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?
What Can You Do? How Can You Get Your Thyroid Medication?
First, if your pharmacy is telling you that Armour is "no longer available at any dosage size" (and even today, I've gotten emails from frantic thyroid patients whose pharmacies are telling them this!) then please get a new pharmacy, one that isn't misleading you or trying to switch you to other medications.
Next, be careful. Because your pharmacy or doctor may suggest switching to a more easily-obtained synthetic drug, like Synthroid or Levoxyl, or the generic, levothyroxine. They may even claim "It's the same thing." And it's definitely not! Synthetic thyroid hormone replacement drugs like Synthroid operate very differently; they are not the same as natural thyroid medication. 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 natural thyroid drug.
Armour Thyroid Availability
If your pharmacy remains clueless, a reputable compounding pharmacy I like, Knowles Apothecary, can work with you to fill your prescriptions for Armour Thyroid. 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 can fill long-distance 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 currently available sizes of Armour (i.e., 1 grain (60 mg), 2 grain (120 mg) or 3 grain (180)) even if you have to cut pills to get the required dosage.
(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 ApothecaryHave the doctor include on the prescription that if Armour is unavailable, substitution with the RLC Labs' products Nature-Throid and Westhroid is acceptable. That way, the pharmacy will fill your prescription with the other brand name desiccated thyroid, manufactured by RLC Labs.
10400 Connecticut Ave, Suite 100, Kensington, MD 20895
Phone: 301-942-7979 / Fax: 301-942-5544
Nature-Throid and Westhroid
RLC Labs manufacturers 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. It comes in dosage sizes comparable to Armour Thyroid.
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 RLC 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
Be sure to ask your doctor to prescribe at least a three to six month supply if possible, so that you are sufficiently stocked for the shortage.
For Doctors Who Prescribe Armour
If you are a doctor who prescribes Armour, be aware that the shortages of Armour are likely to continue on and off throughout the year, at best. 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 RLC 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.)
Photos: clipart.com
Unfortunately, this is not the only thyroid medication that is hard to get at times. I’ve been taking Cytomel for 3 years now (my ‘miracle’ med!) and again today I was told the pharmacy is out. Frustrating!
Sadly, so many who were so loyal to Armour for years and year have had to switch to Nature-throid anyway due to the 2009 reformulation of Armour. I’m just thankful that I happened to see that info on thyroid forums and made the connection of new Armour formula to my declining health and return of hypo symptoms. Forest Pharmaceutical really should have issued a statement about this change; and they really should have tested it on folks before unleasing it on a unsuspecting group. It has cost me a lot of money trying to get well again…complete with 2 trips to the ER.
After my report to my doctor about it all, she started getting more negative new Armour reports. To be on the safe side of her patients, she has notified all her Armour users there might be a potential problem.
I am hopefull you, Mary, might address this new formulation issue so that others don’t go through what so many of us have. You can reach many who might be getting sick and have no idea why. Yes, it is working for some – but some of us have been horribly sickened/poisoned – and have had to start from scratch after being stable for many many years. This is just unacceptable to me for a pharmaceutical company to endanger their consumers in this way.
Why won’t insurance cover Armour Thyroid anymore? They say it isn’t FDA approved but I have been getting it for 45 years and it was always covered until about 2 years ago.
THANK YOU! Once again the pharmacy was clueless — and it’s Walmart! If a large pharmacy can’t get the correct info, who can we trust? YOU! Thank you!!!
Didn’t know the re-formulation could affect things so much. What exactly has been changed in the manufacturing process? Could this be a reason my TSH went from under 1.0 at my last test to 11.8 just a week ago? or just the effects of stress on my Hashi’s (loss of a family member, new demands on me at work, both in the last 3 months.)
In order for your thyroid medication to be compounded during this shortage he physicianmust write for strength that IS part of the shortage. It is that fact that allows it to be compounded. To find a compounding pharmacy in your area call 1-800-331-2498 (PCCA) Professional Compounding Centers of America) of which I am a amember and have been componding various strengths of this medication for several years as it has been unavailable in various strengths.
I’ve read, and was told by Forest Pharm when I called to notify them of my complaint, that the reformulation is less dextrose, more cellulose. If you google “new Armour formulation” you can find some public forums that have discussed the issue. Many private yahoo thyroid forums also have had “new armour formulation” threads.
I had initially attributed my declining health to various other things (menopause and stress), but the first day I tried Nature-throid I could tell a difference.
I get my AT 90mg @ CVS, but the distributor is out until the second week of July. All the CVS in my area (Southern MD) are out, BUT the store gave me (no charge) their last 6 pills and then found some at the local TARGET, called me and let me know to go up there for a tranfser of the presciption. BTW – I am on retired military insurance, and it IS covered , so if the GOVT HMO will cover AT so should yours.
Wow. You learn so much from this newsletter. I KNEW something had to have changed with my Armour, but the pharmacy told me they (Forest) had only changed the packaging. I’ve spent quite sometime trying to get my dosage back to the correct level. They convinced me I was imagining things and since my doctor had changed my dosage, it must not have been the correct dosage for me. I am still not feeling well. Thanks so much for the info.!! Once again, I find I’m not “losing it”! I was beginning to wonder….
My doctor’s office told me to try COSTCO or Sam’s Club for my Armour. Since these are warehouse clubs, they buy in bulk and usually have it on hand. COSTCO didn’t have my strength but did have two strengths to make my prescription. The better news was that it was even cheaper than buying it at the regular pharmacy!
Both pharmacies are open to the public, at least in CO.
I fired my endocrinologist of 15 years standing because he wouldn’t let me have a trial of Armour Thyroid. I felt better within 15 minutes of taking it for the first time last Dec. Had a total thyroidectomy in February and had to do the Rx dance of adjusting my medication dose and timing to get it to the right place. Stayed on Armour and had it sorted out after 8 weeks and started to feel human again. Went to refill my Armour Thyroid prescription last month and thought I got a bad dose from the pharmacy. They were willing to replace it, but I was suspicious so had the refill moved to a different pharmacy. Got the same nasty looking, nasty tasting medication. Took it anyway and started to feel terrible. Within 4 days I had a massive allergic reaction to the new fillers in addition to feeling horrible. I called Forest Pharmaceuticals to find out what was up. To my dismay, I was informed that they had, indeed, changed the forumulation to make it “dissolve” better in the gut. I asked why they had added cornstarch ( among other) fillers to a product that had worked fine before without it. No comment. I asked if they had tested the new formulation on any thyroid patients — said they hadn’t felt the need.
