibit symptoms such as depression, weight gain, hair loss, muscle cramps, pain, leg inflammation, increased cold sensitivity and constipation. The original Armour thyroid, manufactured by Forrest Labs, was reconfigured in 2009, with some patients experiencing negative effects from New Armour, along with the general side effects caused by the hormone therapy.

  1. Common Side Effects

    • A type of medicine classified as a thyroid agent, both the original and new Armour Thyroid, raise the thyroid level to normal in the bodies of those with abnormal thyroid function. Available in tablet form, it is often taken once each day, with dosages beginning at a lower level to be adjusted to the individual patient's needs. As with many prescription medications, New Armour Thyroid has a range of common side effects. These side effects include diarrhea, stomach cramping, vomiting, headaches, weight loss, palsy, mood swings, hair loss, muscle weakness and anxiety.

    Potentially Dangerous Side Effects

    • There are less common but more potentially dangerous side effects from taking New Armour Thyroid to treat hypothyroidism. Serious side effects include seizures, inflammation of the legs, feet, ankles and hands, problems breathing or swallowing, irregular or rapid heartbeat and chest pains.

    Original vs. New Armour Thyroid Formula

    • Reports from Forest Labs, the manufacturer of Armour Thyroid, indicate that the 2009 reformulation of the medication involved little in the way of altering the chemical structure of the treatment. Instead, the reformulation largely concerned the re-engineering of the fillers contained in the tablets. Changes included an increase in cellulose, the addition of cornstarch and a decrease in dextrose. Despite these minor changes, patients who had taken Armour Thyroid for years reported a decrease in the efficacy of the drug, with symptoms of hypothyroidism and related hormone levels increasing despite continued use of the medication.

    Problems with New Armour Thyroid

    • Primary patient complaints concerning the reformulated version of Armour Thyroid center on two major issues. The first is the lowered efficiency of the drug with patients reporting a resurgence of symptoms of hypothyroidism, including hair loss, fatigue and depression. The second reported issue has been an increase in thyroid stimulating hormone levels in the blood tests of some patients. The increased levels of thyroid stimulating hormone have even been seen in the tests of patients who had previously exhibited consistently low levels of the hormone.The thyroid stimulating hormone helps the thyroid system to make the hormones triiodothyronine and thyroxine which control the body's metabolism. Too little or too much of the stimulating hormone can lead to abnormal thyroid function. At present, all reports on problems with the newer formulation of Armour Thyroid are based on patient testimonials and have yet to be quantified with new research on the medication.

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