Thyroid Drug Shortage Affecting Patients: Patients Face Crisis in Getting Armour Thyroid
The top-selling natural desiccated thyroid drug -- Armour Thyroid, which is manufactured by Forest Labs -- is having serious supply problems at present, leaving many patients without any options for refilling their prescriptions. First, as of June 16, 2008, here is the status of the various Armour dosages:
- 15 mg (1/4 grain) -- still in production, still available
- 30 mg (1/2 grain) -- still in production, still available
- 60 mg (1 grain) -- still in production, still available
- 90 mg (1 ½ grains) -- back order, releasing to wholesalers and distributors July 9th
The dosages affected include:
- 120 mg -- not in production, release expected Oct. 08
- 180 mg -- not in production, release expected Oct. 08
- 240 mg -- not in production, release expected Oct. 08
- 300 mg -- not in production, release expected Oct. 08
I have received numerous calls and emails from patients around the country who are unable to get ANY Armour Thyroid from their pharmacies. These include patients trying to get prescriptions filled at local pharmacies, as well as chains like Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens. I even checked with large online chain Drugstore.com, and today they confirmed that all they have at present is a small amount of 15 mg and a few remaining 90 mg, and they expect to run out of these soon, and no more is available from their wholesaler. (Update 6/23/08: Drugstore.com's PR representative contacted me to say that they currently have the 15mg, 30mg and 60mg available. They expect to receive the 90 mg from their supplier in late July.)
The customer service folks assured me that the Armour is not being reformulated. I inquired to get a bit more detail on exactly what this "extensive enhancement process for quality control" -- as the customer service folks called it -- but the only thing I was able to get was this vague and corporate-speak statement from a Forest Labs spokesman:
"Forest is performing a process change to further enhance the quality of our product Armour Thyroid. The strengths currently involved in this change are the 2 gr (120 mg) , 3 gr (180 mg), 4 gr (240 mg) and 5 gr (300 gr). If we maintain our current schedule, these strengths should be available in October. During this time, we will continue to manufacture the .25 gr, .50 gr, 1 gr, and 1.5 gr tablets. However, we may encounter short-term backorders on these strengths as a result of increase in demand."Ok, there's the official party line. What we don't know is what the "process change" is actually changing, and why, or why wholesalers and distributors are informing their pharmacies that they "can no longer get Armour at all, going forward." (Some patients are finding that their pharmacies are actually being told that Armour is going off the market. But then, that is nothing new. )
What Can You Do? How Can You Get Your Thyroid Medication?
If you are finding it impossible to get a refill of Armour Thyroid, I have some suggestions.
First, be careful. Your pharmacy or doctor may suggest switching to an easily-obtained synthetic drug, like Synthroid or Levoxyl, or the generic, levothyroxine. They may claim "It's the same thing." It's not. Keep in mind that synthetic drugs, while "thyroid hormone replacement" operate very differently, and people who do well on Armour Thyroid may not do well on synthetic substitutes. So my suggestion is, if you are doing well on natural thyroid, work with your practitioner to stay on natural thyroid, even if it means switching to another brand name of natural thyroid drug.
For those of you who rely on natural thyroid, and know that you will not accept a synthetic drug, there are ways to get prescription natural thyroid medication.
Armour Thyroid Availability
A reputable compounding pharmacy, Knowles Apothecary, has a decent supply of Armour Thyroid available and more on the way. The pharmacy is located in Kensington, Maryland. (Full disclosure: It's the pharmacy that fills my prescriptions, and I love them. They're very knowledgeable and thorough!) They fill prescription drug orders by mail, but your doctor's office will need to fax or call in a valid prescription. Make sure it's written for nothing larger than Armour 60 mg -- so if you take 3 grains or 180 mg a day, the prescription should be for a total of three 60-mg per day tablets. Ask your doctor to write you a decent supply -- at least three months or more -- to carry you through the shortage period.
(Important Update: As of Sept 9, 2009, Knowles is no longer able to fill orders for natural desiccated thyroid, due to the product shortage. )
Knowles ApothecarySince at some point, Knowles is likely to face a shortage as supplies dwindle this summer, you may want to have the doctor include on the prescription that if the Armour is unavailable, substitution with the Western Research products Nature-Throid and Westhroid is acceptable. That way, the pharmacy will fill your prescription with the other brand name desiccated thyroid, manufactured by Western Labs.
10400 Connecticut Ave, Suite 100
Kensington, MD 20895
Phone: 301-942-7979
Fax: 301-942-5544
Nature-Throid and Westhroid
I confirmed today with Western Research Labs that they are fully stocked on all dosage sizes of Nature-Throid and Westhroid. These are both prescription natural desiccated thyroid drugs, like Armour Thyroid. The primary difference is that Nature-Throid is hypoallergenic, for those who might be sensitive to some of the filler and binders.
To get Nature-Throid and Westhroid, you can:
- See if your pharmacy considers Nature-Throid/Westhroid equivalent to Armour, and fill the prescription with Nature-Throid/Westhroid. If so, your pharmacy may be able to order it for you through their distributors.
- If your pharmacy can't get it through their distributor, ask them if they will order it directly from Western Research, by calling toll-free 1-877-797-7997
- If your pharmacy doesn't consider Nature-Throid/Westhroid equivalent to Armour, ask your doctor's office to call or fax your pharmacy a new prescription for Nature-Throid/Westhroid.
- If your pharmacy can't get Nature-Throid or Westhroid and won't order it directly, then have your prescription sent to you by mail. Have your doctor call or fax your prescription for Nature-Throid or Westhroid prescription to:
Knowles Apothecary
10400 Connecticut Ave, Suite 100
Kensington, MD 20895
Phone: 301-942-7979
Fax: 301-942-5544
For Doctors Who Prescribe Armour
If you are a doctor who prescribes Armour, be aware that the shortages of Armour are likely to get worse until late fall. You may want to consider direct-ordering Nature-Throid or Westhroid so that you have it in stock for your thyroid patients who take natural thyroid. Call Western Research Labs toll-free 1-877-797-7997 for more information. (Patients, if you have a doctor who does a lot of work with Armour Thyroid, you might encourage him or her to also consider stocking Nature-Throid or Westhroid for their patients.)
Share Your Thoughts
Do you have any other ideas or suggestions on how we can keep getting our prescription natural thyroid medications? Please share them with me in the comments section.
Comments
Wow, you are as fast as you are good. I cannot thank you enough for the Armour Thyroid info. I am sending your article to my pharmacy and doctors. Please let me know what I need to do to remain on your mailing list.
I will not willingly accept any excuse for synthetics. I’ve been there already, like you.
As soon as I can, I plan to read you further to find correlation between my thyroidectomy and HRT. My weight and cholesterol have gotten nearly out of control on Prempro and Activela.
Fortunately I live in Canada where I haven’t experienced any difficulty getting Thyroid (by Erfa, Canada’s brand of natural desiccated thyroid). Since I refill for 3 months at a time and so few people here take it, I sometimes have to refill in two stages (I get 500 x 30 mg tablets). My pharmacy doesn’t always have enough in stock, but within days can get enough to finish the refill. I like the small strength tablets because it makes it easy to multi-dose and adjust dosages.
As far as I know, natural thyroid goes to the same place that synthetics go, to your bloodstream, then to the cells and tissues that utilize it. I got so sick for over 15 years on Synthroid, I won’t let anyone take my natural Thyroid away! I have a thyroid gland, but it is totally useless after so many years of inadequately treated autoimmune hypothyroidism. I may never recover to my pre-hypothyroid state, but have noticed such a difference since getting off the synthetic version almost 2 years ago.
I sincerely hope that the Armour situation is resolved soon.
Hi, I just found out my thyroid is wayyy underactive. The number is 14. Three years ago it was 6. I never started meds. Now I have to do something. I wanted to try the Armor,but what I just read about the shortage scares me. Do you have any other recommendations. Thanks
I see this from 2 sides: doctor’s office and patient. We currently have a good supply of 90 mg and that is good since we are going through 12 daily at my house (2 each for DD and I, and 4 each for DH and the dog). I called our pharmacy today and took the last 150 90 mg they had. That is 12.5 days. We used to have Scooter on the least expensive alternate to Armour but can’t get those right now either so she gets the good stuff with the rest of us.
As an office nurse, I deal with pharmacies daily that cannot add, multiple or divide. We write on the prescription (in addition to “brand medically necessary”) “may substitute available doses to = total daily dose of xxx”. Then they call so we can figure it out for them. 270mg/60=4.5. So they can take 4.5 60mg or 4 60s + 30. Or they can take 90 mg x 3. Guess you need advanced calculus to figure that out.
