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You already know about natural desiccated thyroid (NDT). You've done the research. You've read the forums, the studies, the patient communities. And some of you have discovered that levothyroxine isn't working for you. You know why your body isn't converting T4 to T3 efficiently, or you simply feel better when you get both hormones together, the way your thyroid was designed to produce them.

The problem isn't knowledge. The problem is everything else that gets in the way of actually getting a prescription for NDT and filling it!

Maybe your doctor won't prescribe it because they don't trust the quality. Maybe you've been on Armour Thyroid or NP Thyroid and were surprised by an unexpected change in the formula that affected your response to the medication. Maybe you've started wondering where the pigs come from and how the manufacturing is monitored. Maybe you've read that the FDA is moving toward requiring a Biologics License Application (BLA) for NDT products and you're wondering whether current brand names will still be available down the road. And lately, with tariffs and supply chain disruptions in the news constantly, you've started to wonder whether a medication sourced outside the U.S. could become hard to get.

Every one of those concerns is legitimate. A new NDT medication, Amerithroid™*, has been developed and, according to the manufacturers, it addresses these concerns.

Natural desiccated thyroid has a complicated reputation in the medical community – and honestly, some of it is deserved. Not because the science doesn't support combination T4/T3 therapy (it does, for a significant subset of patients), but because the NDT category has had quality problems that gave skeptical physicians ammunition to resist prescribing it.

Inconsistent potency from batch to batch. Supply shortages that left patients rationing pills. Reformulations – changes to inactive ingredients, binders, or manufacturing processes – that altered how the desiccated thyroid extract medication behaved in patients' bodies, often without any communication to patients or prescribers. Unclear sourcing: where exactly did the pigs come from? Were the glands processed domestically or overseas? What standards governed that processing?

For a hypothyroid patient who doesn’t get relief on synthetic treatment and knows NDT might help, navigating a doctor who has seen these problems firsthand – or heard about them from colleagues – can be difficult. But practitioners aren’t always wrong to be cautious. At times, the challenges facing NDT have given them reasons to be.

Informed and empowered patients often feel this most acutely. You’ve researched conversion pathways and read clinical literature and come into appointments knowing more about your condition than some practitioners. Yet you have been met with objections from your providers when asking for a trial of NDT.

If you've been following the issue, you've seen discussion about the FDA's Biologics License Application (BLA) pathway, the controversies and changing deadlines, and what it means for NDT medications. Here's the plain-language version.

Thyroid medications derived from animal sources were recently designated as biologic products under U.S. law. The FDA has signaled that in order to legally manufacture and market NDT drugs, manufacturers need to pursue formal BLA approval – a rigorous review process covering safety, efficacy, and manufacturing standards. Most companies currently marketing NDT products, including established brands, are operating under a legal framework that allows products that predate the modern FDA approval system to remain on the market while the regulatory landscape evolves.

Amerithroid is made in the United States, in a U.S.-based, continuously FDA-inspected facility. The active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) are sourced domestically. The porcine thyroid material used to produce Amerithroid comes from U.S. supply chains, and is not imported from countries with different agricultural, veterinary, or manufacturing standards.

As a domestically manufactured, domestically sourced NDT medication, Amerithroid is not subject to the same geopolitical and logistical risks as drugs that depend on imported ingredients or overseas processing.

Given the regulatory environment patients are interested in whether their NDT drug will obtain BLA approval and remain available long-term.

Oliva Therapeutics, the company behind Amerithroid, is explicitly committed to pursuing FDA approval and is actively planning and investing for the regulatory future.

Oliva has deep roots in the thyroid space through its legacy connection to Jerome Stevens Pharmaceuticals – the family-owned company whose brand name levothyroxine – Unithroid – earned the first FDA approval for levothyroxine tablets. Oliva’s also recently relaunched Thyquidity® (Levothyroxine Sodium Oral Solution), a liquid thyroid medicine for people with absorption issues, sensitivity to tablet fillers, or who have difficulty swallowing pills.

