Thyroid Patients: How To Survive the Shortage of Armour and Nature-Throid Natural Desiccated Thyroid Drugs

Thank you so much for writing this, Mary. You are an angel. I am a new patient since July and I have been in a panic since last week when I tried to refill my prescription of Nature Throid. I have never heard of drug shortages before and neither has my family. They can’t believe I have to go through this! I can’t either! I don’t take any other medications and I have never heard of such a thing. Your support and information are life savers but if one is not medically knowledgable, this can be overwhelming. Why is this happening?

Thank you, Mary. I’ve been without Armour Thyroid now for 3 weeks, and I’m so frustrated. What a nightmare. As soon as my drugstore told me they couldn’t get it, I called my doc. Her assistant told me, “Just take synthroid.” (I have severe reactions to it) Then, “Just call around to different pharmacies.” (No one has it, and they wanted to know why I didn’t just stick with something “safe” like synthroid) Then, “The doctor thinks drugstore.com has it in stock.” (Nope) I have seriously thought of switching endocrinologists, even though this is the first one who was willing to try something other than synthroid. Not sure what to do next, but your information will help me be more informed at my next appointment in just a few day. Lots of luck to everyone else out there in the same boat.

Mary, Thanks for all your efforts to keep us informed and for sharing the physicians’ advice.

I suspect that many of us will be forced to go on T4 synthetics completely. I fought tooth and nail to get on armour and I’m not looking forward to putting up another fight. I suspect my current doc will not want to deal with this because this is completely outside her interest and capabilities. She will advise me to see an endo and after seeing 5 of them previously, there is no way I’m going to subject myself to another condescending and invalidating experience. It truly amazes me that 11 years later, I’m going through this again and there has been no advances in the way endocrinologists treat hypothyroidism. If USP Thyroid was generally accepted by endocrinologists, I can’t imagine we would be having this shortage.

Just diagnosed a few months ago and worked to get the natural according to your recommendation. Is is safe to switch to T4 synthetics for a few months? And then back again?

We still need to find out WHY. Why the sudden change in Armour. What is really going on. Do we need to get a group of people and investors together and go to Canada and start our own pharm company.

Thank you for keeping up on this saga, Mary. It is hard not to be angry and scared. It took me many years of experimentation before I got to feeling relatively well, and that came with the gradual shift away from synthetic to almost 100% Armour.

Now with all this, I am terrified of what I’m going back to. I can’t believe they can tell me with a straight face to “just go back on the synthetic, you should be fine”. I wasn’t fine when I was on it before!

I’m ready to start raising pigs in my backyard and (quoting an old regular) brewing my own in the bathtub (sigh).

Dang~~ well now know why my pharmacy has had to (many times) give me four – 30mg instead of a 120.Thanks so much for this. I’m going to print and send to my Doctor. I only a few months ago found out not to use soy in any form. Shoot, I have a soy milk maker, and not only made soy milk, but also Tofu, and I used the akara in many dishes. I’m the one who informed my doctor. Now I’m just finding out not to take my Armour thyroid, at the same time as iron. Being anemic at times I was taking iron to keep my Doctor happy, but feel that the best cure for that is Liquid Chlorophyll. When did Armour reformulate? Just what does it mean? I’ve been on Armour Thyroid for several years.

Dear Mary,
First. Thank you. I was diagnosed 12 years ago with Hashimoto’s, felt horrible on Synthroid and found my education here. Now, I come to you again to find out why Armour isn’t available, only to find out too late about the reformulation (hmm, and I was kicking myself a few months ago wondering if I was too stressed or what possibly could be wrong with my hormones that sent my TSH sky high??). Sadly, I loved Armour for the 10 years I was on it and felt great, but if Forest keeps the new formulation, I will have to find another brand.

I do not understand why there should be any issue at all with the reformulated Armour. All they have done is change the amount of dextrose/cellulose in the tablet….not the amount of hormone. I am sure of this as I spoke directly with the Laboratory Scientist at Forest who is in charge of this. Niether of these should impact in any way the glandulars or other hormones in this pill. Is the reformulation causing a change in where, along the GI tract, the drug is available for uptake? If that is the case, how are these 2 sugars causing this to happen? And, where is this happening? Is it possible that thyroid drug uptake is more sensitive or more localized than currently understood?

The FDA should demand proof of consistent dosage!!!!! And, reports of changes in patients responses to the new reformulation should spark the need for proof!!!!!