Nor do they understand that Synthroid is not the same as Armour and the doctor is not going to change them. And despite what the wholesaler said Armour is not being discontinued.
But what is really frustrating is the patients that hold me personally responsible for the fact they have to take 5 pills a day.
Hi, thanks for the update. Greaat info.
I was amazed at the pharmacys attitude. Acted like there isn’t anymore.
Very weird,how the pharmacy and distributors don’t seem to have better info.
I love my armour. It gave me back quality of life.
thanks,
What is the pricing on Armour at Knowles Apothecary? Also will they fill a 30 day prescription? Currently my insurance refills are for only 30 days (for this med) and I take 4 gr.
I just filled my prescription at BiMart for June, 4 1gr pills.
So we all have about 4 months to go. Maybe after the enhancement and new orders begin, the Armour critics will soften.
This spring I was denied a refill through mail order Walgreens and asked my doctor for the alternative. She put me on Synthoid and I haven’t been feeling the same since. I just asked to be changed to Thyrolar and we’ll see how that goes. (Any recommendations?)
Its a shame the pharmacies don’t automatically give you the lower dose with additional tablets to take since many of us are unaware of alternative options.
I cannot thank you enough for this posting as I too will be sharing it with my physician so I can get back to MY normal!
THANK YOU!!!
Thank you so much for your information, Mary! As always–because of your great help throughout the years, YOU have made my life and my illness better than it was or would have been. I also had bad problems wih the synthetics and get scared to death that I can’t get Armour.
I did receive the 60 mg from Medco, but BE FORWARNED–sometimes people have a problem taking the 2 pills instead of the one (120 mg). Personally, it made me high; and the person at Medco said that sometimes that is possible–even though added up they are the same dose…I was wondering if that was possible and shocked that it would be. I am continuing on the 2 60’s a day until gone, but also got my Dr. to write a script for a three months supply of the 120’s I found at Walmart. They stated they had hardly any left. I would just like to know WHY this is happening……….Thank you again, for your honest caring and hard work for us
Linda
I’ve been taking Armour for many years, after having a terrible reaction to Synthroid after my total thyroidectomy. The troubling thing is that I tried Thyrolar about 5 yrs. ago and Forest Labs did exactly the same thing that they r doing now with Armour; I was unable to get Thyrolar for many months and switched back to Armour & have been pleased with it. It seems that Forest Labs had no problem leaving patients in the lurch while they revamped their manufacturing process 5 yrs. ago and here we go again with Armour. Maybe it’s time to switch to a manufacturer who is more considerate of their patient’s needs? I will try Westhroid or Nature-Throid when I can’t get my Armour anymore but I will NEVER go back to Synthroid! BTW, to the person who wanted to know the difference between Thyrolar & Armour: #1= price; Thyrolar is quite a bit more expensive #2=Thyrolar is a time-released medicine #3=thyrolar must be kept refrigerated. This was the inconvenient part because I had to take it in a special, insulated lunch bag with ice pack when I travelled or visited, until I could get it into a refrigerator again. Good luck to all & THANK U Mary for this web-site. It has been a life-line in my darkest moments. Brenda in Delaware
WHOA…I just check my papers on the Thyrolar and I was given Thyroid the generic and it does NOT state having to be refridgerated….
Does anyone have info on the generic – bad, good or otherwise?
Thanks!
I seriously don’t know who angers me more; the pharmaceutical companies or the oil companies.
Two years ago, I weighed 190, last year, 174, now, 155. I have a feeling that if I have to change from anything but armor, I’ll be back in my fat clothes, with fibermyalga and depression.
This stinks!!!!!!!
I have just started on Nature-Thyroid by my naturopath and I know it’s working. I am not as exhausted as I used to be, which is wonderful. I have never tried Armour as my doctor uses the Nature-Thyroid.
To all Armour users–I take Nature-throid and it is great! Don’t be afraid to SWITCH OVER TO NATURE-THROID!
I multi-dose 2 grain am/ 2 grain pm/ 1 grain before bed. Good luck!
Dear Friends,
I too experienced not being able to obtain 60 mg in Newport Beach, Ca. – I thank you for the information – I am sending to my pharmacy and to my doctor. I previously had a negative impact on the synthroid.
TIP: I have been able to get my energy back with the help of prenatal vitamins available at most health food stores.
Thanks for all your hard work – This is a life saver and a marriage saver!
Peg
You can get Armour through http://www.antiaging-systems.com
I switched from Armour to Naturethroid a couple of years ago with complete success. And I can get a large supply at a time from my doctor!
Just wanted to let folks know that I’ve been on Nature-throid for the past two years (after switching from various synthetics) and I absolutely love it. I am gluten-intolerant, so its freedom from binders, etc. is imperative for me, but I’m hopeful that it will work for folks used to Armour and was thrilled to see Mary Shomon recommend it as an alternative. I say the more of us on natural replacements, the better–they seem to work best for so many people, and when we have a large constituency out there, good things happen.
This whole thing seems like abuse!
I was originally on synthetic and still felt like crap.
I finally got my endo to give me cytomel(T3) as well and that was an improvement but cost me for two prescriptions.
Then my Nurse Practitioner, (also Hypo and on Armour wrote me a script for Armour, which was fill generic which was fine.
Then at some point it got changed to Armour (more money). First the pharmasist gave me the “don’t accept generic for thyroid meds” lecture, so I took it. Then subsequent to that they told me there was no generic for Armour!)
Now my insurance won’t pay for it, “Not in formulary”.
Then the shortage, they made me go back to my DR to get the script rewritten for double a lower dose, they said they coundn’t make the substitution.
Now it looks like there will be even more grief, and probably more money!!!
Like I said ABUSE!!!!!
I told my CVS pharmacy about Nature-Throid, since the pharmacist did not seem to know about it, and received it in 5 business day via a drop ship.
The second time recently I call CVS pharmacy at another location and was told the they were told that Nature-Throid was DISCONTINUED. I contacted the manufacture directly and they told me they have a full supply of every strength… so I called CVS again and ask the pharmacist to tell his distributor that Nature-Throid is still in production. The pharmacist ordered 12 bottles of the 2 grain size. It is coming but the distributor did not order the 12 until the beginning of the following week.
I checked with Walmart weekly as I neared the end of my prescription (2 1/4 grain), as someone mentioned Armour would be available in June. I finally asked them, when I was nearly out, if I could use generic Armour this time (I didn’t know to ask if they might be able to order the Westhroid or Naturethroid). They tried to offer generic Synthroid, at the doctor’s suggestion, no surprise! What I did finally receive, after a few visits and a great deal of patience, was generic Armour (Major brand).
I am very happy to say that I have not noticed any difference at all from Armour brand and am very pleased. The price was half of the Armour ($15 for 90). They may even stock this regularly but I was not aware. I have never felt well on any of the generic, but the Major brand is fine. My bloodwork/TSH and other levels hardly changed on any of the synthetics or generic Armours until I switched to Armour. I regained my life back, dropped weight, and felt better than I had in years! I wish more physicians would be open to letting hypothyroid patients try it, because it changes lives!
So if you are having difficulty, check with your Walmart pharmacy. They might even order Westhroid or Naturthroid.
Seems to me we have been here before – with Thyrolar, made by Forest Labs. Why doesn’t the government do something about it? I am on Synthroid because of this same problem, have been for two years now, and do not feel as good, but at least I can get the medication when it’s time!!! So-o-o frustrating, maddening and unncecssary!
I would do anything if I could find an endocrinologist that would just TRY me on Armour or another natural replacement drug. I have been so sick … I changed endo doctors and I get the same “synthroid, synthroid” mantra. I’m on 150 mg. Synthroid and there is NO WAY they will try a natural drug or even Thyrolar. He did add cytomel after finally agreeing to run a Free T3 test but it hasn’t helped. I just want to TRY a natural alternative and I can’t find a doctor who will even consider it.
I’m in bad shape.
Bless all of you and keep fighting for the freedom to have the right to try a natural alternative.
Thank you, Mary, for having this site. It makes me want to keep trying and fighting. I’m scared of what will happen if I give up the fight.
I discovered over 2 mo. ago the Armour Thyroid shortgage and pharmacist ordered it daily from supplier with no result. I “finally” ended up getting 60 mg. tablets instead of usual 120 mg. however am paying twice as much because they charge the same whether 60 mg. or 120 mg. – go figure! I frankly can’t believe Forest Lab would put their customers in jeopardy as they did and frankly, I think their reasoning/excuse is unconscionable but what do I know? So much for depending on our drug providers…is this another way of the Food and Drug Admin. encouraging us to switch to synthetic thyroid meds? Makes one wonder…I am. Natural is the only way I function…guess I need to try some other resources…annual appt. is in July…will talk to endo then.