I went through panic mode, researching other alternatives and then having to track down my doctor to write a different Rx for NatureThroid, then having to go through hell trying to find a pharmacy that stocked any configuration at all of the Naturethroid. Actually had to call my doctor back to re-write the scrip for the configuration that they could fill and I end up having to chop itty-bitty pills in order to get what I need at the right time of day.
Why is this so hard? And why does my insurance company pay for less than 25% of an RX that costs so little ( they pay 80% of virtually any other Rx I get.)
Will I be able to get my refill filled? I’m worried. I hadn’t planned on living like this for the rest of my life, worried about the meds and whether I can even get them.
Wasn’t this the same thing that happened last year?
Why does it keep happening?
I take Armour- 120/day-
But know that I am very very tired of a company that keeps making the same mistakes too.
I take the 15mg of Armour and Medco did not have it. The local Targets did not have it, but was able to get it at a Walgreen’s. So check around. I had Medco write an exception on my record so I could get it locally.
So, check around, some pharmacies might have your dose.
The old armour had dextrose which has now been replaced by cellulose. According to Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose, “Cellulose is not digestible by humans and is often referred to as ‘dietary fiber’ or ‘roughage’”. No wonder it tastes chalky!! And since so many thyroid patients have trouble with digestion anyway, no wonder we’re experiencing a return of hypo symptoms !!!
There has been times in Cheyenne, Wyoming that I have had to wait for 1 gr at the pharmacy. Many years ago, I lived in Kensington, MD and used Knowles.
I,too, have been on Armour for over 10 years… I am now having to change to Nature-Throid. I took the “new Armour” for 2 days and felt like I was being force fed Synthroid again… I can tolerate the chalky tablet, but not what it does to me physically.
I don’t know what % of Forest’s profits are from Armour, but obviously they don’t care if they lose a ton of business. It REALLY torks me… especially those of us who can’t take any of the synthetics.
Billie said: “Why won’t insurance cover Armour Thyroid anymore? They say it isn’t FDA approved ”
Armour Thyroid predates the FDA – it’s one of the few medications that were “grandfathered” in back in the 1930’s as “in common use” at the time, so didn’t need FDA approval. Armour Thyroid has been used for over a hundred years now to treat thyroid disease, and should never need FDA approval (unless our crooked politicians change that with new legislation).
I started the formulation of Armour 4 weeks ago. My TSH, FT3, & FT4 was tested on Monday and it’s still the same. I also feel the same.
I switched to Armour slowly from Synthroid. I was not converting from T4 to T3. For a while I was feeling really really good. I’ve always had a problem with heat as well as cold and Raynauds. About a month ago, I walked several blocks uphill in the high heat and my heart started to jump all over the place. I didn’t stay in the heat. I went into an air conditioned store for more than a half hours and then I went out again in the heat and back to where I started which was air conditioned. This went on for a few hours and finally calmed down when I sat quietly back in the air conditioned place I started from. My doctor said it must be my adrenals. I think it’s Armour. Lately my energy level is up and down. Checking my temperature in the morning, my temperture has gone down and I’m afraid to up the dosage. I thought perhaps I’m one of those people that need a combination of Armour and Synthroid. This puts a different spin on this.
If Forest Labs has changed the formnulation, that would require a new drug application. I don’t feel comfortable about this. I’m going to discuss it with my doctor immediately. Summer is coming and I would like to enjoy it and not wonder if I’m going to make it through if it gets hot. (I’m a senior citizen.)
CVS didn’t have one of the doses you mentioned and sent me out of the way to another of their pharmacies who did have it.
Any comments about the aluminum contained in the T4 drugs? Since I took Synthroid for many years, am I aluminum toxic?
By the way, when I was on Synthroid I had presyncopay episodes. The doctors kept giving me heart tests. There was fortunately nothing wrong. I haven’t had any of these episodes since I haven’t been on Synthroid. Should I be mentioning this somewhere?
Andrea
Thank you very much for this helpful information! Now I know what I need to do!
I had just used the last of a three-month supply of Armour Thyroid (I’ve been taking it for 4 years) when the mail-order pharmacy that my medical insurance prefers I use informed me that it was no longer available to them in my dosage so if I wanted it, I’d need to get it from a local pharmacy, which I did. I didn’t make the connection until I read the info and comments on this blog, but since I started taking this new “batch” of Armour Thyroid, I have been having heart palpitations-my heart is skipping beats, several every 60-seconds. As I am writing this, I am wearing a 24-hour heart halter, I had blood taken last week to have my thyroid levels checked again, and I will see a cardiologist in a week to have an echocardiogram(other than hypothyrodism, I am a fit 48 year old woman). Has anyone else experienced these symptoms with the newly formulated Armour?
I used Synthroid for several years not knowing it wasn’t working for me. No doctor ever told me it should be making me feel better. My endocrine system crashed after I moved and it wiped out ALL of my energy, I have chronic pain and it made that exponentially worse. I was a 48 yr. old body builder in the best shape of my life, leg pressing 600 lbs., almost overnight I went from that to barely being able to run a broom across a floor once a week. 3 1/2 years later, (no endocrine, no brain, doctors are who caused the chronic pain and I have no one to advocate for me so I did not think to get help), after the DHEA and Adrenal Cortex I was taking had gotten me alot more functional (still on sythroid), I switched Eco Thyroid with a practitioner who didn’t check my tsh often,(I still had a very low endocrine sysytem and so not much brain power to advocate for myself so I trusted her), she said her other forms of testing, including going down the list of overstimulation symptoms weekly, was enough. It wasn’t and I ended up in the hospital with a racing heart from a big overdose. The Endocrinologist I switched to allowed me to try Armour (she didn’t want to) and it has made an enormous difference. I had some continuing palpitations for the first month but they have stopped, it must be the new Armour because I’ve only used it for 4 months. This is the first time in 4 years that I have been able to do my own yardwork. After reading these posts I am going to ask her about Nature Throid since Armour seems to have availability and quality problems. You’d think the Endo. would have mentioned it but she’s a doctor and they are just legal drug dealers after all. They have no interest in actually healing us.