HOwever, If the FDA is trying to pull this drug because of speculation then they need to be sued!!!!

I am aware there has been talk for some time about retro virus and other virus in all of the swine population in the USA. Does anyone know what the literature is saying about this currently? Even Gerson Institute has a disclaimer about viral infectants being possible???

I keep telling people they need to get at least a year ahead at all times of life saving medication!!!
I don’t use my insurance for this drug. It is fairly cheap.

My doctor gives me that ability by writing up prescriptions for what ever I need for a whole year and then I just rotate this stuff out on my own.

I am chairperson of EPAC, a 560,000 family disaster Preparedness group.

Do you really think thyroid medication will be available if we have a widespread long recovery event???????? Not likely!!!

I hate not having a thyroid gland….mine was removed in error.

Now I have to depend on a system I dont trust.

I just wrote to the Washington, the FDA, and all of my state reps in Vermont. The FDA has a job to protect all patients. We should not be put into the position of drug seeking for a prescription that is necessary for us to function. What has the FDA done to protect thyroid patients that cannot tolerate synthetic hormone? I basicly asked them that question because they are supposed to have all the answers. I also sent copies of my letter to the major news networks. One never knows who is a thyroid patient that will take interest in helping patients get well. I encourage everyone to write a letter and copy/paste it to everyone that you can think of!

I believe this is just a conspiracy instigated by the large pharmaceutical companies to get the natural thyroid hormones off the market. Is it possible that American Laboratories, Inc., the sole supplier of Thyroid USP, is in the pockets of the pharmaceutical companies that produce synthetic thyroid replacement drugs?

I agree with Jeanette in post #11. I’m not one for conspiracy theories…but when one combines all the different ‘forces’ working against natural thyroid being available to patients, i.e. Armour’s reformulation issue/ineffective reformulation, chronic supply issues accross brands and now Mary’s info about the FDA’s efforts to paint natural thyroid as no longer grandfathered in, plus current healthcare legislation on the table coupled with huge economic issues for companies….it all seems HIGHLY suspicious to me. Again, I don’t like to jump to assuming agendas but the red flags are all there. BTW, I’d been on Armour a yr for Hypothyroidism, sufferred heart attack symptoms that led to thousands of dollars worth of heart tests (!!) after Armour’s reformulation (WITHOUT my having read anything about the reformulation or other people having issues) and switched to Nature Thyroid and within 3 weeks feel much better again. Someone mentioned the change in fillers shouldn’t cause such a huge issue for people. I agree. BUT, how do we KNOW that Forest didn’t actually have a major manufacturing process issue and that the therapeutic level in the drug didn’t actually shift – or a shift in the raw materials! It’s all deplorable in my books. I SO SO appreciate Mary, her efforts on our behalf and the information she shares. We’re blessed by her dedication and help. THANK YOU MARY! Kuddos!

RE: Natural thyroid

My pharmacist said that slaughterhouses are changing the way that they handle animal organs. They used to have someone remove the organs that were used for medicinal purposes, but now most of the packing houses just throw all of the organs into a large box with all the other “innards” which will then later be made into animal food, etc.

He also said the “$4 prescriptions” are an attempt by name brand drug manufacturer’s to put all generic drug manufacturer’s out of business so that they can then jack the prices up sky-high on these same prescriptions when they are the only ones left in business.

Reminds me of “Business 101″ where I learned that Standard Oil did this in order to crush its competition many years ago.

ARGH! After 9 long yrs. on generic levothyroxine and Cytomel I was just going to switch to Armour NEXT WEEK! The reason I’m switching is because I’ve continued to have hair loss even after my TSH has been well-managed by the drugs. I’ve had female hormones checked, male hormones by the dermatologist … everything checked out okay! The only thing that remained was the 9 yrs. of synthetic thyroid hormones. I never knew that hair loss was a side effect of the meds – sheesh! Now what to do???

This is insane. Its like telling diabetics they cant use insulin. I am completely allergic to all synthetic forms of thyroid and Nature-Throid was the only product that agreed with me. Without it I will go into a coma and my heart would drop to the point where I would barely be alive.
This is not right! These companies cannot play around with peoples lives like this. There needs to be some investigation of this issue and it needs to be resolved so that none of us are faced with this challenge ever again!