If you are taking Armour and not feeling well, I suggest trying to switch over to Cytomel (synthetic T3) accordign to Dr. Lowe’s protocol http://www.drlowe.com It has been most effective for me and within three days you can increase or decrease the dose as needed by watching your pulse and for signs of over treatment that he lists also under the supervision of your doctor. That way you don’t have to wait 6 weeks for blood tests to see if it is the right amount. I was on a combination of Armour and Cytomel but switched over to Cytomel completely because Armour was hard to get and I’m doing fine. You can see how much the equivalent of Armour is in Cytomel under FAQ at the Armour website. But be careful to make the switch slowly and under your doctor’s supervision while measuring your pulse several times/day to be sure it doesn’t go to high.
Would you mind saying more about Nature-throid and Westthroid? How are they different/similar to Armour? If there is a shortage of Armour, why not simply switch to Natur-throid or Westthroid?
On another note, I recently switched from Synthroid-only to a combo of the two, which seems better than Synthroid alone and wonder if it is worth trying to further tweak the dosages before considering switching to natural. I wonder what benefits I might find if I switched to a natural product. What are the dosage equivalents of Synthroid and Cytomel to the synthetics?
I live in Ireland and natural thyroid medication is not available here, I have to take Eltroxin Levothyroxine Sodium 25 microgram tablets. As a prescription is required do any of the readers or Mary have any suggestions as to how I could obtain one of the three natural brands available.
Thank you, Aggie
I guess I’ve been lucky so far. Although I’ve had doctors that wwouldn’t take my symptoms seriously even though I’ve had my thyroid removed– but once I found a doctor who by the way suggested I read a book by Mary Shonnon as part of his prescription- he prescribed Armour & I went to the pharmacy expecting to have trouble as it is CVS phrmacy & both the 1st fill & yesterday a refill- they had it in stock-no problems. They had not heard of any trouble getting Arrour nor any issues surrounding it. They are strugging to get a different medication for me for a different health problem,,but no problems with filling Armour thyroid. I’m just happy to have finally found a doctor who understands!
i’m not sure whih is the worse…doctors, pharmacists & drug co, or insurance companies?
Late last Fall, CVS said they couldn’t readily obtain Armour (which I’d been on for 7 years) and recommended the Armour generic for my prescription. After a few weeks on the generic, I felt terrible, with full-blown hypo symtpoms (such as extreme cold intolerance), including some I hadn’t had in years (lower leg and foot numbness, for example). I still didn’t associate it with the brand switch, after all, I was taking my dose as usual, correct? In an appointment with a different doctor, I told him of my symptoms, and he immediately thought to ask if the manufacturer for my thyroid med had been switched. He’d seen this before, apparently. He wrote me out a new script, with “no substitutes”, and I’m back on Armour and doing well. Actually better, since this second doctor advised me to divide my total dosage in half, and take 1/2 dose in the morning and the other 1/2 dose in mid-afternoon, since in some patients, the morning dose of Armour is metabolized too quickly to last through the day. (Apparently true in my case).
So just a warning for anyone out there…if you’re doing well on Armour, maybe think twice before switching. And if you do switch, be aware of any hypo symptoms that might occur even if your dosage remains the same.
Armour shortage – How will this affect patients who live in the UK? At the moment I take 2.50 grains per day and costs approximately £90 for a three month Can you please give any information you may have for UK patients. Many thanks Paula Richards
I have taken Armour Thyroid for many, many years. I don’t want to change. It seems to me there is something we are not being told. They don’t just quit making a medication that everyone is so dependant on unless there is more of a problem than we know of. What is really going on???? I can’t help but wonder.
While I was lucky enough to get a doctor that switched me off Synthroid to Armour (not without a bit of sarcasm) after suffering horribly for 18 years on Synthroid, I found that for the last 3 months before my doctor visit I found great relief adding a health store Dessicated Thyroid supplement to my Synthroid. I took the Synthroid in the morning and the supplement at night. I told my doctor what I had done, and told him of my profound relief from fibromyalgia after all those years. He said that most people with fibromyalgia don’t even have thyroid problems, so he had some doubts about the connection. I don’t know if I am on the correct dose of Armour now since I get sleepy too easily, but will wait out the three months. I discontinued the supplement immediately when I started on Armour. I am only saying that for those of you who are for whatever reason stuck with Synthroid and feel horrible, if you can not get on Armour, the supplement worked miracles for me, so you might consider it, especially if Armour is not available at some point. It’s not the ideal solution, but I felt absolutely great with a supplement, and would’t hesitate doing that again, if I am forced to, knowing how wonderful I felt. Keep track of the pulse, though, and any slight tremor which would mean you have to back off a bit. I don’t like self-medicating, but I don’t like not being able to exist without pain, either.
Wow, this is news to me. I just refilled my prescription for Armour 90 mg about two weeks ago with no problem or delay. I have my endo stamp “medically necessary” on my scripts, and I haven’t gotten the wrong medicine yet. BTW, I go to Walgreens. I’m hoping they ordered a six-month supply for me, since my doc wrote a six-month script (which I’m in the middle of). I guess I’ll wait and see.
I have been taking Armour for 10 years. In the past year I have gained 30 pounds (10 pounds in one month eating no sugar or white flour). My legs feel like concrete, foggy thinking and aches and pains and depression, desparation. I feel hysterical and I can’t seem to find an answer. My thyroid levels state that I am on a correct dose but my body says it is not. I am curious what Forest Labs is saying about their product. Could it be that the dosing is off and they are “reworking” it because it isn’t working?
Recelty swithed to CVA CAREMARK. Physician worte for 2 grain and 3 grain alternate daily because three unavailable changed dose to 2 grains daly. This past refill was a night mare I did not have this problem at Walgreens. I take three grains a day and because of availability i take 6 hakf gain tabs a day’ though I cut dose in half
The proper thyroid medication can give people back a quality of life. On synthroid, in three months, I gained 25 pounds, became diabetic and suicidal, and on top of that, have nasty skin rashes. Returning to my “old” dr., he wrote me a script for armour just to find out that my pharmacies cannot fill due to the shortage. I was really lucky that I had some old pills sitting around in the back of a drawer. WTF is Forest doing? People are totally reliant on this medication. I’m pretty upset about the whole thing as I only have about a 20 day supply left before I have nothing.
I want to provide an update for your blog readers regarding the supply of Armour Thyroid.
I’m Director of Public Relations at drugstore.com. The drugstore.com pharmacy ( http://www.drugstore.com/pharmacy ) currently has the 15mg, 30mg and 60mg available. We expect to receive the 90 mg from our supplier sometime in July.
Just for your information….I lost my thyroid to cancer about 30 years ago and was on Synthroid for a very long time…until my hair started to fall out and I began to have many other problems. Out of the “blue”, I received a letter in the mail advising me of a class action suit against synthroid, asking me to describe my symptoms. I filled it out, sent it in, and about one year later received a check in the mail when it was settled. At that time, I had already switched to armour and had regrown my hair. Because of the cancer situation, my Dr. put me on 5 grains and I have done very well. After moving to another state and having to change Dr’s. I have been cut back to 2 grains and guess what….the weight problems are back. And now, there is a “shortage” and problems again. I am going to research nature throid, or westhroid. And, I am changing Drs. to one who is in tune with natural medicines. I don’t know what is worse, treating an ailing thyroid or not having one at all.
I have a question, but am sure sure just where to ask you about it.
With so many products in the US being manufactured in China – I’m wondering if the manufacturing of our Armour Thyroid is being switched to be manufactured over there?
I have ordered several times from http://www.antiaging-systems.com
They come packaged in the “true Armour brand manufacturers pill bottle. The highest strength available right now is 90 mg., 1 1/2 grains.
You don’t need a prescription but of course you have to pay full price because you are not filing it to insurance. I paid $59.99 for 100 x 90 mg. tablets.
I would never have even considered ordering a prescription drug on the internet before, but I will not be without my ARMOUR after being miserable on Synthroid products for several years. This company is Legitimate.
I was directed to the website that you can get the Armour from by another forum that I frequently chat on.
You will need to allow a few weeks for it to arrive.
I hope this will save someone from having to resort to Synthtic thyroid meds.
I don’t have insurance so already pay full price for my Armour 90mg. 90 tablets cost $26.00 at the pharmacy. 100 tablets from the anti-aging web site cost $75.00 including the shipping. Their shipping charge alone ($15.00) is more than the wholesale cost of the product.
An ethical company doing a service or an amoral company taking advantage of a medical condition to gouge the public? For me the answer is obvious.
