Medication class
Thyroid
Thyroid hormone replacements and anti-thyroid drugs for managing hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 5
- Medications
- 5
- With a generic
- 43%
- Avg generic savings
- 0
- In active shortage
Drug class assignments follow the FDA openFDA therapeutic classification, and clinical details are drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling (DailyMed). See the full sources below.
PlainMeds tracks 5 thyroid medications compiled from official FDA drug labels, including levothyroxine, liothyronine, methimazole.
Thyroid medications are grouped here by the openFDA therapeutic classification and drawn from FDA Structured Product Labeling. PlainMeds lists 5 in this class, 5 with a lower-cost generic available (averaging about 43% versus brand). Each drug page covers labeled uses, FAERS-reported side effects, interactions, recalls and NADAC pricing. This is educational information from public data, not medical advice.
What thyroid drugs cost
Highest NADAC acquisition cost per unit in this class, brand and generic
- thyroid (desiccated)
thyroid (desiccated)
$2 per unit
- levothyroxine
levothyroxine
$1 per unit
- liothyronine
liothyronine
$1 per unit
- propylthiouracil $0
propylthiouracil
$0 per unit
- methimazole $0
methimazole
$0 per unit
What this shows thyroid (desiccated) is the costliest in this class at $2.00/unit; generics in the same class run a fraction of that.
Generic availability vs other classes
100% of thyroid medications have a generic available, ranking #1 of 22 therapeutic classes (the typical class sits near 74%).
Source: CMS NADAC generic-availability flags across all PlainMeds therapeutic classes. The dot is this class; the line is the cross-class median.
levothyroxine
Synthroid, Levoxyl, Tirosint
Levothyroxine is a medicine that replaces a hormone normally made by your thyroid gland.
View details →
liothyronine
Cytomel
Liothyronine (Cytomel) is a medicine that replaces a thyroid hormone called T3.
View details →
methimazole
Tapazole
Methimazole (Tapazole) is a medicine that lowers the amount of thyroid hormone your body makes.
View details →
propylthiouracil
PTU
Propylthiouracil (PTU) is a medicine that treats an overactive thyroid.
View details →
thyroid (desiccated)
Armour Thyroid, Nature-Throid
Armour Thyroid is a natural thyroid hormone medicine.
View details →
Understanding the Thyroid Category
The Thyroid category currently lists 5 medications in this database, each drawn from FDA drug labels and grouped by therapeutic classification. Thyroid hormone replacements and anti-thyroid drugs for managing hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Clinical guidelines usually treat these medications as a reference set when weighing treatment options, switching strategies, or comparing safety profiles.
Within this category you'll find examples such as levothyroxine, liothyronine, methimazole, alongside 2 other entries. Each drug page links to the same underlying FDA data, labeled uses, adverse events reported to FAERS, documented interactions, warnings, and, where available, NADAC acquisition pricing from CMS. Over-the-counter and prescription options can sit in the same category but follow different regulatory pathways: OTC products have simplified labeling aimed at self-care, while prescription drugs include detailed monographs meant for clinicians. That distinction matters when comparing dosing, monitoring requirements, and contraindications.
Browsing a category is a research starting point, not a treatment recommendation. Effectiveness, tolerability, and cost for any individual patient depend on the specific condition, comorbidities, other medications, genetics, and insurance coverage, none of which can be inferred from a category list alone. FAERS report counts, recall history, and shortage status all evolve as new data is reported to the FDA, so the relative standing of drugs in this class can shift month to month. This page is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, a licensed clinician is the right source for personalized guidance.
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Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.