I’m in the same boat as Barb (above). The endo who confirmed my self diagnosis 6 years ago prescribed for me the only thyroid drug she ever does, Synthroid. When the smallest therapeutic dose caused me to become clinically and symptomatically hyper, she actually told me to stop taking it and to just remain sick until I could “tolerate” the Synthroid. Who in their right mind would do such a thing without even trying another type or brand of thyroid replacement? I immediately found an Armour prescriber and did marvelously well with that product until Forest recently screwed it up. And now that I’ve found a completely suitable replacement in Nature-throid, the Feds are attempting to take that away from me, too?

Where the hell were the safety-conscious Feds when people were dropping dead from Baycol, Vioxx, Zyprexa, Rezulin, Phen-fen, and the ever expanding array of dangerous and defective Big Pharma chemical soups?!?! Oooohh, that’s right… sitting on their back pockets so plushly lined with kickbacks and hush money for giving their full approval to all that poison.

This is EXACTLY the same thing as disallowing a diabetic to have insulin. No difference at all.

Thank you for assembling advice from trusted thyroid MDs, but this leaves me with several questions.

Kent Holtorf, MD states “When we’ve encountered shortages through the years, we have switched patients back and forth between Armour, Nature-Throid, Westhroid and compounded versions with little problem. A little trick you can tell them is to ask their doctor to change the ratio from 38 mcg T4/9 mcg T3 to 38 mcg T4/10 mcg T3 (or 76/18 to 76/20), etc. It is a small change but a a good percentage of patients will feel a little better.”
Q1 – If a good percentage of patients feel better with increased T3 in the established T4/T3 4:1 ratio, and this MD has switched patients back and forth over the years, then is it possible that most patients currently taking natural dessicated thyroid products can safely switch to compounded synthetic T4/T3? I’d like to see some scientific study on this question, as I’ve often wondered about the need for the other glandular components of natural dessicated thyroid.

David Brownstein, MD states “Each grain of desiccated thyroid supplies 38 mcg of T4 and 9 mcg of T3. To make the conversion: 1/2 grain of desiccated thyroid would correlate to approximately .025 T4 and 5 mcg of T3. 1 grain: .05 mcg of T4 and 10 mcg of T3.”
Note – These conversion factors are not mathematically correct, as “.025 T4″ should say “25 mcg T4″, and “0.05 mcg of T4″ should say “50 mcg of T4″ for approximate dosage conversion to standardized tablet dosages.
Q2 – Suggested conversion to 50/10mcg T4/T3 increases the amount of T4 in the T4/T3 ratio from 4/1 to 5/1. Is it wise to increase T4 when T3 is the most bioavailable form without need for bioconversion of T4 to T3?
Q3 – If one doesn’t have access to a compounding pharmacy, and must use synthetic levothyroxine/Cytomel tablets, will this usually be an acceptable substitute for compounded tablets? Levothyroxine is available in the following mcg tablets: 25, 50, 75, 88, 100, 112, 125, 137, 150, 175, 200, 300 and Cytomel and generic Liothyronine in the following mcg tablets: 5, 25, 50. So for each 1 grain of Armour or other dessicated, is it best for most people to take 50/10mcg or 5/1 ratio of synthetic T4/T3? The nearest compounding pharmacy is too far from my house, and I fear that it might be more expensive as I pay out of pocket. I’d like to know what works for most people when taking standard synthetic T4 and T3 tablets so that I can advise my physician. I only have a one month supply of Armour and my local pharmacies are out of stock of Armour and RLC products. I’ve suffered extremely painful fibromyalgia while taking levothyroxine for over 10 years before discovering the merits and pain relief of Armour a year ago, but I’m willing to try the mix of T4/T3 synthetics if that works for most people.

Jacob Teitelbaum, MD says “People can get the Synthroid and Cytomel and individually take the amounts needed to get the two individual hormones. On the downside, this does not supply the rest of the glandular components. On the upside, I suspect that some with Hashimoto’s may actually have the immune reaction stimulated by the glandular tissue, and the pharmaceutical forms may be cheaper than the compounded. I have major concerns about which compounders I use for thyroid, as analysis of thyroid caps from different compounders has shown remarkable (scary) variability in potency”
Q4 – I have Hashimoto’s with skyhigh antibody levels, and also almost never get the flu with my immunity on overdrive. The only time I’ve had the flu in the last 5 years is a 2-week period immediately after I switched to Armour. Mosquito bites usually result in a 2-3 inch painful inflammation which requires several days of ice for relief. I’ve had this mosquito bite immune reaction problem for years, but it’s gotten worse since being on Armour. I thought that Armour generally reduces the immune reaction, and that anti-thyroid and thyroid-peroxidase antibodies typically decrease after Armour is started. Now I’m wondering whether the Armour’s glandular components are increasing my immune reaction as evidenced by the increased swollen mosquito bites and no flu. As this MD notes that compounded tablets have significant variability in potency, might I be better off using synthetic T4 and T3 tablets? Also, what percent of Hashimoto’s patients have an immune reaction to glandular tissue?

