Armour Thyroid (desiccated thyroid) is a prescription drug used to help prevent and treat certain thyroid disorders. Its cost may depend on factors such as your dosage, whether you have health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.

Armour Thyroid is used in adults and certain children to treat hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Doctors may also prescribe Armour Thyroid to help prevent or treat goiter (thyroid gland enlargement) or to help manage thyroid cancer.

The active ingredient in Armour Thyroid is desiccated natural thyroid. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Armour Thyroid comes as an oral tablet.

For more details on Armour Thyroid, see this in-depth article.

The price you pay for Armour Thyroid can vary. It may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage (if you have it), and the pharmacy you use.

To find out how much you’ll pay for Armour Thyroid, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover Armour Thyroid. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss Armour Thyroid in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If Armour Thyroid requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.

Be sure to ask your insurance company whether Armour Thyroid requires prior authorization.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Armour Thyroid and cost.

How much does Armour Thyroid cost without insurance?

What you’ll pay for Armour Thyroid without insurance depends on several factors. Generally, your cost without insurance will be higher. Factors that could affect your cost without insurance include:

  • your dosage
  • whether you qualify and apply for any savings programs
  • the pharmacy you use
  • the quantity of tablets you receive (such as a 30-day or 90-day supply)

To find out the exact cost of Armour Thyroid without insurance, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Also, you may want to check with a few pharmacies to compare prices.

You can also visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for Armour Thyroid when you use coupons from the site. It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.

How does the cost of Armour Thyroid compare with that of similar drugs, such as levothyroxine?

The cost of Armour Thyroid compared with the cost of Synthroid (levothyroxine) can depend on several factors, such as your dosage. (The dosage of Armour Thyroid differs from the dosage of Synthroid.)

Other factors that may affect how much you pay include:

  • whether there are any savings programs available for the drug you’re prescribed
  • whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket
  • how long your treatment lasts

If you have questions about the cost of Armour Thyroid compared with the cost of similar medications, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They can share more details on treatment costs based on your specific situation.

Armour Thyroid only comes as a brand-name drug. It’s not currently available in a generic version. A generic contains an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication but tends to cost less.

Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?

Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug exclusively for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.

If you take Armour Thyroid long term, you may be able to lower your costs in the following ways:

  • Look into getting a 90-day supply of your medication. You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Armour Thyroid if approved by your insurance company. This could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost of Armour Thyroid. If you’re interested in getting a 90-day supply of this drug, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
  • Use a mail-order pharmacy to get your medication. Using a mail-order pharmacy might help lower your cost for Armour Thyroid. Plus, you could get your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order drugs. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug through mail order. If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.

If you need help covering the cost of Armour Thyroid or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you still have questions about the cost of Armour Thyroid, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for Armour Thyroid.

Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:

  • Since Synthroid is available in microgram doses, is it cheaper than Armour Thyroid, which comes in milligrams?
  • What are my treatment options if Armour Thyroid isn’t covered by my insurance plan?
  • Can I purchase desiccated thyroid over the counter to save on the cost?

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.