According to Daniel Akeson, CEO of Oliva: “The launch of Amerithroid is years in the making and builds on my family’s deep connection to patients with hypothyroidism and our commitment to quality U.S. manufacturing of pharmaceutical products.”

Amerithroid comes in the following doses:

• 15 mg / 1/4 grain
• 30 mg / 1/2 grain
• 60 mg / 1 grain
• 90 mg / 1 1/2 grain
• 120 mg / 2 grain
• 180 mg / 3 grain
• 240 mg/4 grain
• 300 mg / 5 grain

Some other information about Amerithroid:

• Continuous FDA inspection: Amerithroid is manufactured in a facility under continuous FDA oversight.
• Batch testing of both ingredients and finished product. Every lot of Amerithroid is tested against U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) standards, not just the raw porcine thyroid going in, but the actual tablets coming out.
• Full traceability. Every component of Amerithroid, including the API, has a clear chain of custody, documenting where your medication came from.
• Identifiable pills. Amerithroid tablets carry a distinct Oliva leaf imprint. This allows you to confirm that the pill you received is actually Amerithroid.
• Pharmacy substitution protection. Prescribers can specify Amerithroid DAW (Dispense As Written), which helps ensure that when your doctor prescribes Amerithroid, the pharmacy can't swap it for a different product.

If you've met resistance in getting NDT prescribed because your provider has concerns about consistency or quality, Amerithroid offers specific evidence to help address those concerns.

Here's how Amerithroid addresses some of the more common provider objections:

• "NDT potency is inconsistent." Amerithroid is batch-tested against USP standards for both active ingredients and finished product in a continuously FDA-inspected facility.
• "I don't know where the ingredients come from." Amerithroid’s active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), is sourced in the U.S., and the medication is manufactured in the U.S.
• "It’s not FDA approved." No NDT medications are currently FDA-approved. Amerithroid, however, is actively working toward FDA BLA approval and full compliance.

Coming into the conversation armed with this information – and perhaps sharing this article with your care team – may help move a conversation that's been stuck.

Amerithroid may be an option worth discussing with your healthcare provider if you are considering natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) medication and have questions about manufacturing, sourcing, or product consistency. Every thyroid medication has its own formulation, manufacturing process, and regulatory considerations, so the best choice depends on your individual medical history, symptoms, and treatment goals.

You may wish to ask your healthcare provider about Amerithroid if:

• You've been interested in trying an NDT medication, but your healthcare provider has expressed concerns about product quality or consistency.

• You've taken other brands of NDT in the past and noticed changes in your symptoms and thyroid test levels -- including thyroid stimulating hormone -- that you believe may have coincided with a product reformulation or supply interruption.

• You'd like more information about how your thyroid medication is manufactured or where its ingredients are sourced.

• You have questions about how evolving FDA regulations could affect the future availability of NDT medications.

• You're concerned about how factors such as supply chain disruptions, tariffs, or import restrictions could affect availability of your NDT medication.

As with any thyroid medication, Amerithroid is not the right choice for everyone. Your healthcare provider can help determine whether an NDT medication—or another form of thyroid hormone replacement—is the most appropriate treatment based on your thyroid condition, laboratory results,

Amerithroid is covered by many commercial insurance plans, with copay assistance available for eligible patients. A direct-to-patient cash-pay option with home delivery is also available.

If you're a Paloma Health member, your care team can help you evaluate whether Amerithroid makes sense for your situation and work with you on dosing and monitoring.

For more information on Amerithroid, visit amerithroid.com.
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People with hypothyroidism are often among the most informed and engaged patients in healthcare. Many of us have spent years learning about lab testing, treatment options, and the differences between thyroid medications because getting the right care hasn't always been straightforward. The journey often has involved asking for additional testing, discussing symptoms that don't match lab results, exploring alternatives when treatment isn't working, and seeking clear information about the medications they take.