This situation is frightening for me.. I can not and will not, go back on the synthetics again.. I will not live that way… I can’t believe this situation.. I don’t understand why something had to be “fixed” that wasn’t broken.

In response to Kathy (Post #9),

It’s a good thing that you stock and rotate your meds. Everyone on a maintenance medication should do the same. (It’s kind of like earthquake preparedness.)

Just to note, the additive in the new Armour formulation, Cellulose, is not a sugar, but rather, a
plant fiber. Fiber can bind the active thyroid in the tablet & thus interfere with the hormone’s absorption. It is for this reason that it is advised that you take your thyroid on an empty stomach (only to eat one hour after taking your med or two hours after eating). Also, it is not advisable to take your supplements with your thyroid due to binding & interference with absorption.

So you see, changing even the so-called “inactive” ingredients of a formula can still result in a change in the amount of the active ingredient, thyroid, that ultimately enters the blood stream.

It’s puzzling to me as to how Forrest Labs. could make this reformulation without approval or informing anyone ??? Certainly seems unethical, if not downright illegal!

Perhaps one of the problems is that the natural thyroid hormone products have never been approved by the FDA. The manufacturers have not submitted applications for marketing.

What do we do now?
No one has armour thyroid, or any other natural product.
I guess we go on the synthetics and try to weather the storm. Hope we can deal with the aches and pains, hair loss and all the other beasties that go with hypo…of course, hyper is way worse!!

Mary, thank you so much for monitoring the drug companies and the FDA for us. I’ve been on Armour Thyroid for two years now, and wondered why it wasn’t working as well for me the last few months, although I think it may be getting a little better now. I am very scared about having to switch medication again if they take it off the market. I had been on Synthroid for thirteen years before that and always had varying degrees of hypo symptoms with Synthroid. Two years ago I completely fell apart to the point of being unable to function anymore with intense hypo symptoms, although my doctor told me my blood levels were fine so it wasn’t my thyroid condition. After reading your book, I went back to her and demanded to be allowed to try Armour Thyroid. She sent me to an endo who prescribed it and I immediately got better on it. My TSH is typically .65 and I have felt perfectly normal for the first time in years while I’ve been on Armour until they changed the filler. Even now, I still function 99% better on the new formulation than I ever did on Synthroid! I live in northern Michigan and my endocrinologist moved away this spring and I haven’t been seen for testing since last fall. Could someone recommend a new endo in northern Michigan, no further south than Traverse City, if possible? Thanks, Sandy

After years of synthroid and High blood pressure, high cholestreal, endotheil changes, fybromyalia and depression I changed to Armour 2 years ago.
All went away…all of it!
Then reformulation robbed me of my new life. Oh the pain was so much worse! Then NT and i was better, not perfect but better. Now No NT.. i am not looking forward to being sick again.
My question is, i can get some reformulated Armour..not the recalled stuff.. Maybe what I had was the recalled stuff? Should I buy it and use it in the pinch? or try compounding? No EFRA is available really as the form requires a Dr to state he is expermenting on you basically. i wouldn’t sign it.. Can i go to Canada and get a script?

I just found out 10 minutes ago on this website what is going on. I tried to refill an Armour Thyroid prescription that I’ve been taking for years and the pharmacy told me they couldn’t get it. For the past 2 months, I’ve noticed that my hair is falling out, my scalp psoriasis is back, and I’m more depressed. All without knowing anything about a reformulation. I’d been thinking of asking for new lab blood work, and now I definitely will. The pharmaceutical companies and attendant suppliers have a strangle-hold on government through the big money they spend on lobbyists. I’m disgusted. We the citizens are victims of greed at high levels.