I have been reading these comments with interest and sympathy. I am a Cytomel user myself but I am suspicious of the supercilious nature of the drug companies in this. In the US it is usually a matter of simply following the money and I would bet the pharmaceutical company either has an abundance of the lower doses of Armour that they can’t afford to write off or they are arranging to out-source to another country. Either/or/and this should give us all pause regarding the kinds of protection we might need in being able to obtain our proper medications. I’d be in a world hurt myself if someone where to take advantage of me through my medication.
Someone asked for additional information about Nature-throid and Westthroid…
I should have mentioned in my previous post that these two thyroid drugs are considered GENERIC by my CVS and even cost less than Armour, even though it costs them more.
When I first found out about Nature-throid and Westthroid, I went to their website to see if they had the same amount of T3 and T4 that Armour has for a given size. I discovered that BOTH Armour and Nature-throid and Westthroid are controlled by UPC standards, which means that for each given Grain size, all three have the SAME AMOUNT of T3 and T4 – the T levels are controlled during manufacturing.
I am taking the Nature-throid and feel just fine – I feel the same as if I where on Armour.
The first time I switched to Nature-throid because Armour was Not available, my CVS offered me a third natural thyroid medicine called TIME-CAPS LABS (I think this was the name). I looked it up on the manufacturers website and discovered that the levels of T3 and T4 are NOT controlled by UPC standards. So I recommend everyone stay away from this thyroid medicine since there is no guarantee that the T levels will be consistent from one tablet to the next.
One last word about Nature-throid and Westthroid… the 2 grain Nature-throid tablet is 130mg vs. 120mg for a 2 grain Armour tablet. The pharmacist explained that there are TWO different standards for converting GRAINS into MG – one method uses 60mg / grain and the other uses 65mg / grain.
The BOTTON LINE for me is that I FEEL no difference between Armour and Nature-throid.
Good luck to all.
I have been on variations of synthroid/levoxyl, etc etc since my thyroidectomy in 1999. I would love a chance to “feel right” and am considering Armour. My current dose of Synthroid is at 225mcg– does anyone know what the equivalent dose would be w/ Armour? Thanks!
I am so happy to have read this informative, honest article regarding Armour Thyroid and the synthetic, Synthroid. When my doctor (for some unknown reason) put me on Synthroid instead of Armour Thyroid, it didn’t take long for me to notice the change. I don’t like Synthroid, and yes! There is a BIG difference in how I feel between the two, in my opinion. Others may feel differently. My doctor (just 2 months ago) refused to change my medication from Synthroid to Armour Thyroid. He told me that Armour Thyroid is “not available any longer.” I said, “If I can get my pharmacy to call you and let you know they have Armour, will you then prescribe it for me?” He stated that he would. Well, I have my Armour Thyroid back! I’m on 60mg. and after only ONE week notice the difference! BTW, I got this from Walgreen’s. Thanks so much for the great article…I will never change to Synthroid again!
Well, I’ve been patiently waiting for four months to see a new endo who’s willing to prescribe Armour to give it a try and hopefully feel better than I do on Synthroid and now this. I’ll have to call around and see how our supply in this area is or else try one of the other brands. I’m just sick of Synthroid and my body’s screaming it needs a change!
I am starting a vegetarian diet due to a health my beliefs and can’t make myself take Armour thyroid. Is there anything I can take besides a medication made from animals?
I would be interested to know how the FDA explains undergoing “extensive enhancement process for quality control.” And if I was still taking Armour thyroid, I would want a complete list of ingredients that are in the new batches. The mantra of “first, do no harm” seems to be missing here; as if Forest has something to hide. What do you think, Mary??
For many years I was on Synthroid and then Levoxyl, but felt horrid, and could hardly walk some days. I gave up trying to find a doctor who would agree to prescribe Armour. Recently, I found one listed on the Armour website who agreed to prescribe Armour! We started low and slow at 30mg, currently at 60mg, am I’m hoping to increase to 90mg after the next TSH test in 2 weeks. It’s great to hear about other alternative drugs Nature-Throid and Westhroid, and alternative online sources for Armour. I never knew that you could order Armour without a prescription, or I would have tried that years ago!
As for Forest’s motives involved in the “enhancement process for quality control”, I highly doubt there is anything sinister going on. Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry in the past, I know that the FDA very tightly monitors this industry. Strict adherance to FDA regulatory requirements are the reason for most reactive or proactive manufacturing or testing process changes. As I’m relatively new to the world of Armour, and wasn’t familiar with the reason for the previous recalls, I just searched the FDA website for “Armour Thyroid”, and found old and new recalls from May-2005 and Dec-2007. The recall of May-2005 involved the lower potencies of 30mg, 60mg, 120mg, and was due to “Subpotent: Product may not maintain potency throughout shelf life.” The latest recall of Dec-2007 involves several current lots of 3 and 4 grain tablets which expire between July-08 and Feb-09 that have been recalled due “failed disintegration specification at 6-months”. As these strengths are included in the latest “product enhancement”, it appears that Forest is working to correct this issue. Manufacturing and testing processes are quite complex, and many changes could be labeled as a “product enhancement” or process improvement without being a product reformulation (ingredient change). The “enhancement process for quality control”, sounds like they are tightening specifications to assure product stability, and protect the customer. Let’s just hope that these process changes and subsequent FDA approval proceed on schedule.
Lloyd Center Pharmacy in Portland OR has plenty of Armour Thyroid all strengths as well as Natur-throid and Westhroid. It is possible to compound any strength thyroid both immediate release and slow release if your physician will approve the prescription.
I got so tired of trying to track down Armour Thyroid that I switched back to Unithroid and my endocrinologist adding Cytomel. Now I am having to go through the adjustment period and get my blood checked every six weeks. I started out at 10 mcg of Cytomel, and now I am up to 15 mcg of Cytomel. I go back in August for my bloodwork, but at least I am not in a panic because the pharmacy does not have Armour Thyroid.
I just went to Walgreens to pick up my refill for Armour 60mg, I got a five day supply, that’s all they had left. They are backordered until end of July, beginning of August.(no firm date there) There are probably 6 CVS pharmacies withing a 5 mile radius of me, they have no Armour either. I switched to 60mg(3grains daily) when 180 had been taken off of the market. I was having hypo symptoms and both my doctors said it was hormones! (They believe me now) Almost immediately I started feeling better, when I switched to the 60mg. At my request, the pharmacist at Walgreens called and ordered Nature-Throid and contacted my physician for a new prescription. I will not go back to Armour, I have lost confidence in their ability to provide a safe, effective treatment for my thyroid condition. They’ve been producing this drug for so long, why are they having so many “issues” with it now??
As an aside to this…to those who cannot get their physician to switch to natural thyroid hormone or they’re still feeling poorly…find a doctor who will listen!!! I went to six doctors before I found one who listened to me. You are basically hiring them to do a job, you’re not happy with them?? Find someone who will work with you, not against you. Be proactive, educate yourself so that you can educate them. Your health and quality of life depends on it!!! It took a long time but I look and feel absolutely fabulous…you can too!
07/04/2008
I was on synthroid for l0 years and suffered cronic bladder infections. I convinced my doctor to let me try armour thyroid. The bladder infections disappeared in about a week and have been gone for 13 years. Armour saved my life. I am much more energenic and require less sleep.
Well, it’s been with great interest in reading Mary’s post, and then all the subsequent comments here. I went the synthetic route for a few years with no real improvements when I was first diagnosed, and after much research, (including books by Dr. Richard Shames) decided to switch to Armour, despite protests from the the doc I was seeing at the time.
I’ve been trying to correct my hypothyroid issues with a natural diet, as I’ve seen so many testimonies of others who have done the same.
By eliminating all animal products, processed and packaged foods, foods loaded with estrogen, fluoride, baked products that contain bromide (competes with iodine like fluoride does)and household cleaning chemicals, I believe it is possible. But it takes a long time, and in my case, I still need to supplement with natural thyroid plus iodine and selenium. I’m still hoping that someday I can be free of the pharmaceutical dependency! I was curious if anyone had tried some of the other natural Armour ‘replacements’ available on the net.
There’s Thyroid Support, Thyromine, Thyroid Helper, etc. All seem to have kelp and some form of bovine Thyroid supplement. For example: Thyroid Boost contains: odine (from kelp) – 900mcg Kelp- 180mg Raw Thyroid concentrate (bovine source) (Thyroxin, T4 free)- 60mg. I was just curious if anyone had tried them. My dosage requirements for Armour have been 180 mg, and since I’ve been trying to supplement with healthy eating and iodine, I was gradually reducing my dosage. Then I was unable to get 180 mg, and so was given 120 mg, then 60 mg. But my symptoms are returning, so I need to up my dosage.
