Thyroid USP

Thyroid USP is a medication primarily used for the treatment of an underactive thyroid. The drug, which can also be used for treating other thyroid problems, is a "natural" product that is made from the thyroid glands of pigs. It comes in tablet form and is available by prescription. While most people tolerate thyroid USP well, potential side effects include hypertension, hair loss, and insomnia.

Thyroid USP Tablets

What Is Thyroid USP?

Thyroid USP is a prescription medication used most often to treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), although it can be used to treat various other thyroid problems as well. Because thyroid USP is made from the thyroid glands of pigs, it is considered a "natural" thyroid product. The "USP" part of the name stands for United States Pharmacopeia and signifies that the manufacturers of these products have prepared the medication according to the formulation or "recipe" of the United States Pharmacopeia (a non-governmental organization).

(Click What Is Thyroid USP Used For? for more information, including possible off-label uses.)

Brand-Name Thyroid USP Products

Brand-name thyroid USP products are sold under a few different names, such as:

Armour^® Thyroid
Nature-Throid™
Westhroid™.

Thyroid USP Side Effects

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with thyroid USP. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. Serious side effects are less common.

Some of the possible side effects of thyroid USP include but are not limited to:

Feelings of a rapidly or forcefully beating heart (known as heart palpitations)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Hair loss
A rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
Insomnia.

(Click Side Effects of Thyroid USP to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)

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