I just found out 10 minutes ago on this website what is going on. I tried to refill an Armour Thyroid prescription today that I’ve been taking for years and the pharmacy told me they couldn’t get it. For the past 2 months, I’ve noticed that my hair is falling out, my scalp psoriasis is back, it’s harder to lose weight, I’m more depressed. All without knowing anything about a reformulation. I’d been thinking of asking for new lab blood work, which all my life has shown low-normal, and thought I’d found “life” with the Armour thyroid prescription. The pharmaceutical companies and attendant suppliers have a strangle-hold on government through the big money they spend on lobbyists. I’m disgusted. We the citizens are victims of greed at high levels.

I, too, am facing severe problems as a result of this reformulation. My thyroid problem (Hashimoto’s) has been well managed for the last 10 years. After going for a physical this past June, my TSH came back .111 indicating that I am now hyperthyroid. I was referred to an Endo last week who has switched me to Synthroid .112 mcg. I can already feel my energy levels going down. He also found a lump on my thyroid and is suggesting it may be thyroid cancer as he diagnoses thyroid cancer on a regular basis. I still must wait for a biospy and then he is suggesting radioactive iodine treatment to destroy the lump as a possible remedy.

I told this information to my ENT, who had a record of my last CT scan and informed me it was not there in March 2008. He said it could be from having Hashimoto’s but after feeling it, it could also be cancer because it is a very hard lump.

I have tried generic thyroid before and always felt better on the brand name of Armour. I wish I had known about this reformulation before and I hope I can talk my family practioner into treating my thyroid condition instead of going to an Endo. Then maybe I can switch to the other brands mentioned.

I truly do not like Synthroid. I think Forest Labs should be ashamed of themselves for reformulating Armour Thyroid.

I am new to this, but my research and conversations with Nutri-Med indicated that their NDT had T4, T3, T2 and T1, not just T3 as stated in this article. Am I wrong?

Lisa from American Laboratories, Inc., the manufacturer of natural porcine desiccated thyroid in Omaha, just called me in response to my email regarding availability of their product. She was very pleasant and helpful and told me that the increase in demand for natural thyroid products has increased greatly this year causing a temporary shortage of supply to manufacturers.
She said they are still shipping and that patients might try their local compounding pharmacist if they are having trouble locating Armour, Naturethroid, or Westhroid.
Apparently the word is finally getting around to many thyroid patients that a better result might be had from a medication containing a natural thyroid product.

I just got my Armour prescription refilled after much searching for a pharmacy with it in stock. Since starting the new bottle, I’ve had SEVERE headaches daily…not something that’s normal for me. It seems very conincidental that my headaches started right when I started the new prescription. Any similar feedback or suggestions?

I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow to discuss options of what to changed to now. When I was on the phone with him, he was already pushing Synthroid even though I told him I didn’t react or function well on it. Ugh. I’m so tired of this battle. I took 5 years of suffering to get the right med at the right dose.

Have you heard of a thyroid balancing product called Pinnacle? It’s formulated for the Hippocrates Institute in West Palm Beach. I’m wondering if it could be a substitute for Armour, which I have now run out of. I have been taking 45 mg of Armour per day. I also bought a thyroid supplement today in a vitamin store, made from kelp. And I bought kelpnoodles.com I just have to figure out which combination of these might replace my Armour. I don’t know how to figure that out.

Hello Mary,

I’m so grateful for all information you bring on to us all. One question about dessicated thyroid:

Do you know, or can you maybe guess, which American Laboratories’ real production/delivery problems are?

I just spoke with a compounding pharmacist in the Chicago area. He told me that the reason Armour has been short is because they have been reformulating AGAIN back to the original formula. Apparently the FDA had received so many complaints about the reformulation that they went into Forest Labs to investigate. The pharmacist said Forest told him that the shortages would be resolved by the end of September. As far as the FDA making natural thyroid medication manufacturers go through the new product testing, he heard the rumor that there is one person at the FDA that doesn’t like natural thyroid products and wants to get them all removed from the market. However, this is just a rumor, and if the FDA ends up requiring natural thyroid products to be tested, there will be caseloads of documentation from all of us showing that products like Armour and Naturethroid work.

If you can find a doctor who is comfortable prescribing compounded, sustained release T3, that plus T4 (l-thyroxin) will work very well for most peaple. I personally do not prescribe Cytomel because of its rapid effect and rapid disappearance. Sustained release T3 is much safer. In addition to the above, adding an OTC thyroid glandular extract may be helpful.