To test myself, I take my temperature for several days in a row first thing in the a.m. Also a saliva ph test as well as a urine test can be done to test thyroid levels. I learned from a doctor in California who specifically treats thyroid patients, that blood tests are not all inclusive. He believes in the other methods of testing that patients can do themselves with kits purchased online. For me, I can tell by how I feel.
Finding a doctor who will prescribe Armour or any of the other natural thyroid prescriptions is very difficult. They have this misconception that the dosages cannot be regulated because it is derived from natural sources (animal). (See this site:
http://home.no.net/ngrondal/armourthyroid.html
for ammunition if your doctor refuses to prescribe Armour!)
I did look at the website referenced above http://www.antiaging-systems.com, but refuse to pay inflated prices for something I can get at the drugstore for a fraction of the price. I used to order it online from medsmex.com but they no longer carry it.
I was able to locate a local doctor on armourthyroid.com’s site and hopefully he’ll be able to help me obtain Nature-throid or WestThroid if Armour is not available.
Thanks Mary for posting WHY I have been having such a hard time finding supplies of Armour in our local drugstores.
Lauren
I can’t imagine having to go back on Synthroid after taking Armour. The only problem is, I need to find a Dr. who is open to prescribing it. Lately the ones I have encountered are all on the Synthroid bandwagon. The last “thyroid specialist” I saw was not only adamantly opposed but was appallingly rude- even abusive after I told her I wouldn’t go back on Synthroid. She spent the whole visit defending Synthroid as if I were attacking one of her children. My family Dr. who previously prescribed it for me has left the practice. I’m sure I’ll eventually be able to find a Dr. who understands but I don’t understand why there seems to be such opposition to prescribing Armour.
I am so happy to have found this thread. I went to refill my Armour Thyroid at Rite Aid in Long Beach. They told me it was going out of production and that they would call my Dr. to get an alternative Rx. Well, I was prescribed Levothyroid. I do not like it. I just lost my job and insurance and can’t be testing my levels regularly. I need my Armour Thyroid! I was just diagnosed 2 years ago after suffering for years not knowing what was wrong with me…I feel like a number on a spreadsheet to the Pharmaceuticals, Doctors and Pharmacist!
…and all I want is a decent quality of life.
Since December 2007, I have had headaches, insomnia, and weigh loss which I now associate with Armour thyroid-30 mg tablets. I have used Armour thyroid since Jan 1997 without problems. These symptoms didn’t go away until I was completely off my daily 120 mg dose of Armour. I restarted with a new refill and the headaches and insomnia have started again. Forest Lab is up to something tht’s not too good??
My pharmacist at Sam’s Club says this and past shortages arise because dog food companies outbid the drug company for the pig parts!
I have a comment and a question. Has anyone heard of the “generic” Armour from Qualitest? I was given that at WalMart as a generic but before my three month prescription ran out, I was having neuropathy in both arms (tingling) and asked the pharmacist if I could switch back to the original. . .of course but it costs more. I tried finding out about that brand and have not found anything about it. I just know that it didn’t work for me plus gave me a symptom I didn’t know about til I reread one of Mary’s books!!! I am taking Armour and am alternating every other day with a 60 and a 90 and feel the best I have ever felt plus am losing weight finally! The 60 was too low and the 90 too high so I asked my doc if alternating might work and so far it has. Thank you Mary for all your good info and your books! I sell them in my store, The Herb Place here in Clearfield, PA.
Not sure if this is still a live discussion, but got a new refill of Armour. The pills are a bit smaller, but the biggest difference is that they ’smell’ better.
Apparently some sizes are still not available, at least in my area, but got the script filled with 1.5 gr tabs instead of the 3 gr. And yes, it cost more.
Thanks for this warning on Armour. My problem isn’t getting my prescriptions which are in 2 different amounts, 90 mg plus 15 mg because there isn’t a dosage for what I need. My insurance refuses this year to pay for it because they say Armour is not FDA approved. I pay full price which is hard when I am on a fixed income. Even with my doctor calling them to say I need it and have taken it over 45 years they refuse. It is AARP Medicare. Does anyone know if a Medicare other than AARP will approve Armour? Please email me if so at missbcr@aol.com. Thanks
For Dianne M. Lee taking Prempro and Activlea. Those are both synthetic drugs. You should try to find a Life Extention or Anti-Aging Doctor and look into NATURAL Bio-Identical Hormones. Read Uzzi Reiss, M.D. O.B./GYN book “Natural Homone Balance for Women”. And with the Activela you are likely to have your bones disintegrate while on that. Use natural progesterone. If you can’t find what you want, Google Dr. Helen Pensanti. I have used her products for years, and she will help you change to the plant based product – no charge! And safer!
And, Keri, Forest Pharmaceutical has a doseage chart on their website.
I was in contact with Ross Mulholland at Forest Pharmaceuticals and he sent me an e-mail that said they are undergoing a process change at the plant on the equipment that produces these strengths of Armour … the formula is not being changed, just the way they are being processed.
I thought you might like to know that the Pharmacist at Walmart in Kernersville, NC told me they had stopped making Armour Thyroid and when I called her on it, she changed her statement to they cannot get anymore until September. I found some at CVS.
Thanks for the great information. Do you have any information on the pros and cons of orbital decompression surgery for thyroid eye disease (if a person does NOT have double vision). And do you have any current information for the treatment of pretibial myxedema?
Thank you for your early warning regarding shortage of Armour Thyroid. My insurance company changed at the same time you put out your newsletter. When I received a letter from the mail service that they were unable to fill my Armour Thyroid 60mg. I was prepared with the information you provided about Knowles Apothecary having this medication. It wasn’t easy but I finally talk with a supervisor from my mail order pharmacy and after speaking with her they agreed to transfer my prescription for Armour Thyroid to Knowles Apothecary. I had called Knowles Apothecary prior to calling my mail order service to make sure they had the dosage I needed. After the transfer was made I phoned Knowles Apothecary and they assured me that they had my prescription and were in the process of filling it and it will be mailed out shortly. I thank you again. I had taken Synthroid for about 15 years and always felt tired. I kept gaining weight no matter what I did. I have now been taking Armour Thyroid after reading up on it and hearing from a couple of people that had switched and felt better after taking Armour Thyroid. I can’t say enough about the difference in the way I feel. I have way more energy and feel like my normal self. Weight is still a struggle but if I am careful and exercise I now am able to lose weight. Your website/newsletter has been very helpful. Thanks
When my pharmacist told me that my 1 Gr. armour was backordered I called Forest Labs directly and they told me the pharmacist’s distributer can call them directly and they will drop ship to them. I had my armour within 2 days and they dropped off a big amount. Sometimes you have to take things into your own hands.
I was put on synthroid when I was diagnosed. This medication caused numerous false symptoms of other diseases, not to mention made me very sick. Doctor’s even went as far as to recommend surgery for GERD I experienced due to Synthroid. 4 years later, I finally find a doctor to listen to me and put me on Armour. Now that same doctor 7 years later has refused to refill my Armour and has put me back on Synthroid. Same symptoms are coming back, now she wants me to begin the upper GI testing again. In addition to those symptoms I am now having intermittent dabilitating chest pains which last about 20-40 minutes. I have had all heart tests, in and out of the hospital with results of absolutely no heart involvement. Now this doctor is telling me these are stress related and wishes to put me on drugs for that. I am fed up with the medical profession. Since my diagnosis 14 years ago I have had as many doctors and am ready to give up. Seriously, the depression and frustration over being sick from Synthroid is doing me in. Can anyone recommend a physician in the San Jose, CA area who is working with Hypo patients and is educated or informed on the most recent studies?
I was fortunate to have read Mary’s heads up on the Armour shortage. I was able to share this information with my pharmacist and they were able to get in Nature-throid as an alternative. Albertson’s Sav-On pharmacy is where I get my meds. I have been on the Nature-throid for about a month now and I feel great. No problems with the transition to the Nature-throid and I think I will just stay on it as I like how I feel. I take the 2 grain strength by the way. Thanks Mary for the head’s up!
)
Some might want to try their local individually owned pharmacy. I wouldn’t of known there was an Armour shortage if not for the news letter. My pharmacy has not had a problem filling my prescription. Part of that is I am on 60mg. I ask him about it and he said for those taking higher doses he just calls the doctor himself if he is short or out and does those patients prescriptions in the combination of the lower doses that fits best with both written and oral instructions to the patient.
The more I read the happier I am we still have a small locally owned pharmacy and do not have to contend with Walgreen’s, CVS etc.
Recently I had my Rx for 120 mg of Amour filled at my local WalMart pharmacy with no difficulty. Here’s the interesting part: It was in new packaging. Rather than in a bottle a pharmacist would have to fill, each tablet was individually blister-packed and in cards of 10 — much easier for them.
