Armour Thyroid and Heart Palpitations: 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??"

• Moj...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 15, 2019

For Underactive Thyroid "Been on Armour Thyroid since 2010 when my doctor switched me from Levoxyl. I did really well for many years, up until about 6 months ago, when I began feeling differently, and most recently a very concerning heart palpitations situation. I'm hoping that the switch my endocrinologist just made to Synthroid will be helpful, as I'm very uncomfortable and concerned. Not sure when the manufacturer went from Forest to Allergan, but wondering if that's the problem, and if anyone else is experiencing similar effects."

• Lkd...
• August 27, 2016

For Underactive Thyroid "I have had many of the same experiences with the chemical thyroid meds. I asked to be switched over to Armour and felt great. Then, after a few years, I noticed something was terribly wrong, had heart palpitations and just super tired all the time. I went to the pharmacy, and he told me that they changed the formula and that it had more fillers. He said that he could compound it for me, and that would take care of the problem. So, I asked my doctor and got a prescription for it to be compounded. All I can say is what a difference!!! Back to my old self."

• 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."

• des...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 17, 2016

For Underactive Thyroid "I have been on Armour Thyroid for a number of years. I am having a hard time getting regulated. Having numerous symptoms - sweats, heart palpitations, dizziness, migraines to name a few. Anyone else experience this?"

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Tia...
• November 8, 2020

For Hashimoto's disease "Armour Thyroid 60 mg was okay for about 3 months, then I got edema in my feet and hands. Paresthesia in my leg and face. Horrible nerve problems with trembling, shaking hands. I was dizzy and very depressed, hair loss, weight gain, tiredness, sweating, crying, vision problems-couldn’t drive, freezing. I couldn’t function. All my hypo symptoms were worse than ever. Emergency carpal tunnel surgery. Heart palpitations, high blood pressure. I reduced and then stopped, and symptoms started to go away. Back to Synthroid and am a work in progress again. 5 endo docs and none helped me. They just look at TSH. Good luck, everyone. Stay away from Armour, and Nature Thyroid was just as bad. All my scans and blood work normal. Good luck, everyone."

• I...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2014

For Thyroid Cancer "I had 3 types of thyroid cancer 22 years ago, so had a thyroidectomy/isthmusectomy and have 1 parathyroid left. I was put on Synthroid for 22 years, then became toxic to it. New endocrinologist put me on Tirosint, it was great at first, all bad symptoms of Synthroid disappeared, then started having the negative side effect of always sleeping and felt numb emotionally. Switched to Armour Thyroid and even worse, I'm not sleepy anymore, but now I'm 'always' nauseated, can't eat, shaking, thirsty all the time, gastric upset, stomach ache, muscle fatigue like I've never experienced, palpitations back but not as bad as when on the Synthroid medicine, S.O.B. on exertion. I was put on 90 of Armour Thyroid, now 75 (one 60 and one 15)."

• Hor...
• October 18, 2021

For Underactive Thyroid "I started Armour Thyroid 60 mg about 2 months ago, and what has unfolded has been absolutely terrible. While my thyroid levels went up and I lost 10 lbs, I also had serious side effects including debilitating fatigue, tremors, anxiety, heart palpitations, syncope, and vision problems. I went downhill so fast doctors were convinced I had a pituitary tumor, which according to the MRI I don’t. I took myself off the medication, and I have slowly begun to feel more like myself again. My sister took Armour Thyroid before it was reformulated and loved it, she even went to Canada to get it when it was no longer available in the US. When it did become available, she got it right away and had terrible side effects as well. She went off it and now takes ERFA and is happy with it."

• Max...
• November 28, 2020

For Hypothyroidism, After Thyroid Removal "I was diagnosed with 2 thyroid nodules in Sep 2019. My endo immediately recommended total removal. Said the nodules would eventually obstruct my ability to swallow and breathe. Oh yeah, the biopsy was non-cancerous. Had the surgery in Oct 2019. Since then, my life has been a roller coaster of symptoms and problems: digestive, muscle aches and pains, vision, anxiety, and depression. I was started on Levothyroxine 137 mcg. Did not work. Switched to Synthroid 137 mcg. After one month, the doc added Cytomel (T3) 25 mcg. Had palpitations right after I started taking it. Was told to take half the T3 pill. Now I developed acid reflux problems and was prescribed Protonix. Feel tired all day, nauseous, lightheaded with a metallic taste in my mouth. Lastly, my labs keep coming back perfect. I am so desperate. I want to try Armour Thyroid but am afraid of the unknown. Thoughts? I need help. I’m 50 years old and the sole breadwinner of my family."

• Upt...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 15, 2017

For Underactive Thyroid "I've been taking Levoxyl brand, not the generic, for about 10 years for my hypothyroidism with no side effects. Synthroid and Armour both didn't agree with me... Synthroid gave me heart palpitations - at one point I thought I was having a heart attack! And Armour, OMG, the stench every time I opened the bottle made me want to hurl."

• Gra...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 8, 2023

For Underactive Thyroid "I have used Armour Thyroid for over 15 years. Works great for me. About 8 years ago, was given Armour thyroid generic, and it gave me heart palpitations, and I immediately went back to regular Armour. Insurance or Medicare won’t pay for it, but I will take nothing else."