Megan (comment #32) heard the same info I was told:
Barack Obama was appointing Dr. Sidney Wolfe to the
FDA. Sidney Wolfe is a radical — member of animal rights activist org. PETA, and served up propaganda in Ralph Nader’s ad hoc group(s) Center for Science in the Public Interest, and a monthly rag (Public Citizen?) that disses MANY medications. For years,
Sidney Wolfe insisted that Armour was derived from BOVINE sources… despite Mary Shoman and hundreds of others that wrote to correct him… Armour is derived from pigs *not* cows.

His “Don’t-Bother-Me-With-The-Facts” reasoning was
obvious: at the time, people around the world were concerned about “Mad Cow” disease (BSE), Wolfe and
PETA saw a way to frighten consumers away from animal based phamaceuticals — despite stubborn facts that NO pigs have contracted BSE.

Armour is the oldest medication for treating the
thyroid… over 100 years old. It has never required
FDA testing because the FDA did not exist until [well into] the 1900’s. As such, Armour is grandfathered under GRAS law (Generally Recognized As Safe)…
much like Native American Indians using Willow Tree
bark to reduce pain and inflammation.
We call this ancient Indian remedy… ASPIRIN.
If Wolfe and PETA activists try to strip away GRAS law from Armour, some 50 to 100 other commonly used medications will be decimated as well.
Stripping GRAS from *any* old medication would require pharmaceutical manufacturers to spend BILLIONS of dollars to prove the drug is safe and effective to the FDA. Since pharmaceutical companies could NOT obtain a patent for these old drugs, why should they spend BILLIONS of dollars in research
and clinical trials?

At this writing, I do *not* know if Sidney Wolfe’s
FDA appointment by Obama has been confirmed — but would NOT be surprised — since Megan heard the same
rumor, and Obama’s Administration appears to have a penchant for appointing people (with a radical personal agenda).

: I am asking for your help in saving a Natural Thyroid product that many of us cannot live without. — This is a serious situation for many of us!

PLEASE HELP BY CALLING ONE OF THE NUMBERS LISTED BELOW ON OCTOBER 1ST.

Also: Please forward this to all your friends and e-mail lists.

THANK YOU!

—————————————————————————————————————————

Let’s declare October 1st “Call FDA Day”.

Those of us who use Natural Desicated Thyroid (Armour) have been told that several natural thyroid manufacturers have been told by the FDA that they can no longer produce Natural Dessicated Thyroid.. — If this continues, we will all be forced to take a synthetic substitute.

Some people simply cannot tolerate the synthetics!

Below is a list of phone numbers for FDA Complaint lines.
IF WE ALL CALL ON OCTOBER 1ST. WE MAY GET THEIR ATTENTION!

Just politely state that you are calling because you are concerned about someone who NEEDS Armour Natural Thyroid , because Synthetics do not work for them. (You are calling for ALL of us who have that problem!) .

FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators / Regions and Telephone Numbers
(as of Feb. 27, 2009)
Alabama 866-289-3399
Alaska 800-353-3965
Arizona 949-608-3530
Arkansas 214-253-5200, ext 5233
California (Northern) 510-337-6741
California (Southern) 949-608-3530
Colorado 303-236-3044
Connecticut 781-596-7700
Delaware 215-597-9064
District of Columbia 410-779-5713
Florida 866-337-6272
Georgia 404-253-1169
Hawaii 510-337-6741
Idaho 800-353-3965
Illinois 312-353-7840
Indiana 313-393-8100
Iowa 913-752-2440
Kansas 913-752-2440
Kentucky 513-679-2700, ext 124
Louisiana 866-289-3399
Maine 781-596-7700

Massachusetts 781-596-7700
Michigan 313-393-8100
Minnesota 612-758-7221
Mississippi 866-289-3399
Missouri 913-752-2440
Montana 800-353-3965
Nebraska 913-752-2440
Nevada 510-337-6741
New Hampshire 781-596-7700
New Jersey 973-331-4917
New Mexico 303-236-3044
New York 866-446-9055
North Carolina 404-253-1169
North Dakota 612-758-7221
Ohio 513-679-2700, ext 124
Oklahoma 214-253-5200, ext 5233
Oregon 800-353-3965
Pennsylvania 215-597-9064
Rhode Island 781-596-7700
South Carolina 404-253-1169
South Dakota 612-758-7221
Tennessee 866-289-3399
Texas 214-253-5200, ext 5233
Utah 303-236-3044
Vermont 781-596-7700
Virginia 410-779-5713
Washington 800-353-3965
West Virginia 410-779-5713
Wisconsin 612-758-7221
Wyoming 303-236-3044
Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands 800-332-0127

Thanks for this information, Mary. I had a thyroidectomy in 2001. They started me out on the dessicated thyroid; I did very well, then some “brilliant” doctor switched me to a synthetic; told me it was just the same when I questioned the change. It took 5 years, several doctors and my refusing to take the medication that made me constantly ill before I could get back on the Armour Thyroid. Now I am forced to cut pills trying to get the right dosage because of the “shortage”.