Teresa wrote “since I started taking this new “batch” of Armour Thyroid, I have been having heart palpitations-my heart is skipping beats, several every 60-seconds. As I am writing this, I am wearing a 24-hour heart halter, I had blood taken last week to have my thyroid levels checked again, and I will see a cardiologist in a week to have an echocardiogram(other than hypothyrodism, I am a fit 48 year old woman). Has anyone else experienced these symptoms with the newly formulated Armour?”
Yes, I have noticed the chalkiness in my mouth (I let the tablets dissolve under my tongue). The new formulation doesn’t dissolve as completely as the previous formulation. I have noticed a return of some hypo symptoms – weight gain and hair loss – and have definitely had heart racing and shortness of breath/endurance issues since beginning the new formulation. I’, unhappy with Armour’s makers for making the change without ANY tests on thyroid patients nor any prior warning. I am further unhappy with their incompetent management which allows frequent shortages of a standard product. The shortages pique my curiosity as to what is going wrong within the company to bring about the shortages. Nature-throid, here I come.
I was taking a compounded T3 and T4 prescription that, no matter how we upped the amount of T3, was not working. I finally convinced my functional medicine doctor to change me to Armour dessicated thyroid and I immediately had improvement and this is the “newly formulated” Armour. Now I am technically hyperthyroid (TSH is .3) but my T3 and T4 are perfectly within range.
I am wondering if the real problem for most women is their imbalanced hormones (and their GI tracts). Is it possible that when your hormones are out of whack the entire body is out of sync? When you get your testosterone, progesterone,estrogen, etc. in balance with bio-identical hormones perhaps the thyroid functions more normally.
To improve gut performance you need home made kefir every morning made with “real” milk and kefir grains (no added sugar).
My theory is if you solve both of those enormous problems the newly formulated Armour will work perfectly.
I remember you commented on this possibility on your blog and i had responded. Only problem with this is – the old Armour worked perfectly for us for years. I’d taken it since 2004 – no problem at all…perfectly optimized. And then BOOM – a severe return to hypo symptoms with the new Armour and even additional nausea/poisoning type symptoms. And then the strange heat/sweating/heart problems – that many think is hyper. I’m not sure about that..i juts think it is the new med. There are way too many folks having this same type scenario to “blame the patient”. We were fine. We got hypo and sick on the new Armour. And for me, once I switched to Nature-throid, I was fine again…although it has taken some recovery time.
I’ve experienced a similar reaction. I have taken Armour since Sep 2006, felt pretty good. My doctor prescribed 3 grains per day and I found that during the coldest part of the year I needed all 3 grains to maintain a normal temp and feel normal. During the warmer months 2.5 grains did the trick.
I had a total thyroidectomy in April and continued with the 2.5 grains and everything was going along well…..until I opened my bottle of the new formula. I seemed to have had a recurrence of hypo symptoms, no energy, losing hair, super dry skin, etc.etc. So, I charted my temp for a few days and I was back down again. Thought it might be a result of the surgery, even though at 5 weeks post-surgery my labs looked, I felt good and temps were where they should be.
Fortunately because I was prescribed 3 grains to begin with, I upped myself to 3 grains, 1&1/2 in the am and 1&1/2 in the pm and it has helped a little, but I certainly don’t feel as good as I did on the older formula. I have an appt. with a new endo on 8/10 and I picked her because she routinely prescribes Armour. I’m really curious what she has to say about the new formula.
Those of you that have switched over to Nature-throid, did you notice a difference right away? Was there any adjustment time?
Thanks,
dawn
Dawn,
I could tell a difference mentally/emotionally the very first day with Nature-throid…my spirits lifted…that day. And that only got better. I realized in retrospect (dang that hypo brain fog)after starting Nature-throid that I really had had quite a loss in motivation, trouble concentrating, depression and anxiety, OCD, etc…I thought it was menopause…it was just those pesky psychological/psychiatric hypo symptoms that had returned.
The Nature-throid helped all this immensely pretty fast…the first week or two. The physical symptoms got better too the first two weeks…but it’s taken over a month to really start to feel optimized again…and back to where I once was on the old Armour. So i do think the change can be felt pretty fast…but also i think folks should expect a bit of recovery time.
I received my 90 day supply of 2 grain Armour last week and felt certain that I’d either gotten expired meds, or counterfeit meds. It tasted chalky and unsweet – not like the Armour that I was used to. I went looking for answers and arrived on this message board. Glad to hear that I’m not alone. This week, I’ve been very tired every day and my mind is foggy, plus I got a cold sore, which I usually only get when I need more Armour. I am very disgusted with Forest for doing this to us.
I too have been wondering why I don’t feel the same anymore. Always tired, brain fog,etc. Did not know anything about the Armour reformulation. I have had a strange heart symptom for years on Armour and have just gotten used to it, it is like my heart skips a beat, sometimes kind of scary, but if it doesn’t do it when you are wearing a heart monitor, kind of hard to catch. If nature-throid is armour’s replacement why aren’t we taking it in it’s place? Is it the same?
In my case,Nature-throid is not as potent as Armour was.The ratio of T3,T4 is supposedly the same,but my body doesn’t seem to be metabolizing Nature-throid as well as it did the old Armour.
I need my armour thiroid old formula back. I use armour for more thath 15 years. I have a lot of bad simtoms, lose a lot hair, gain weith 10 pounds, arritmia cardiac sometimes, nervious, itchin in my body, rare sensation in my heard, fatigue, lose energy,
Since I changed from Synthroid to Armour, 2 years ago, I do not have to take the cytomel, and I feel so much better.
