Natural Thyroid Drug Update from RLC Labs -- Maker of Nature-Throid and Westhroid
I had an opportunity talk at length this week with both Rick Cox, the CEO of RLC Labs -- the company that makes natural desiccated thyroid drugs Nature-Throid and Westhroid -- and RLC's Chief Science Officer, Dai Jinn. Here is some information for patients who are currently taking Armour, the natural desiccated thyroid produced by Forest, and are having problems with Armour's availability, or with the effectiveness of the reformulated Armour, or who are considering starting on natural desiccated thyroid treatment for hypothyroidism.
First, except for the 3 grain size, Nature-Throid and Westhroid are fully in stock, and there are no other shortages or backorders. All dosage sizes except for 3 grain are fully available. And, according to RLC CEO Rick Cox, "We are 100 percent dedicated to doing everything we can to make there is a consistent supply of natural desiccated thyroid medication in the marketplace."
Second, realize, however, that many pharmacies and even drug distributors do not understand natural desiccated thyroid drugs, and they mistakenly seem to think that Armour is the name for all of these drugs. So when they are hearing about the severe shortages and backorders of Armour, they are wrongly assuming that Read more...
Thyroid Drug Maker Forest Laboratories in Hot Water With Justice Department
According to an article in the New York Times, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is charging drug company Forest Laboratories -- which makes thyroid drugs Levothroid, Thyrolar and Armour Thyroid -- with defrauding the government. According to the DOJ, Forest has fraudulently obtained millions of dollars through the illegal marketing of popular antidepressants Celexa and Lexapro for unapproved uses in children and teenagers.Prosecutors are charging that Forest covered up studies showing negative results for Celexa and Lexapro in children, paid kickbacks to doctors who prescribed Forest's drugs, and ran studies that were in actuality marketing efforts to promote the use of these antidepressant drugs.
The DOJ charges do not relate to Forest's thyroid drugs, but you have to wonder WHAT is going on with Forest, don't you? They have been reformulating Armour Thyroid on and off for several years, including the most recent Armour formula changes that are causing major problems for patients, and have had shortages for years. Currently, many of their thyroid products are unavailable and on backorder, and Forest will provide no explanation.
Given the DOJ information about Forest, and what's been happening to thyroid patients at the hands of this company, it certainly makes you wonder what else Forest is covering up...and what other shenanigans they might be up to?
If you're a thyroid patient who is finding it difficult to get Armour Thyroid or Thyrolar because of the mysterious shortages and backorders, or your Armour's not working because of the unexplained changes to the formula, sad to say, but I think it's time to abandon Forest's thyroid products and switch to other thyroid medications.
Photos: clipart.com
Attention Thyroid Patients: Is There Gluten in Your Synthroid?
A reader Cathy wrote to share some thoughts about Synthroid's fillers and ingredients. "Hay fever and lactose intolerance are not the only conditions that may be adversely affected by Synthroid. I have been recently diagnosed with celiac disease and must be on a strict gluten-free diet. In my research of gluten-free drugs, both prescribed and over-the-counter, I was surprised to learn that Abbott Pharmaceuticals cannot guarantee the gluten-free status of Synthroid because they do not test the additives they put into the drug for gluten. My doctor does not want to change my medication as I've been taking Synthroid and doing well on it for over 8 years. I have been gluten-free for 8 months and feel fantastic - better than I've felt in a long time - but it really aggravates me that Abbott can't be bothered to test for the gluten."This is unfortunate, given the established link between celiac disease/gluten intolerance, and autoimmune thyroid disease. Come on Abbott...get with the program!
For more information on the link between celiac disease and thyroid problems, read: The Celiac/Autoimmune Thyroid Connection.
Photos: clipart.com
Armour Thyroid's Spring 2009 Reformulation Causing Problems: Some Patients Switching to Nature-Throid and Westhroid
During the Spring of 2009, the natural desiccated thyroid drug, Armour Thyroid, apparently underwent a reformulation of fillers, including a decrease in the amount of dextrose, increase in cellulose, and the addition of cornstarch to the tablets. Since that time, some patients have been reporting a variety of problems with this new Armour formula. Find out more about the thyroid symptoms some patients are experiencing with the reformulated Armour, learn how to switch to other natural thyroid drugs such as Nature-Throid and Westhroid, and find out what patients are reporting after they've made the switch. Readers Respond: Armour Reformulation Problems, The Switch to Nature-throid and Westhroid
If you've refilled your Armour Thyroid prescription recently, share your own experiences -- negative or positive -- with the reformulated Armour Thyroid. And if you've made the switch to another drug like Nature-Throid or Westhroid, please share how it went for you, and how you're feeling now in our Readers Respond special feature on the Armour reformulation.
Photos: istockphoto
Forest Pharmaceuticals: Armour Thyroid and Thyrolar are Still Back Ordered, and the Company Couldn't Care Less
Varying strengths of Armour Thyroid have been unavailable, on back-order, and going through mysterious "production delays" for more than two years and counting. At present, supplies of Armour are still not fully available. After reporting a week ago that 1 1/2 grain (also known as 90 mg) would be fully available this week, Forest is now saying that the earliest this dosage will be available is late July. (We assume they mean 2009, but given Forest's track record, who knows?) So, as of July 2, 2009, Forest's oxymoronically named "Customer Service" line reports that there are availability shortages of the following two dosages of Armour Thyroid:
- 1/4 grain (also known as 15 mg) -- full availability is expected early August 2009
- 1 1/2 grain (also known as 90 mg) -- full availability is expected the week of July 20th
Their synthetic T4/T3 combination drug, Thyrolar is almost impossible to obtain anywhere, as, according to Forest, that drug is going through "unexpected production delays" and the "whole product line is on back order."