Lisa: You’re an obnoxious person for insulting pharmacies/pharmacist. Maybe you should start compounding the medication yourself given your vast knowledge in math, with special emphasis on dividing. I’m amazed that doctor’s offices don’t know about drug shortages before they happen. Given their ‘all-knowing’ attitudes. Lisa, I hope I never walk in to an doctor’s office with a problem and find you behind the desk.
In answer to (46) Trish, yes, there are things you can do to nourish your thyroid and other glands in your endocrine system. Essential oils are an effective way to do this. There is a searchable database of anecdotal evidence that at least one company out there is reputable enough to sell uncontaminated, therapeutic grade essential oils. Check out the testimonials at http://www.oil-testimonials.com/1558 and you can search for keywords like “thyroid” or “hypothyroidism” and see what other people like you have done and see what has worked for them. Since every body is different in make-up, and I’m not a doctor, I can neither diagnose nor prescribe, but as a consumer you may make your own informed decision based on your own research. I do not have a business, but I do obtain oils from a company that I feel is trustworthy, and I have read amazing success stories from real people like you and me. I wish you success.
Hi There:
My name is Maribel and for the past 3 months or so i have been having problems with the Wal-mart pharmacy in trying to get my Armour 60mg filled,the pharmacy has been giving me 30mg and tell me that taking two pills will be the same as taking the 60mg, the pharmacist states it is very hard to get the Armour 60mg. So i think what i will do, is ask my doctor to switch me to either Nature-Throid or Westhroid, i have noticed though,that taking Armour does upset my stomach, so in your opinion which of these other natural thyroid pill would be better for me to take?
Armour does have a quality control issue, whatever they say. I got a bad batch about 9 months ago and it was like taking no thyroid replacement Rx at all. When I went to my doc and he assessed why I was feeling so awful and my hair was falling out by the handsful, he suggested it was a dud batch. He switched me to Natur-throid and within a week I felt great again. I would not go back to Armour!
What is URL?
When I called the Company about Armour, I was told if I had a problem getting my prescription filled, to call the Armour company back and they would see I had some
>
This is hospital packaging. Almost all drugs are available in cards like this because it is a necessity for hospital use (otherwise they have to package each pill in individual blisters themselves). Retail pharmacies normally don’t order the prepackaged drugs because are they are much more expensive than buying drugs in bulk. In situations of shortages though, pharmacies(hospitals and retail both) will take whatever form of a drug they can get.
>
also, retail pharmacists normally can’t dispense blister-packs because of child-proof container laws. When they are forced to order them (because of shortages), they have to punch them out and put them in a regular bottle anyway–a lot more work than just ordering them in bulk. If they gave them to you in the blister cards, than you must have indicated that non-child-proof containers were ok with you (or they messed up by not asking you if that would be ok.)
Thanks, Mary and all–I had to do the phone work and leg work back and forth between my doctor, pharmacy, and Armour customer service. The “official party line” of the CS dept is questionable, but I trust that Mary will stay on top of this and let all of us know promptly. I would begin kicking, screaming, and falling out if I had to go back to Synthroid. The years after my thyroidectomy (now 7) were just sorta ok, but not a good quality of life. Since starting Armour one year ago I have felt better. And it has taken a full year to work out the proper dose, but worth the time. The pharmacict that fills my Armour now knows I am not a dummy, not afraid to speak up, and not going away–also not her enemy but a patient and customer!!!
Dear Mike–you have no reason to be that insulting. If you work, own, or otherwise have contact with a good pharmacy, with educated compassionate support staff, then you are one lucky fella. Doctor’s offices have no more advance notice, in fact less, of shortages than pharmacies. And, sir, as for you walking into a doctor’s office and encountering a nurse like Lisa I highly doubt that would happen. Your attitude would be apparent from the get go and you would be seen and discharged with all possible speed.
You would be lucky to receive even a piece of attention to detail that Lisa has shown.
And YES I am a nurse, a thyroid cancer survivor, and am now militant about my care no matter what type of professional participates in my healthcare. Fuzzy yes and no answers from the magic 8 ball won’t cut it anymore. So, Michael, open up, listen, observe, feel, watch–you will see people that hurt just like you and deserve kindness–from you.
I do not use the Armour thyroid, but I had a similar experience at Walgreens. I use Levothroid and they tried to substitute another generic (which they did once before, and it was as if I was not taking anything). I explained that I had good results on Levothroid and did not want a substitute. They told me they were unable to get it and that this as well as Synthroid were being discontinued and he could not get it anywhere. He even said no one in town could get it. I went to a non-Walgreen pharmacy and they had not heard of this and also had my prescription for me within 24 hours. I don’t get it. It is really scarey (no matter what source of thyroid replacement works for us) that the pharmacists are trying to control what we choose to take (or what works for us). I have stopped using Walgreens!
I have been on armour for 4 years now, I went from 150 pounds to 128, But just in the last few months I gained 10 pounds, and have not felt the same,I know something is wrong, and I think they are changing or taking something out of the medication, their are 4 other people in my family on armour and they all say they have not been feeling well. some have depression no energy, cant sleep, night sweats, all this happened , when we couldnt get the right dose of aemour. I hope we can get to the bottom of this, before I get so big that my husband has to widden the door way.thanks for all your help. barb
I have taken Time-Cap Labs (TCL) dessicated thyroid for years. I was concerned about their quality after comment #42 by Stephen. My doctor prescribes USP thyroid and my pharmacy fills it with TCL, so I believe TCL is a USP product. It is what many pharmacies use as the generic form of Armour. I couldn’t find any reference on the TCL website, so I emailed TCL.
I received a reply from the V.P. of Sales and Marketing for TCL. He wrote: “The problem with thyroid is that there is only 1 manufacturer of desiccated thyroid (the actual material made from pork thyroids) and sometime ago unbeknownst to Armour and us they changed their manufacturing process. It is for this reason that Armour and ours is not available. We are trying to find another source but with no avail.”
He mentioned that TCL thyroid could still be available from wholesalers and from Anda Distribution in Florida.
I finally got a rx for 3 grains of Armour last week. I went to 5 pharmacies before I could get it filled. Two were out of town where the doctor was located and they didn’t have enough in stock to fill even one month at the 1 1/2 grains. The third pharmacy was a CVS near my house and the pharmacist would not fill the 3 grain rx with double 1 1/2 grain without an ok from the doctor. I went across the street to a local compounding pharmacy and the pharmacist had no problem filling my rx of 30 3 grains with 60 1 1/2 grains of armour. I then ordered a 3 month’s supply of 1 1/2 grains.
If anyone is having problems getting their armour rx filled at big-chain drugstores (ie. CVS, Walgreens, Walmart) check with a local pharmacy.
I had not heard anything about the Armour shortage until reading about it here right now. Yesterday when I had my Armour (15mg, twice a day)renewed, my prescription had run out and the pharmicist had to call my doctor for a renewal and when I went to pick it up it was for 30mg, once a day. I was furious with my doctor because, not only was he reluctant to prescribe Armour for me to begin with (after years of Synthroid symptoms) but does not want me to take it twice a day, though I can’t imagine why it should matter to him as long as I get 30 mg per day. I think my dose should be higher but he says my blood levels are fine as is. Anyway, perhaps I should not be upset with him for the current 30mg pill since maybe that is all the pharmacy had. The pharmacist did not mention anything about a shortage.
I was wondering if anyone had ever experienced this odd problem? I have been on armour for about 15 years successfully. I suddenly started having reactions that became extreme. I started itching(mainly on the arms) I had two occasions when I actually thought I was dying. My eyes felt very odd and swollen and my blood pressure felt like my head was about to explode.I was then told I had Hashimoto’s. I am now off armour.The attacks stopped as did the itching. I am taking nothing and am not doing well AT ALL. Please help, Fondly, Betsy
Thank you for the update. Until recently, I was not aware of the shortage. I found out when I went refill at Walgreens and they told me about it. They suggested Levoxyl as a replacement. Because I had taken this before, I was not interested in taking it. I experienced better results with the Armour. Your information gave me more detailed information about the shortage and I am forwarding it to my doctor. I was glad to read that there is an alternate (natural)replacement drug. Thank you.
This came to my group in an email from Forest:
“Please have your pharmacy call us if they are unable to fill your prescription. We can arrange for a drop shipment
to the pharmacy. Our phone number is 800-678-1605 Ext 66298.”
Mary, what I’d really like to know:
1) What exactly is the difference between Nature-Throid and WesThroid?
2) Can I take them sublingually, too?
I’m in Europe, so I can’t call the free customer service numbers given on the websites. I emailed Western Research Labs, but never heard from them.
I am trying to fill 60 MG of Armour at my local CVS. Being told they do not know when they can get it in.
