porcine thyroid

Porcine thyroid is a **natural desiccated thyroid hormone replacement therapy** prepared from the dried thyroid glands of pigs. It contains the endogenous thyroid hormones **levothyroxine** and **liothyronine** in a fixed animal-derived mixture and is used primarily for **hypothyroidism**, with additional historical and labeled use in **euthyroid goiter** and **thyroid cancer management**. After oral administration, T4 is converted peripherally to T3, and T3 binds nuclear thyroid hormone receptors to regulate gene transcription controlling metabolic rate, growth, and development. The product is an older biologic hormone preparation rather than a synthetic single-entity drug, and marketed examples include Armour Thyroid and NP Thyroid.

Brand names

Armour ThyroidNP ThyroidNature-ThroidWesthroid

Other names

thyroid porcinedesiccated thyroidnatural desiccated thyroidthyroid extractdesiccated thyroid extract