My Nurse Practioner spent the better part of two days looking for the FDA Approval for Nature-Throid and Westhroid. All of her resources say they don’t have FDA Approval.
I know they have been, but even the Resources Doctors use are Mis/Ill-informed. The only reason she’s ‘letting’ me try them, is because my symptoms came back- with a vengence- after Last Fall’s Armour reformulation. I just thought my dosage was too low in cold weather, and we increased it… only to have the new formulation take place at that time. If I didn’t feel so bad, I would be infuriated.
Wow, I’m so glad I found this forum! What a runaround I’ve gotten from my pharmacy! I ran out of my auto-refilled Rx last Friday and Walgreen’s told me they cannot get any…but they didn’t bother to let me know this BEFORE I ran out of meds! This is just unacceptable to me! Luckily for me – because I read this news from your site – I called my doctor last week and she got me on Naturthyroid at a different pharmacy! Otherwise, left to my former pharmacy’s apathy, I would be without!
It seems now.. the Gov’t is making the dessicated thyroid.. jump thru hoops… they now have to submit data.. to prove they are safe.. Armour is back ordered… until futher notice.. another company has decided not to pursue and no longer make… God save us all..
I too am experiencing difficulty with the new Armour. Since the new pills, I have been waking up with irregular heart beats. I also notice a difference in my skin and I have less energy and increased fog. Too, I’ve put on a few pounds, and no I’m not eating more. I thought it was just me!
Like another poster I had wondered if I had some counterfeit or old pills. I called them and they said they removed or added sugar (I forget which) no mention of cellulose.
I am calling on Monday and telling them how much I have been affected by the change. I have advocated for them for years – often taking much crap from doctors who kept trying to switch me to the synthetic. I feel betrayed.
Thanks to other posters I will check into Nature-throid although I would love my old Armour.
Well here it is way past June 29th and Armour is nowhere to be found in Indianapolis….believe me when I say I have called every drugstore (100’s) in Indianapolis and you may find 1 or 2 pills here & there. What is up with Armour anyway? This is ridiculous.
I was just diagnosed with Hashimotos and my Dr. gave me Armour 15mg. After reading about the new “batch” I am afraid to take it. Should I have my Dr. give me the Nature product instead? I can’t believe she wasn’t aware of this huge change by Forest! Please help me with this info. I plan on contacting my Dr. on Tuesday!
Both my daughter and I are on Armour and both of us were due to have our scripts refilled last week. Both of us were told that there was NO Armour to be had at our Pharmacy so we scrambled all over Clinton Twp. Michigan looking to find someone, anyone who had any Armour. We were able to obtain a few doses here and there but let me tell you that it was a terribly stressful week. And I questioned the pharmacies about any other natural thryoid and was told there were none approved by the FDA. I can’t express how very upset and angry I am that Forest Lab would change their formula which was “grandfathered in” for one that isn’t without letting their patients know. This leaves millions of people who cannot tolerate synthetics totally without anything they can take. I will be calling an apothecary lab this week in hopes of finding a solution but I don’t know if my doctor will be willing to jump through all the hoops he will have to for me.
I can not believe my physician nor my pharmacy has informed me of the reformulation of Armour. I went through lots of retesting this past year and dose adjustments and it was never mentioned until now my pharmacy is unable to obtain my medication so now I have been asking why and doing some research on my own. Your site has been very helpful and given me direction not to mention hope in Nature-throid.
After being on Synthroid of and on with all the sideaffects and trips to the emergencyroom and begging the doctors for natural Thyroid medicine,I finally got put on Armour Thyroid over 10 years ago.I was doing wonderfull.Than they told me I cant get it no more from the military pharmacy so I changed to the CVS last week CVS told me they cant refill my perscription,Armour Thyroid is of the market.So I called around and got some pills here some pills there,and must have gotten some of the new batch to,because I startet feeling different and didn know why,till I read some of you comments here.It is bad what the company does to all the people that dependet on Armour Thyroid.I dont know what I will do about taking anything else,I know it will not be Synthroid.
I think the only thing we can do now is to pressure Congress and the President. Life threatening need for thyroid is not something we can just sit around and be concerned about. We have to act. Perhaps I’m overly suspicious, but if there is somehow profit to be made for lack of thryoid alternatives and forcing people onto synthetics, why wouldn’t it be done? There’s a lot of money to be made in Pharma.
Well I had notice a big change too. Very hot temp. and tired all the time. I also had notice the pills smelt really bad when I opened the bottle. My doc. did blood work again and as expected I had fallen well below my avg. So my Armor was upped to 90mg and I have yet to start feeling better.
Another thing that bothers me is that I take a full pill and a half, do to them not having my correct script in stock. And to cut these pills in half is a joke…they CRUMBLE. So should I be getting the exact amount prescribed?? Obviously I am not because they CRUMBLE, so it’s kind of a guessing game.
I just picked up my 3 month supply of Armour thyroid at my pharmacy today. The have a supply. The pharmacist told me that the shortages were due to the killing of so many pigs in Europe because of the H1N1 scare – craziness, and that slowly the supply of porcine thyroid is becoming available again. Armour was grandfathered long ago, and my pharmacist did not think it would become unavailable.
I was on Synthroid for 2 years – they were hell. Doctors who think synthetics are better for us are not well informed, or couldn’t bother to think outside the box.
I’m a pharmacy tech. We are not clueless. We are not trying to mislead customers. We are not rubbing our hands together and plotting to switch people to more expensive thyroid alternatives. WE CANNOT GET ARMOUR THYROID IN ANY STRENGTH.
The only information we directly get is from our distributor and even that information is a very short ‘product allocated until _____ ‘ message. The dates they’ve given us have been extended further and further out. And when we do finally get shipped some? It’s literally ONE bottle of ONE strength. (We’re a small, independent pharmacy–we get treated differently than large chains.)