I called Mary’s pharmacy that she listed back in June. . . I was told by then that Armour is not being made anymore.
http://thyroid.about.com/b/2008/06/16/thyroid-drug-shortage-affecting-patients-patients-face-crisis-in-getting-armour-thyroid.htm
I am not sure what to do?
Just got switched to nature-throid because of the difficulty getting Armour. Bunny, you asked about taking nature sublingually. Yes you can (I’ve been but it doesn’t taste as good as armour..more gritty)
I called the number listed above for Forrest to gain information on a drop shipment to my pharmacist. The Person said larger strengths still not available but have reserves smaller doses that they can send, later this year the company plans on getting higher strenths back on the shelves.
I knew when I called I wouldn’t be able to get the real story out of him, what happened and why the pharmacy recall, but I am inordinately curious to know the truth. I hope someone finds out and posts for the rest of us?
I feel lucky I didn’t experience bad batches like others. I honestly love the product and had a horrible esperience on levothyroxin, the synthetic one. My brother still takes synthetic, Two friends switched to Armour and are so much happier. Both their doctors never mentioned anything other than the synthetic.
Posts above recommending diets, oils, and supliments to improve thyroid function, I want to try, most of all I want to stay talking to all of you with good information and helpful testimony. Thank you.
If anyone finds the scoop please illuminate…won’t change my opinion of Armour.
Just had my second go round trying to get armour during this shortage. I am now taking 4 pills to get the required dosage. Unfortunately I’m allergic to synthroid and have no choice but to use armour,so this shortage is scarry. You know some pencil pusher at the company has noticed that they’re making more money doing this since we’re paying by the number of pills, not the size of the pills. I just paid 4 times the amount I usually do – that sucks !!!!!!! But what choice do I have ! Hope this shortage doesn’t last long.
I was taking levoxyl and did not know about armour and it’s like night and day what a difference armour makes,anyway you can go to walmart grocery-or superwalmart and they can order it.They will say we can’t at first but tell them my friend gets it here thats why Iam here.All they had were 15mg’s so I told the doc. 3 or 4 a day.For myself 3-15mg equals 75mg levoxyl. It took about a week and I feel tony the tiger great,full affect in about 3-4 weeks, anyway grocery is easer than super walmart not so many people.GOOD LUCK don’t give up
Any suggestions if I seem to be allergic to both Armour and Nature-Throid?
Thank you so much for sharing this information, very helpful and gives good options during this time!
Thanks for the info. My Pharmacy has been working to try and get me Armour and Nature-Thyroid, but it seems that both are on back order now. Any other suggestions?
Robin,
You can contact Knowles Apothecary to get your medication by mail order.
I just recently talked with my doc about changing to Thyrolar (vegetarian) from Levoxyl. Hair was starting to fall out, and still having fatigue on LVXL. Called Walgreens near me to see if they had it available, and they said “That’s an old-time remedy, I don’t think we can ever order it anymore.” Needless to say, I am an ex-Walgreens customer.
Be persistent. We are our own best advocates. Tell your Doctor what you WANT . Be clear.
I’ve been on Armour for several years. In November of 2007, I began having endema in my eyelids, particularly after lying down. The last year has been enlightening. I found that I was allergic to the synthetics. The doctors say probably one of the fillers. I went back to Armour, but my endo said that I was hyper according to the lab work. She took me from 145ish down to 120 down to 90 mg Armour. My endema decreased, but we just realized this month that the dose was too low even though the lab results said I was fine. My hair fell out at an accelerated rate, I was having a heaviness in my neck and chest which eventually turned into a strangling sensation, motivation decreased, and I began to visit the sleep apnea specialist because I was waking up multiple times at night. My endo upped my dose to 120 mg Armour. All of those symptoms disappeared, but I am now having a significant amount of endema in my eyelids again. If the source of the dessicated pig thyroid has changed their processing, I wonder if that is why I started having trouble with endema last year.
Also, found an excellent book called “The Metabolic Treatment of Fibromyalgia.” My daughter (17) has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia-like syndrome/symptoms. Basically, Lowe, the author of the book, says that most fibromyalgia is under-treatment of hypothyroidism. It is so stunning to me, because I have been trying to have her diagnosed with hypothyroidism for 6+ years to no avail. Her lab numbers are fine according to the doctors. Lowe points out that the lab numbers can hinder proper diagnosis and that they are not useful for determining correct dose. My children and I have suffered for years, needlessly, becasue the current medical establishment will not accept anything but what they are taught by the establishment.
I am currently trying to figure out where I will get the help we need.
Linda
Synthetics never worked for me. I read a comment stating bladder infections and possible link to taking the synthetics.
Now I am concerned.
6 years ago I was diagnosed with Lupus. Then further testing found Hypothyroidis (sorry for any misspellings) I have lost my uterus and overies 5 years ago. 14 months ago I endured yet another loss of my anatomy. They took my gallbladder. Since the last surgery, I have suffered from chronic upper right quadrant abdominal pains, great weight loss(35+ LBS), inability to eat without even greater pain, and since I can no longer obtain Armour because Medicare Part D refuses to cover it, then the shortage, I have been painstakingly trying to do research to find the sorce of my pain. This pain was about a month prior to surgery, but now it is out of control. I was at least able to eat before I was cut. My TSH levels were sky high before surgery. I took Armour for the first time and was retested 7 days later. my levels changed from 13.58 TSH and 0.80 FT4 to 0.08 TSH and 1.84 FT4…I was put on 5G. And before, when I took synthroid, I was being accused by the doctor I was not taking my medication since my levels never changed. So, there is a medication that actually works. I was tested again 15 days ago and my levels are now 10.74 TSH and 0.57 FT4 on no medication at all.
I am wondering if my mystery illness could be linked to when I took Synthroid. The pain is becoming more pinpoint at the beginning with pain in my right kidney area and radiating to the front abdominal area.
I have become the medical mystery of New Mexico. and unless we find the link, I honestly fear for my own life.
The medical profession has become a joke. The bigger player of jokes is denying medication that is effective to the patient.
I hope all who are suffering from this problem take a strong stand and demand nothing but the best for their quality of life. Do not accept anything less. The more that stand up for what is right, eventually a change will happen.
Great article! It cleared up the misinformation I was given by Walgreens and my doctor. I was informed synthroid was my only choice. maybe now I can bypass the bull that was dished out to me and feel better from the effects of my thyroid malfunctioning again and get back to working on a solution for the other ailment.
@ Billie Crosby:
I had the same problem as you with AARP Medicare. They are the worst and completely unreasonable to try and work with.
I changed my plan to Prescription Pathway aka rxpathway and they have never given me any problems with the name brand Armour Thyroid.
As long as they have a letter from your physician stating “Medically Necessary” they will cover it.
It really is kind of ridiculous because the difference in price between the two forms listed was only $5.00.
Good luck.. hope this helps.
PS Thank you Mary so much for all your hard work… I have learned so much from you and really appreciate all you do!
April 19, 2009 -Hi Mary, I enjoyed visiting your forum and reading all the comments.
However, I wish more people would date their comments, since the Armour Thyroid is going for almost a year now and is still unresolve. The impression I get is that the larger doses (90-150) were found to be ineffective at some point due do quality control, and manufacture was suspended until FDA approval was restored. I called the (866) 927 3260 number for availability and only the 60mg and the 90mg were lsited as “backordered.” Now all I have to do is convince my local pharmacist tomorrow.
I have been hypothyroid for 22 years. I had a bad skin reaction immediatly upon taking synthoid the first time. I asked if anything in the tablet could make me break out. I was told no. The reaction got worse as I got older. As it turns out, the red dye (.125)and the corn both make be break out. I started taking Armour Thyroid to try to get away from the corn and I recently found out that the included anhydrous dextrose is derived from corn! I am going to switch to Nature-Thyroid or WesThroid ASAP. I just got information from the Rep that there is no corn in either product!
I just tried calling Forest Labs a few minutes ago and their info line does say that the missing dosages of Armour thyroid should be available within 2 weeks for several strengths, and a month for the others. Let’s hope they come through as promised.
my Medco mail-in Pharmacy notified me that they were out of Armour and to contact a local Pharmacy for refill. i am having to take 4-15mg. a day because local pharm.does not have 30mg. has anyone experienced occasional intense itching of hands and feet with Armour? Also if the new TSH range is 3.0-.3 why do National blood lab reports still say 5.0-.5?