If you are on Armour or Thyrolar, what should you do? Read more...
Can Fourth of July Fireworks Be Dangerous to Your Thyroid, and Your Health?
As America gears up for the traditional Fourth of July fireworks displays, did you know that fireworks unleash a shower of toxins into the soil and water, including some that could be dangerous to your thyroid? Scientists are only beginning to learn what it all means for our health. Russell McLendon at the Mother Nature Network, takes a closer look in his article, Are fireworks bad for the environment?
Scientists are also looking at ways to make fireworks more friendy to the environment, while minimizing their potential health risks. Chemical & Engineering News has an interesting story, Pyrotechnics For The Planet, that focuses on potassium perchlorate in fireworks, and the connection between perchlorate to thyroid problems. You can also read Roland Piquepaille's blog recap of the situation at ZDNet.
Also, learn more about how the thyroid is affected by perchlorate -- which is a byproduct of rocket and firework production that is contaminating water and food supplies around the nation.
Photos: clipart.com
Free Health, Mind-Body, Seminars Throughout July to Include Session on Thyroid and Weight Loss
To launch a new teleseminar program called MaestroConference, the program's developers have gathered together a number of experts in health, personal growth, and mind-body development to conduct free teleseminars throughout the month of July. The event is called "Maestro Month" and features free interactive seminars with Deepak Chopra, Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul), John Gray (Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus), holistic cancer expert Dr. Bernie Siegal, and dozens of other internationally-known experts. As a participant, you'll be able to engage these inspiring leaders on MaestroConference, which allows for an interactive live workshop experience...except by telephone. I was actually invited to participate, and will be offering a free telephone seminar called "Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat," on July 13th. You can register free for seminars online.
Photos: clipart.com
Why Defense Contractors Want to Put Your Thyroid in Danger
Defense contractors are lobbying the White House quite aggressively, to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from tightening a health advisory for perchlorate. Perchlorate is a by-product of rocket-fuel production that is contaminating water and food supplies around the nation, and is considered a health hazard due to its ability to impair thyroid function, among other health effects. Perchlorate contamination of drinking water has been documented in at least 35 states and the District of Columbia. You can read all about the latest lobbying effort in this New York Times article.
As Larry Ladd, nation's leading voice against perchlorate, said over on my Facebook page, "White House urged not to rush perchlorate regulation...the Pentagon argues the time is not right until Mary Shomon is a great grandmother."
Larry's right. The defense contractors have a clear interest in delaying and prolonging any tightening up of perchlorate regulations. The DOD and their defense contractors are, after all, the ones who caused all the contamination, and who will get stuck with the lion's share of the cleanup costs. Meanwhile, Americans continue to get exposed to increasing amounts of perchlorate, thyroid disease is on the rise, and experts wonder why.
Find out more about the whole perchlorate debacle, and why you don't want the defense contractors' lobbying to succeed...
- Perchlorate in Your Drinking Water
- Study Suggests Perchlorate is Thyroid Danger to 44 Million
- Perchlorate & its Danger to the Thyroid
- Thyroid-Damaging Chemical -- Perchlorate -- is Contaminating Most Infant Formula
Photos: clipart.com
Attention Thyroid Patients: Armour Thyroid Is NOT Off the Market...But Here's How to Get Around Availability Problems
Here we go again...once again the rumors are flying about Armour Thyroid, and as usual, they're simply not true. The natural thyroid drug known as Armour Thyroid is NOT off the market, or going off the market, and production has NOT been shut down. There is, however, a short-term shortage of three dosages of Armour. As confirmed on June 24, 2009 by the Forest Pharmaceuticals Customer Service line (866-927-3260), there are availability shortages of the following three dosages of Armour Thyroid:
- 1/4 grain (also known as 15 mg) -- full availability is expected early August
- 1/2 grain (also known as 30 mg) -- full availability is expected the week of June 29th
- 1 1/2 grain (also known as 90 mg) -- full availability is expected the week of June 29th
So, if your pharmacy is telling you they can't get Armour, or Armour's "out of business," what should you do to get your thyroid medication? Read more...
Quiz: Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat?
Some experts say that as many as 60 million Americans have a thyroid problem. Conservative estimates say 25 million. But whatever the number, the sad fact is that millions of people have thyroid problems and don't even know it yet. And if your thyroid has slowed, and you have hypothyroidism, one of the biggest shocks may be how difficult it is to lose weight. You might be shocked to hear that even the most rigorous diet and exercise program may leave you unable to lose weight! Or, you might even gain weight on a healthy diet and exercise program.
Your thyroid could actually sabotage your weight loss effort!
To find out if this might be an issue for you, take this interactive, online "Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat" quiz. The quiz walks you through some of the most common thyroid risk factors and the frequently seen symptoms of thyroid disease. After you've answered the questions, you'll get a rating, which will evaluate how many of your responses suggest that you might have a thyroid condition or that your weight problems may be due to a thyroid condition.
This helpful tool can be the start of a weight loss breakthrough! START THE QUIZ NOW!
Photo: clipart.com