We have no control over this situation. Our pharmacists agree with you and recommend natural vs. synthetic thyroid. Our pharmacists do everything they can to help our customers, including sending our business away to other pharmacies that might still have Armour or to the compounding pharmacy in town.
Please do not spread misinformation blaming pharmacies when we have no control over when and how much product we can receive.
Forest Pharms IS NO LONGER MAKING ARMOUR — and that is a fact. There is no back order, so we are all screwed. My doctor, who is also a pharmacist and Walgreens have both confirmed this.
Isnt Forest Labs the same one that makes Synthroid? Sounds like a conspiracy…but that’s just me.
I had a heck of a time finding a replacement for Armour Thyroid.
Walgreens simply told me it wasnt being made anymore..period.
I found a wonderful little pharmacy that compounds Naturethroid called Scripts Pharmacy in St. Joseph, Mi
About my comment above re Forest Labs;
I was told by a pharmacist that whoever it is that owns Synthroid bought the rights to Armour Thyroid tho I’m not clear on the details.
CVS in my area is still able to get Armour. However, like many I noticed a return of hypothyroid symptoms this past summer and when labs were checked my Physician and I were surprised to discover that my TSH was once again elevated where as I was previously normalized (my Physician was not aware of the reformulation)
I came to the conclusion that because of the reformulation Armour may not be absorbed properly I have started taking it sublingual. I just let it dissolve under my tongue. It only takes a few minutes, while a little chalky there really is no taste, and at two weeks out my symptoms are abating. I will have labs drawn next week and expect a lower TSH.
I have nearly reached the end of my whole bottle (100) half tablets of Armour. I have been trying to get it refilled for a month. No luck anywhere here in South Puget Sound region of WA. I too the information from this site in to my Dr. and asked for a prescription for Naturethroid. I tried to get this filled last week. The responses were:
Rite Aide (my usual pharmacy): We can’t get this one either. We might be able to get it in a few weeks. It’s not our fault. There is a manufacturer caused shortage and everything is back ordered. Check back with us toward the end of November.
Walgreens: I’ve just called our supplier and found out that it is not available right now and they don’t know when it will be, as there is a shortage of the medication from the manufacturer. Sorry.
Costco: We don’t have any. It’s not that we don’t order it. We order it every morning. It is back ordered. We occasionally get a bottle, but we never know when one will show up. There is a tremendous shortage due to the actions of the manufacturer.
This is outrageous. Fortunately for me, I may be able to limp along as I take a combination of levoxyl and (previously) Armour. When I was first diagnosed, about 16 years ago, they put me on Synthroid, which I had a horrible reaction to and ended up in emergency rooms twice because of it. I refused to take it any longer and tried Armour by itself starting very very slowly and gradually working up to the allegedly proper dose. I did not feel well. My endo added levoxyl and chastised me for insisting on using the Armour. The combination of the two has worked best for me. My endo finally admitted that some were finding that a combination worked best. I don’t know what will happen if I have to go on to just levoxyl. But I don’t know what else to do until this mess gets straightened out.
It is now like Thyroid patients can just decide not to take their meds for a few months. I am becoming quite angry about all of this.
Has anyone tried the Westhroid instead of the Armour 90mg? i’m not sure how the avialibility is on this one!
Thank you for this info. I had to go off the new formula of Armour because I developed a severe allergy to the cellulose. I started out with slight hives but then ended up in the ER with throat constriction. Still took me three months to figure it out. Cellulose is in a LOT of medications, including a lot of antihistamines. It’s also in a LOT of foods–added to many things we normally would eat without any problems. It is also used to make rayon, which is in tampons…so it took me a while to figure out this allergy since there was no rhyme or reason to my reactions. I have been hive-free for a month now, so I feel that I have this thing under control finally–except for the thyroid part…
I am still not regulated on my new thyroid meds–I started taking synthroid and cytomel, and this is my third month of sluggishness and lethargy. (I had tried to get Nature-throid or West-throid, but they weren’t available at the time…what is up wth that? Aren’t there enough pigs to get this stuff from? )
I had a terrible time when I went off the armour. I thought I was on a low enough dose my body would sort itself out. I suffered Terrible depression and fibromyalgia symptoms. Now my pharmacy is compounding thyroid in caps. I feel better after one week of taking it. Dont give up. Its worth it when you began to feel great.
Yes, I agree with most of what everyone has said. I had a complete thyroidectomy in 2006 due to uncontrollable thyroiditis. (not Hashimotos) Because I usually live overseas I could not use simple suppression drugs long term. I cannot take levothyroxin alone, because it builds up and I do not convert T4 to T3 well. I LOVED armour…and felt great. I had my dosages perfect…UNTIL…the new batch came out. I am now on a combination of Levo. and using up the old armour. There are other thyroid suppliers. Canada “thyroid.” I used Westhroid and loved it. It is just like the old Armour was. There are also suppliers in Australia. There are natural thyroid makers out there..we all just have to find them.
Oh my! I just found out they cannot get Armour Thyroid at ANY of pharmacies in southeastern Michigan. Yes, I call MANY of them. Also, while taking the last Rx refill, I did not feel the same. I wonder if I was given the new formula? Without my knowledge. Anyway, I HOPE they come to their senses and give us the OLD Armour formula, so we can continue with our lives. Has anyone complained to the FDA about this?
i will try armour, i was on levothyroxine and oh my gos, my skin is burning from irritation, it’s been a year since i’m taking it, awful, just awful ! can’t wait to try armour
Who do we contact? How can we bombard Forest Pharmaceuticals with email or phone calls? I’ve tried both regarding Forest and have hit dead ends. I know all of my thyroid suffering friends share the same sentiment… ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! This “shortage” has gone on for a year or more now! Funny how this wasn’t an issue until after the FDA approved Synthroid in Aug. of 2002. I lived on that synthetic crap for 15 years… FINALLY found a dr. that would prescribe Armour and now this.
Thank you Forest for screwing with a disease that is so dibilitating to so many. You suck.