The arrival of Amerithroid represents another option for patients who benefit from natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) therapy. Manufactured in the United States using U.S.-sourced porcine thyroid and produced in FDA-inspected facilities, Amerithroid was developed to address many of the concerns patients have raised in recent years about quality, manufacturing transparency, and long-term availability of NDT medications. While no thyroid medication is the right choice for every person, having another carefully manufactured option gives patients and healthcare providers more flexibility when selecting treatment.

Choosing an NDT medication is one part of successful thyroid care. Equally important is having a healthcare provider who understands the nuances of thyroid disease, monitors symptoms alongside laboratory values, and is willing to adjust treatment when needed. Regular follow-up, comprehensive and regular thyroid testing, and individualized dosing remain essential regardless of which medication a patient takes.

This is where specialty thyroid care can make a meaningful difference. At Paloma Health, clinicians focus on hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease, giving you access to providers who are experienced with the full spectrum of thyroid treatment options, including levothyroxine, combination T4/T3 therapy, and, when clinically appropriate, natural desiccated thyroid medications such as Amerithroid. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, Paloma providers evaluate symptoms, medical history, and thyroid laboratory results together to develop a personalized treatment plan.

If you’re interested in Amerithroid, Paloma Health also offers a convenient way to discuss whether NDT is appropriate for your individual situation. Through virtual appointments, ongoing medication management, at-home thyroid blood testing, and regular follow-up, you can receive expert guidance without the need for repeated referrals or long waits for specialty care. As new thyroid medications become available, having access to clinicians who stay current with evolving research and treatment options can help patients make informed decisions with confidence.

Amerithroid doesn't eliminate the need to advocate for yourself. But it does provide another treatment option for natural desiccated thyroid therapy. Combined with knowledgeable, individualized medical care, it represents another step toward giving people with hypothyroidism more choices—and greater confidence—in managing their thyroid health.

What is Amerithroid?

Amerithroid is a natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) medication made from porcine thyroid glands that contains both T4 and T3 thyroid hormones. It is manufactured in the United States using domestically sourced ingredients and emphasizes quality control and manufacturing transparency.

How is Amerithroid different from other NDT medications?

Amerithroid distinguishes itself through U.S.-based sourcing and manufacturing, continuous FDA facility inspection, batch testing of both ingredients and finished tablets, and full product traceability. Its manufacturer has also announced plans to pursue full FDA approval through the biologics pathway.

Why are some doctors reluctant to prescribe natural desiccated thyroid medications?

Many physicians remain cautious because some NDT products have experienced past issues with inconsistent potency, supply shortages, reformulations, and unclear sourcing. These concerns have contributed to questions about reliability, even among patients who respond well to NDT therapy.

Is Amerithroid FDA approved?

Like other currently marketed NDT medications, Amerithroid is legally marketed under the FDA's existing framework. However, its manufacturer has stated that it intends to pursue full approval through the FDA's Biologics License Application (BLA) process.

Who may benefit from discussing Amerithroid with their healthcare provider?

Patients who continue to experience symptoms on levothyroxine alone, prefer natural desiccated thyroid therapy, or have concerns about the consistency or sourcing of their current NDT medication may wish to discuss Amerithroid with their provider. The decision should always be based on an individual's medical history, symptoms, and laboratory results.

Does Amerithroid require regular thyroid testing?

Yes. Like all thyroid hormone medications, Amerithroid requires individualized dosing and regular monitoring of thyroid function tests to ensure treatment remains both safe and effective over time.

Can pharmacies substitute another thyroid medication for Amerithroid?

Healthcare providers can write the prescription as "Dispense As Written" (DAW), which helps ensure the pharmacy dispenses Amerithroid rather than substituting another product when permitted by state law. Patients should still verify their medication when filling prescriptions.

How can Paloma Health help patients considering Amerithroid?

Paloma Health providers can evaluate whether Amerithroid is appropriate based on your symptoms, medical history, and thyroid laboratory results. They can also prescribe the medication when clinically appropriate, monitor your response over time, and adjust your treatment to help optimize your thyroid health.

* Amerithroid is a registered trademark of Jerome Stevens Pharmaceuticals, Inc.