Indignant Thyroid Consumers Write to Public Citizen

While I still await response from Public Citizen to my lengthy letter to Dr. Sidney Wolfe outlining the inaccuracies in their "Worst Pills, Best Pills" article on Armour Thyroid, the emails being sent out by their representative, Betty Bount, RN, and letters sent by Ms. Blount. Readers who were amazed that a group like Public Citizen is disseminating erroneous and potentially dangerous information about Armour Thyroid have been deluging the group with indignant emails. Here are some samples of just a few that readers have shared with me.

* * * I was very disappointed with your recent article listing Armour Thyroid prescription medicine as a "bad" pill. Your information seems to be based on the falsehood that Armour Thyroid is a dietary supplement, and not a prescription drug, regulated by the FDA. A little research such as simply going to the manufacturer, Forrest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. would reveal that you are talking about a drug that IS regulated by the FDA, and is as consistent in content as any other thyroid drug available. Promoting misinformation that Armour Thyroid is unregulated, over-the-counter, and unapproved by the FDA is a whopping disservice to the many people suffering from thyroid disorders. I seriously doubt you really intended to do this. While I realize that there are supplements out there with thyroid hormones, do not confuse them with an approved drug that is profoundly helping many thyroid patients return to full functioning. I am a thyroid patient myself, and I have used sythetic thyroid hormone alone, but until I used the natural hormone I did not fully receive relief from my symptoms. And believe me, my pharmacy would NOT give me Armour Thyroid without a prescription from my doctor. This is a fact... At best, it would seem your article was based on faulty premises and little research, and, at worst, promoted and backed by rival drug companies, and perhaps even started with prejudice for the outcome. I would like to assume that, with a small staff, you simply were not able to fully investigate the subject. Please review your information, as I¹m sure you will find you have probably missed some facts that reveal Armour Thyroid prescription drug is a big benefit for many thyroid patients' treatment.

Very Sincerely,

JMP

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Your group missed the mark on Armour Thyroid. Further research would indicate the problems with your information.

1. Like any disease, different people respond differently to the same drug.
2. Some people do do well on Synthroid while others do well on Armour.
3. Synthroid does not contain T-3, which some patients do better on.
4. Synthroid does not contain T-1 and T-2 (and others I believe), which have yet to be researched with proof of their actions. However, with the action unknown of T-1 and T-2, perhaps these elements DO have benefit, which would explain a major difference between Armour's action and Synthroid's.
5. Also, remember that the TSH test is not the holy grail. The TSH test only tells whether the "switch" to produce hormone is working or not. It does not tell whether person's body is properly being supplied thyroid hormone to the body's cells, which is where their work is done.
6. Proof is in the pudding: thousands of patients do well on Armour, while they do not do well on Synthroid.

I suggest that you do additional research with an open eye. After seeing that your information was lacking, I suggest that you write another article admitting your inaccuracies and provide the total picture. As an advocate of the common citizen, you owe it to those who have not yet found the answer in Armour Thyroid because of misinformation by your organization and other organizations.

What is potentially even more disturbing is the influence of corporations on the common citizen, and even watchdog groups like yours. The common citizen doesn't have a chance.

Respectfully,

LP

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Armour Thyroid was the first medicine prescribed to me in 1959 for my non-functioning thyroid gland. I continued with the prescription medication for 25 years until a doctor changed me to Synthroid because he thought it was better. However, I never had even one minute of trouble taking Armour Thyroid, and remained in good health over the entire 25 years, in spite of a thyroid gland that didn't work. I cannot say the same thing about Synthroid, and am seriously considering going back on Armour, if my doctor will prescribe it. It IS and ALWAYS HAS BEEN a prescription drug!!! Please correct your mistake and STOP misinforming people about Armour Thyroid!

Sincerely,

CG

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For more background on the Public Citizen Armour Scandal, read:

• Worst Pills, Best Pills Newsletter Warns Against Using Armour Thyroid
• Mary Shomon's Letter to Public Citizen's Dr. Sidney Wolfe
• Inaccurate Emails Being Sent By Public Citizen
• Inaccurate Letters Being Sent By Public Citizen