I went on Nature Thyroid in September and by early October was bone, bone tired, getting dizzy spells, and joint pain again. I checked my levels, and they were fine. In late November, I checked my levels and again they were fine. Then I went to care for my mother, and discovered two weeks of Armour in my travel bag, which I brought along and took instead of Nature Thyroid. Within days, all of my symptoms were gone. Now I am out of it, and the symptoms are returning. Mary, you say that Nature Thyroid and Westhroid are the same as Armour but they can’t be. I once was on Synthroid, which also did not work. Now a compounding pharmacy is making me a dessicated thyroid which I hope works, but do you have any idea what the differences are between these natural ones that are meant to be the same? Thannks.
I HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT KINDS OF THRYOID AND DONT HAVE TO BE TOLD THAT IT ISNT THE ORIGINAL ARMOUR, THE PAHRMACIST SAYS THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE, MY BODY KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE, WHICH IS IN THE “BONDING “MATERIAL THAT KEEPS IT FRESH, MY DR DIDNT BELIEVE I COULD TELL THE DIFFERENCE BUT AFTER TRYING SEVERAL KINDS, AGREED TO WRITE A PRESC FOR ARMOUR
I WENT BACK TO THE DR OFC IN A MONTH , WHEN I WALKED IN BEFORE I SAID ONE WORD, HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID “YOU FEEL BETTER, I DONT NEED TO ASK” HE SAID HE HAD NOT HAD A PATIENT THAT HAD EVER SHOWN THAT DRASTIC A CHANGE IN THAT SHORT A TIME,
I RECENTLY WAS TOLD FOREST LABS BOUGHT THE FORMULA AND CHANGED IT, AND NO LONGER MAKE IT ( PROBABLY BECAUSE IT IS NOT A BIG MONEY MAKER AND THEY HAD SO MANY COMPALINTS) I DONT THINK IT IS ON THE LIST OF DRUGS THAT SOME MFG. GIVE “PERKS” FOR,
I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DRUGGIST THAT SINCE DRS DONT PRESCIRBE IT OFTEN , IT WILL GO BAD ON THE SHELF SO MOST PHARMACIES HAVE QUIT HANDLING IT, THERE IS A NEW PRODUCT THAT HAS AN A LIKE ARMOUR, THE DRUGGIST CALL IT ARMOUR BUT THE BONDING AGENTS ARE DIFFERENT, I HAD ONE PHARMACIST THAT PUT ARMOUR ON THE LABEL TRYING TO GET ME TO BE “OPEN MINDED” NEEDLESS TO SAY , I DO NOT GO THERE ANYMORE,
I NORMALLY TRUST THE PHARMACIST MORE THAN A DR. SINCE THEY KNOW MORE OF YOUR HISTORY, BUT NO MORE!
IF THERE IS NO MORE ACTUAL ARMOUR AVAILABLE IT IS BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH DRS PRESCRIBED AND IT ISNT FEASIBLE TO KEEP ON THE SHELVES,
MAYBE THE COMPANY SOLD THE RIGHTS TO FOREST LABS AND NOW THEY ARE MAKING THE WAY THEY WANT.
PATHETIC!!!
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE ARE NO “PERKS” GIVEN FOR PRESCRIBING THIS DRUG, IT IS BECAUSE IT ISNT A MONEY MAKER , HIGH $$$ ITEM
I HAD RATHER PAY A HIGHER PRICE AND NOT HAVE THE SYNTHETIC ADDITIVES TO KEEP IT FRESH!
So glad I found this website- I thought I was ‘losing it’. I was on armour thyroid for years and was told by medco and local pharmacies they couldn’t get it any longer. my dr. told last month they quit making it. Now I am on a generic for levoxyl, my blood work is normal they tell me, but my symptoms are back and getting worse…
I must say, all the coments have certainly gave me insight.
I’ve been on Armour thyroid for several years, couldn’t get it recently, and for the past few months,(after trying Levothyroxine) a synthetic, I got off,(bad reaction)then tried Kelp ,a natural at the Health store , I gained 10 lbs in a two month period taking “tri Iodine’ I just recently ordered some” Iodine plus-2″ this “Natural living Co.” told how certain ingredients like Iodide has to work with kelp in order to get into the system and work.
I can see how Pharm.Co’s have taken over and it’s all about $$$ these days.This is sad,and at the publics expense! I really appreciate this web site. Donna, Grand Rapids MI.
I guess it is out in 180 MG as of two months ago (around here, at least). Walgreens told me they couldn’t fill my prescription and sent me to a compounding pharmacy close by. I talked to the pharmacist and he was saying that drugs like Armour was having problems because of the FDA. They’re approval was grandfathered in years ago and now they are changing the rules. He also told me that some in government want to get rid of compounding pharmacies, but, they are fighting it.
I began having irregular heartbeats in August. After all kinds of heart tests, no reason was found. I just discovered this website and am interested to know that others have had these symptoms after the reformulation of Armour. The cardiologists recommendation was to decrease the Armour from 90 mil. to 60 mil. I still have the heart palps, jut not as frequently. Has anyone resolved this issue?
Heart irregular beats / flutters stopped or mostly stopped when I ceased ( ie ran out of) Armour and only took the levoxyl part of my Rx (I had both, trying to get t3+t4) for a few months, thinking armour would be back soon. While I am not having palps now I feel like I am sliding into a real fog. I have ordered dessicated porcine thyroid, and also iodorol, and I’m going to try that or those along with a glandular adrenal and see if that works, since NOTHING else has in 20 years and I have read about good results with glandulars and iodorol. I truly hate this disease. It has destroyed my previously lovely life. I feel so sorry for myself and all of us who are mistreated and not helped. Where are the stem cells eh? Where are the nanomedicines with their perfect absorptions?
I had been taking Armour Thyroid for 10+ years. Definately noticed a difference within the last year, but hadn’t figured out why. I was also just told by every local & national pharamcy you can think of that they can’t get it anymore & there isn’t any other option out there. Thanks blog! I contacted a local compounding pharmacy that i’ve had reason to use in the past. there is no shortage on materials!!!! They can make as much as everyone needs! Find your local compounding pharmacy! Even better, it will work better than the reformulated armour junk & it’s a 1/3 of the price. Thank you for reminding me of the compounding pharmacies!!!!