I filled my Armour thyroid last in March and had no idea there would be difficulties getting more. I get 90 pills at a time, but do not take 1 a day, it is an odd system I’ve found works for me (and my docs.)(the way I take it comes to an average of about, but not quite 65mg daily)
I needed to refill it recently and began fund that my 90 mg wasn’t available for 90 count. (the way my doc writes the script). Called several pharmacies. No 30mg, no 60mg, few 90mg, few 120mg. Some 180. I finally found enough 180mg, I was abale to get 90, and taken the way I take them, it should last me for some months (more than 3!). Found them at Costco. It seems that the lower doses are now not available (a year after the original post above). I hope this problem becomes better soon. It was a bit scary!
more of a concern than a comment. i had a total thyroidectomy. i was taking 60mg of armour monday-tue-thur-fri-sun. and 90mg on wed-sat. levels are great. but not feeling well. plus i cant get 90mg. so my doctor just switched me to nature-thyroid 65mg. but when i picked my med up at pharmacy the bottle says thyroid 60mg. huh???? is this right. is this enough for me?
I’ve been taking Armour for about 2 years now. I live in Washington state and I have always had difficulty getting my prescription filled on any dosage. The first time I filled it the pharmacist interogated me on why my doctor was switching me from synthetic. I simply switched pharmacies. Since then, no matter where I go there are stock issues. No one has ever indicated there are shortages from the manufacturer. I have slowly built up a month’s buffer of pills so I would be ok if they weren’t available when I refill. But today when I called the pharmacy I was told that there was a problem. They were out, none of their branches have any within 50 miles, they can’t order any AND they don’t know when they will be able to order again (in any grain). I take a 90mg dose and have wondered why they keep giving it to me in odd dosages for the past several months (once they gave me 90 30mg tabs and the next time 45 60mg tabs and told me to cut them in half) but they never give me a straight answer as to why 90mg was such an issue to get. I now have to call around to other pharmacies and hope they have some. Why in the world hasn’t this been shared through the pharmacies filling our prescriptions? Obviously it’s been a problem for quite some time and no one’s sharing? What the heck?
I have been on Armour Thyroid for about a year. I refuse to go on the synthetic thyroid. This August is the first time that I am unable to get my perscription filled I had to drive across town to get 30 pills, 30mgs. They would not give me any more
and said that the manufacture was not going to make them any longer. What happened? Did Armour sell out to the big pharmacuetical companies, so that we have to buy synthyroidor other synthetic drugs?
I’ve switched to Armour Thyroid medication about 5 months ago. I felt 80% better within the first two weeks of taking it. I feel like myself again and the funny thing is my numbers came back “off” and I still felt much better than when my numbers were in the normal range on synthroid! I hope to NEVER go back to it. I’ve lost weight on Armour, especially in the middle, which was nearly impossible to lose.
I’ve also have much more energy and the ringing in my ears went away. I had heart palpitations on synthroid NEVER on Armour! But that is my reaction. Doctor’s tell you Armour is more likely to give you heart palpitations. I NEVER want to go back to synthroid. PLEASE, Forest hurry up and get it available once again and find a way to keep this from happening!!!! Don’t let money issues (no patent on Armour) keep you from helping people.
Thank you. Christine
I truly believe that doctors, drug companies, and drug retailers don’t understand the differences between Synthroid and Amour. They look at me like I’m nuts when I insist on being on Amour. Now that I have found a doctor that understands my needs, there’s another shortage and rumors of discontinuing production. Why would they dicontinue a necessary medication of thousands of people ?? None of this makes any sense.
does armour thyroid contain mares urien
why don’t we do something about it. I am sick and tired of them having shortages on drugs that we depend our lives on. Let’s all get together and do something about this problem that we can live without.
I’ve read that all natural thyroid medicines (Armour, Nature-Throid, etc.) all come from pigs. With the “swine flu problem” could this be why there is a shortage?
As of Sept. 4th, there is no supply of alternative products from Nature-Throid or Westhroid. I called the number 877-797-7997 and the rep. told me they have nothing.
I will not go back on Synthroid, not for love or money, therefore I will have to stretch the 7 90 mg. Armour pills I have left, skipping days between doses, until this shortage gets figured out. When will that be, who knows at this rate??
What can we do to stop this madness? Like most of you, I need to take some form of natural thyroid medication (and hope for the best). I have been on Armour for 20 years now. I am down to 2 weeks of the generic Armour. Why can’t pharmacies get Nature-throid or Westhroid if Armour is the problem? Does anyone have a FDA contact number or FDA e-mail address? We ALL need to get involved here people! Haven’t we all suffered enough with inadequately trained physicians in the area of endocrinology? Please make a phone call!
Feeling frantic about this shortage, I looked at foreign products (Canadadrugs.com), and they have a 125 mg available. A RX is required by my physician and can be faxed to them. They told me the manufacturing company is ERFA, which I can’t seem to find on the internet. I also talked with my pharmacist, and he informed me that he can now compound the formula. The suggested formula for Thyroid 60 mg #3 100 Caps is: Thyroid USP Powder (Porcine) 6 GM and Microcrystalline Cellulose NF (PH-105) 9.176 GM.
I just was told by my Walgreens pharmacy that there’s a shortage of Armour – they recommended that their compounding pharmacy in another location could make me a liquid form of armour… Has anyone heard of this?
I LOVE my armour – after years and years on the synthetic, I finally found a doctor who would prescribe Armour and I finally have stopped loosing hair, have a regular menstrual cycle, etc. I DON’T want to go back to the synthetic stuff!
In Ithaca NY we are having a hard time getting the drug as well. It seems as though the big suppliers cannot get it and send it to the pharm folks (Wegman’s, Walmart, Kinney, etc.). I take a 15, 30 and 60 per day and tried to reduce my cost by going to a 90 and a 15 but no one could get me any dosage.
I just received a phone call from my pharmacist. The information that he passed along was as follows.
Desiccrated thyroid is manufactured by American Laboratory.
The cost of corn has sharply risen because of the cost of fertilizers and biofuels demand.
Because of the increase in costs farmers are raising less pigs and this is affecting the supply chain for the raw material we need in our medication.
Here is the URL for a site that has some information about what is going on
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Thyroid-Disorders/NEWS-FLASH-on-the-shortage-of-desiccated-thyroid-meds-/show/1038019
It looks like Amour changed some of their formulation without getting FDA approval first.
This is causing a revisiting of the grandfathering clause under which Amour is producing the medication.
The FDA has its hands on this one. This covers all thyroid medication made from desiccated thyroid so keep a close eye on this one, it could affect our health.
Those “people” at Forest are on my Sh*t list. They obviously do not care what they are doing to their consumer base, AKA – other people. It is my understanding that they had been in violation of at least one or two FDA mandates a while back.
Someone there is apparently not so competent as to be able to think ahead. Goodness.
Has anyone tried stoking up the thyroid with iodine? I added (to my Armour thyroid) 1/2 an Iodoral tablet, and it enabled me to half my thyroid med. And I started losing weight which was wonderful!
I just talked to Forest Pharm nad discussed Armour Thyroid, it is a supply issue and the production is scheduled to go on. I have heard and read alot of hoopla about FDA recalls and the formula being changed, don’t know what that is all about but there is a hotline number 1 866 972 3260
I have to check with my pharmacist as to whether my Armour has been reformulated – I don’t think so; it still has the same odd smell that I’m used to – but I should ask, considering I’ve been in a bit of a flare with fibromyalgia. Now, I know how sick I felt when I was taking just T4. It’s a long shot, but I do wonder about that reformulation thing…this flare has gone on a bit longer than usual!
ok. i have 2 armour tablets left.
doctor refuses to prescribe naturthroid, not sure why.
he wants me on synthroid.
was on that last year, and did nothing… numbers were fine, i was not.
now what?
i have called every pharmacy in this tri state area!
i am so upset.
however, i have to say. i had my prescription changed from 60-120mg (big jump) — now i am losing a lot of hair, is this a symptom??
thanks all!
My daughter takes 30 mg of Armour Thyroid/day. It’s no longer available in our area, so she called local drug stores to see what dosage WAS available, which was the 120 mg. Unfortunately, to get the larger size and break into smaller, 30 mg pieces, required a visit to the doctor for another prescription, but at least she now has enough to last her a few more months.
During the shortage this summer I was given Synthroid to tie me over…I can tell you after a week or so I realized that I was feeling depressed….I have had my doctor take note and will be hoping that the shortage will end before I run out again….it is amazing what a difference it does make!
Who can we all contact to really address our outrage and concern about this very serious life issue, I did very poorly with synthroid. I was diagnosed in 1982 with Hashimoto thyroid and have been around and around trying to get well. I got Lyme disease and Babesia in 2000, at the same time I was going through menopause…..the best I ever felt was with “original” armour thyroid. I am currently taking Naturthroid…..don’t feel as well….and am not sure about future availability?????…….To what crisis with the past Armour is the government responding????? We may be doomed if proper action is not taken to protect our source of t3/t4……T3/T4 friendly doctors Please tell us what to do?