I started having the same symptoms that I had on the synthetic (probably due to the reformulation) so I have cut back on my own to a point that I feel okay. My question is why isn’t the FDA doing something about this? I can’t go back to the way I felt for 5 years on the synthetic. I had constant vertigo, nausea, high blood pressure, digestive problems and high cholesterol. When you feel that bad there is little quality of life and not much point in living it. We need help desperately and there really doesn’t seem to be anywhere to turn to truly fix this problem.
Your information is helpful, but it still doesn’t seem to be a conclusive fix. I will pass this on to my doctor and maybe she can figure it out.

Everyone here has a story to tell.

When I was first diagnosed with a slow thyroid, I did some research and convinced my doctor to prescribe the Armour natural brand. For several years, my levels were maintained with an unchanging dose of 1 grain.

A couple of years ago I went to refill my prescription and was told by my pharmacist that Armour wasn’t made anymore, but that a thyroid medication made by Qualitest “was the same thing.” I didn’t think anything about it, but over the next year, my T levels rose with every visit. My doctor wanted to switch my dosage, and of course being stubborn, I refused.

It wasn’t until my doctor became thoroughly frustrated with me (I have a new doctor now), that I learned from a nurse practitioner in his office that Armour Thyroid was indeed still being made, and that the pharmacist flat out lied to me. Once I was back on the Armour – same dosage as before, my T levels returned to normal.

So, to have the FDA force this issue when I have experienced first hand the differences between Armour and a generic knockoff, infuriates me.

I’m posting this in hopes of it making a difference. And I will be issuing my complaint on October 1st.

I am now seeing a naturopath who uses a natural dessicated bovine thyroid hormone. I have had great results. I had started to gain weight on Synthroid. After 1 month on the natural hormone, I am down 11 lbs. He also did extensive blood work for nutritional deficits, which is often the cause dysfunction of the adrenal and thyroid glands, as well as 5 different thyroid tests and saliva cortisol levels.

I haven’t seen any info about natural dessicated thyroid products (other than by the pharmaceuticals) being used. Why is that?

Thanks, Mary for this valuable info. My pharmacist called me yesterday and told me that the reason for the Armour shortage is that all the corn is going to make ethanol and they can’t afford to feed the pigs anymore!!! WHAT??? lol

Anyway, my only recourse seems to be taking a combo of synthetic T4 and T3, and the info on converting the dosage is very helpful.

I can’t tell you how panicked I am by this shortage. Synthroid turned me into an irritable, depressed witch who could barely make it to and from the sofa each day. I have noticed a return of extreme fatigue since Armour Thyroid was reformulated and have observed a rash on my face, but I have been functioning. I have already decided that I will not switch back to Synthroid when I can no longer find the Armour medication and have already warned my family and my church that this choice will have dire consequences. I can’t believe this is happening and I am frightened.

If I told people I had cancer, there would be understanding. Since people don’t know how devastating a thyroid disorder can be, they think I should just be able to switch medications and keep on keepin’ on. They have no idea…

If you call RLC labs they will give you the name of a pharmacy that still has Nature-Throid and Westhroid.
I was able to have my doc write a Rx and I have enough for a 6 month supply and was able to stock up a bit till all this works out. Thank God!

Also, Workers Choice Pharmacy in El Paso still has a supply of the reformulated Armour. Google it and you can find the info. if you need Armour
Tish

Im one with thyroid problems as many i was told ive have HASHIMOTOSas well lupus im talking T4 150mg as thats available heredidnt know anything about ARMOUR natural until ive got on the thyroidmadnesss website iwas ready to go a see my doctor for describing the Armour for me and im sorry to read all the imformation and experience of everyone im relate to some of them as i havent try Armour i would like too because dont feel well ivego imflamation weight gain andcoolessensetivity iven in he summer to the point i cant be in a air contioned place for very long dont know what perspraration is even when im in the sauna so any body with same symptoms would like to share imfomation

Dear Mary, You are a real sweetheart as you proceed to get all the information to keep use pig pill users informed. If the FDA really is truly behind wanting to eliminate natural thyroid hormone and will be jeopardizing our lives, perhaps we should ban together and get a lawyer for some kind of class action suit. We will be protecting others in the future. What do you and everybody who is concerned think about that? My best to all.