My doctor told me to get Armour from a Canadian Pharmacy. I ordered it and was told that it’s called Thyroid in Canada. They list the manufacturer as being ERFA. Does anyone know if this is the same manufacturer as Armour?? Any info about this product would be helpful. Does it work? Is it safe, etc?? Thanks.
I can’t get any armour thyroid products, and have had problems in the past year getting the medication, which I have been on for 47 years. I have not noticed heart abnormalities with recent armour, but have noticed my elbows aching and less stabile weight. I have been looking into the Canadian pharmacies and noticed that they call it thyroid and it isn’t made by Forest Laboratories. Has anyone ordered it from out of country pharmacies?
NUCCA chiropractors may also help.
Thanks for all the good information. In late December I found out that Amour was no longer available and after calling numerous pharmacies I feel for the synthetic trap and went back to Levothyroxine. This week I found out that the filler in this product is made from wheat and since I’m gluten intolerant it has made my throat constrict and I swear I gain weight daily. After many phone calls and a bit of frustration I found a compounding pharmacy to fill the Amour prescription I convinced my OBGYN to write. What’s unfortunate is that I will be paying $40 for a 30 day supply that I was paying $2 for Amour. I’m so frustrated! I also tried to find Nature Throid and Westhroid and was told those were not available either. I think all this sounds very suspicious and that the Govt. could be behind all this. If anyone has any idea on how we can fight back, please let us know. It’s crazy that we have found a drug that can make us feel better, but we are deined it. May GOD bless those poor greedy souls who are doing this to millions of people!
I’m in the same boat as everyone else here. I decided to order from CanadaDrugs.com. They are very reputable and require a prescription. The shipping is free, though. I compared the actual pills to what I had left of my original Armour Thyroid and they looked exactly the same. I need the 90 pills, but they only have 60’s and 30’s, which I ordered. They give you 100 of each pill. I find them very easy to deal with, and so far I feel exactly the same on the Canada Armour Thyroid as I did with the old Armour Thyroid. Unfortunately, they raised their prices last time I ordered–probably because they know we are having more trouble finding the meds in the U.S. I pay the price, though, as it is worth it to me. They even give you a reminder call when it is time to get your prescription refilled. Why not check out their Website and see what you think.
Re: differences of absorption with the different forumlations. A friend works at a major pharmaceutical company and they are studying this very issue. Some of the issues people are having with the absorption may have to do with their reactions to the inert ingredients in the formulations.
Armour and Nature-Throid seem to be very reasonably priced drugs to me. I would gladly pay a few dollars more to have them remain in the supply pipeline rather than having them be nowhere in sight. It may cost more to ensure the safety of the drugs, etc. If that’s the case then so be it. I find the European pigs explanation to be a little suspect since Armour is still readily avaiable in Canada. The thing that’s is that the Nature-Throid website does not even mention the shortage. I e-mailed them and am awaiting a reply,
I’m not sure the thyroid from Canada is the same as Armour. I thought Armour had T3 and T4.
Here is a description of Canada’s ‘thyroid’ from the EFRA website:
“Natural desiccated thyroid hormones, also under the commercial name Thyroid® in Canada is derived from desiccated porcine thyroid glands, it is a “natural” hypothyroid treatment containing around 20% T3 and traces of T2, T1 and calcitonin”
I would love to hear comments from someone who is knowledgeable about this. Thanks!
I am a compounding Pharmacy Technician at Fraser Medi-Center Pharmacy in Santa Fe, Nm 505-983-4359, and I am compounding natural Thyroid(porcine). we have been very busy. We are able to help those taking 2or 3 pills or cutting pills just to get thier dose. This is not very effective, so please know that I can make your Thyroid in the exact Grain(strength) you need.
Elva Gurule, CPhT
505-983-4359
I am sick of pharmaceutical companies wanting more money and control!! This drug has been around for a very long time and has not hurt anyone like the synthetics have. The FDA is not out to protect anyone but themselves and their wallets. It’s very scary what money has done to this feable country. I wonder if Mexico has real thyroid meds….for very cheap, too. Hmmmm. What has technology really done for us, anyway??
Am I the only one that has had a problem with her doctor?
I ran out of Armour and Walgreens said it was on back order. That has been a few weeks now. I went to my primary doctor and he would not write a prescription for Nature-Throid. He said it would harm me!! He wrote a prescription for Synthroid which I absolutly do not want to take. I have tried Synthroid and didn’t feel good on it. I guess my only recourse is to get a new doctor. I read most of the comments here and I didn’t read any stories like mine. Why would Nature-throid hurt me? I suspect my doctor just didn’t want me to take a natural thyroid. I have taken Armour for years, but it was given to me by another doctor.
If you think it is bad to have a regular doctor prescribing medications, try dealing with the military. They don’t carry anything but the generic synthroid. I have to get it on the economy and like another person in south puget sound, I can’t find any anywhere.
I am going to look at a compounding pharmacy and try any form I can find. I have notice that I have felt bad since moving to Washington. I thought it was the move. Now I suspect it is the change in Armour thyroid. I have arthritis which has been out of control. I have had heart issues that I haven’t talked to my doctor about. I have also gained 30 lbs. Now it is making more sense. I am going to take this in my own hands and try to get it right. This does suck. I am 51 and feel like I am 85.
I have been arguing with my doctor about my meds. I could no longer find Armour at any local pharmacy and my doctor prescribed Levothyroxine and Cytomel. I then found a compounding pharmacy which took a remaining refill I had available for Armour and compounded to fill it. They had to call my doctor for authorization and she refused! She does not trust a compounding pharmacy and “never heard” of this option since “there is no more Armour”. The compounders filled natural thy. for 90 days and sent it to me, but that is IT unless my doc will ok it. She is making me try the synthetic for 2 weeks first. After 2 days I am groggy and having heart palpitations. So I got on this blog. I am appalled at what I am reading and if I don’t feel better in the 2 weeks will be finding another doctor, and/or finding my own solution. Anyone else have links to anything showing that compounders are legit, that I can show my doctor??
I had the local compounding pharmacy make some when my Armour supply ran out.
Got tested four weeks later: TSH is way off so I’m hypo.
Four weeks of Synthorid and Cytomil. Doesn’t work. Feel lousy.
Don’t have any choice now: calling pharmacy in Canada right now to get Armour equivalent from there.
ERFA doesnt seem to work for me…Armour was brilliant, perhaps I cant try compounded stuff. I feel angry that people are being put through this, quite frankly I feel its a human rights issue. Why should I be ill when I can be well on Armour?
Unbelieveable!! 11 years on armour in which i had to twist my doctors arm into giving me. Needless to say i never minded open the bottle to take them and it smelt like I was in a cow pasture. I guess I’m in the same boat as most of you LOST! Here we go back to the drawing board to fight some more for our choices..someone call Oprah! Or Dr. OZ on this one..
I am also without a thyroid, taken out in 63 and have been on Armour for a zillion years after Synthroid stopped helping me. I noticed the same as the rest of you. I have recently used a compounding pharmacy which I used to use for HRT…. they have bovine surces, and I just got test and don’t have results just yet, but definitely still have the past weight gain and fog and out of breath, but blamed it on aging!! Thanks folks for sharing your stories, it helps! Not sure if this Rx will take it away, but they are very helpful and patient friendly. You can call the 800 directory for Women’s International Pharmacy / mail order and efficient.
I could not find the Armour Thyroid so I had to it made at a “compounding pharmacy” here in Troy, Michigan. Happy to report I FEEL much much much better than I did when taking the reformulated Armour Thyroid & Nature Throid. Of course, I had to pay more for it (cash) but I need it so I have no choice. Fact is I rather pay more and feel better than to pay the little co-pay for reformulated Armour Thyroid & Nature Throid that I felt was killing me slowly. My doctor did not argue with me, he actually cares how I feel so he wrote the Rx.
My husband is on armour, due to a pituitary tumor he had removed several yrs ago. Its worked wonderfully for him. Recently we got the runaround that it was on back-order and he may have to go to synthroid. O heck NO! I called around and found a compounding pharm who would help us. But then our regular pharm called and said they just got a shipment. When my husband had the pit.tumor removed, we had a horrible time with one of the drs who flat out refused to prescribe it.. LOL we fired that Dr and found one who wanted what was in my husbands best interest. Dont anyone EVER be bullied by any Dr.. If you have to be on a thyroid med make it armour…
I am now working for Walgreens pharmacy and I am compouding BHRT. If you need help with your organizing of prescriptions and would like to get on track with what your taking contact me at 505-932-9811 I will help you together with your doctor and get you in tip top shape!
Warm Regards…Elva Gurule, CPhT Compounding Specialist
I was very grateful to find this website and to read about Armour Thyroid and the fact that it isn’t gone like most pharmaceutical companies I have talked to have stated. I run a community blog for women who want to be happier and healthier and I have already directed many of them to you for which they are grateful. Thank you for your useful and informative information. It has helped not just me, but my readers as well.
Hello there,
I was diagnosed with hypothyroid in April 2010. My TSH was increased from 4.50 to 5.01 during 2010. My doctor wanted to give me Synthroid but I refused to take it and since then I was seeking holistic approach. I went to see a holistic doctor in November for a lymphatic drainage treatment. During that time, my holistic doctor recommended 2 type of supplements for my hypothyroid. She said that we have to treat the whole body not just one specific grand. All grands are working together if one failed then the other one will not work properly. Before I was on these two supplements, I also take mutivitamin for women. Anyway, I took the supplements for about a month then I went to have a blood work done. The result came back and my doctor walked in the room smiling then she told me that, my thyroid is normal now….. It went down from 5.01 to 1.58. I was so happy!! You can read all about my hypothyroid journey via my blog http://www.chatcocozza.com. I hope it will help people with hypothyroid to seek alternative way to treat the root of the problem instead of suppressing it. As always, be well and stay healthy…
Hi, I worked in a herb shop for five years, I learned more from what went wrong than what went right.From what I am reading, many of you cannot tolerate the binders and fillers in the new formulation of Armour Thyroid. There within might be the reason you are hypothyroid to begin with. Try taking a comprehensive digestive enzyme 15 minutes before taking your Armour, and also take digestive enzymes when you eat.There is much more that I need to share with you but if I make this too long, people want read. My goal is to be self sufficient and not to depend on anybody for anything. So let the FDA and the money making pharmaceuticals do their thing, when nobody buys it will all fall apart. Boycott everymoney making scheme there is. Search for home remedies, I have always found a way and if I find, I will share. My prayers are with you
Hi.
I discovwered a had an almost non functioning Thyroid gland back in 03. I took Armour Thyroid since untill the last issue with it ( off the market ) and I was feeling great. Excelent weight, energy, I was a new man.
My Cholesterol level also went down from 250 10 180. My weight went down from 200 to 175.
After the issue with Armour T production, I was forced to use Synthroid. What a garbage! I am now weighting 200 lbs. My cholesterol is 220! My Dr says everything is ok. I told him it is not posible, I am fat, sluggish, lots of cholesterol. He wants me to use Crestor for cholesterol, but I siad no, I would rather go back to Armour Thyroid, which supplies all I need , and proven.
I was so glad to read today, in the net, that Armour is back, but after reading all this issue about cellulose and formulation, I am appalled.
Why would a lab mess up something that was working so good? I am starting to believe the big pharmaceuticals paid Armour Labs to mess up the formula, in order to steer users to Synthroid.
Synthroid is garbage, and Armour T seems has been messed up to “peacefully” deter and corral users towards Synthroid.
I went from a healthy man, to a big bellied slug, all because my needed “original” Armour Thyroid was taken away from me back in 09!
If you use Synthroid vs Armour, then you will need Crestor, and plenty of visits to the Dr, to check on your ailling body, sounds like the perfect mafia style coresion tactic!