These articals have been very enlightening. I did not know that Armour had been reformulated. It sure explains alot of what I have been going through e-including having had to go through having a heart ablasion. I have a heart condition that was caused from being on the wrong doesage of meds. This condition had been under control for four years and all of a sudden I was going through rapid heart beats and A fibulation and decided to go with having the surgery.
After having this surgery I was doing really well for about five weeks until I was told I couldn,t get Armour thyroid any more. I was taking 60mg Armour the Dr switched me to 200 mcg levothyroxine since then I have been having severe muscle cramps and my hands and joints feel like I have severe artheritis I am losing hair and my nails have all broken off. In a nut shell I feel like H— when is all the politician greed going to stop. This is life or death for some of us.

Thanks to Mary, 9 years ago, after having my thyroid removed, I learned of Armour Thyroid. I had been put on synthroid by my endocronologist and I had indescribable aching that I thought would be the end of me until I found Mary’s information. What a god send. My endo would not give me Armour, so armed with mary’s info, my primary doctor agreed to prescribe and have been able to function ever since…. until now. EVERYONE call on OCT. 1st! Thank you Charlotte for the information. My best to all of you.

I have been fighting hypothyroid for 15 years. The first 10 years I took Synthetic Thyroid – I tried every one. I gained over 100 lbs and didn’t feel like I could do anything, fatigue, hair loss, concentration, infertility – every symtom no matter how much they gave me.

I finally found Armour Thyroid when a PA told me about it being natural thyroid in 2004. I was pregnant a month later, stopped my gaining and helped me to feel normal again. I had lost 25 lbs and was quite happy. With the new formulation, I have gone downhill. Since Aug 1 – I have not been able to get ANY Armour. I have gained all 25 lbs back in a month! My base temperature is down to 97.1. I have desperately been searching the forums for a solution.

I found one! Dr. Lowe in Colorado suggested dietary dessicated thyroid – In two days, I am less dizzy and am feeling like I can get up off the bed. Check his blog out – it may help someone else!! Traci

http://www.drlowe.com/QandA/askdrlowe/desicatd.htm

Wow, is this enlightening! Once again, Mary has given me hope that I’m not crazy…

I have been on Armour for over 7 years now, after 2 years of unsuccessful treatment with synthetic T4 (Synthroid, Levoxyl)for Hashimoto’s. Three months ago, my pharmacist told me that my 1.5 grain formula from Armour was back ordered and switched me to a 3 grain pill that I needed to cut in half. I immediately noticed the difference in the consistency, taste, and smell of the pill. It reminded me of Levoxyl. I went back and questioned them–”did you substitute something else, a generic?”—he told me it was the same formula, just a larger pill. I wasn’t convinced but gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Fast forward 3 months–jand the difference in me is very noticeable. I’ve been experiencing the same symptoms I had when I was on the synthetic T4–fatigue, weight gain, general sadness, lackluster hair, skin, nails, unrelenting dark circles,lack of interest in anything, etc. Today when my husband finally commented to me tonight that he can tell there’s a difference in me, that moved me to action.
I called my endocrinologist for my annual check-up and requested a lab slip to validate my suspicion.

Meanwhile, I complained to the pharmacy manager and he said he did have the 1.5 grain pill in stock, in limited quantities. So he refilled it today. But I’m going in for my lab test tomorrow a.m. and if the results prove me right, I’m going to ask my Endo to switch me to Nature-Throid–bringing along my articles from this site to bolster my case.

Thanks again Mary, and it seems like the FDA/large pharma firms’ conspiracy theory could be right on target. Anybody that doubts the FDA’s ability to be influenced by these big pharma firms should read, “Dispensing with the Truth,” by Alicia Mundy (May, 2001, St. Martin’s Press) ISBN #0-312-25324-9 about Wyeth’s cover up of the side effects of Fen-Phen.

I am glad I opened up my spam folder or otherwise I would not have seen this post. I have hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s) and I hate it. I had recently had blood tests done, had a prescription refilled, and I am taking Levothyroxine. I have not read anywhere in your blog anything about Levothyroxine if it is good or not good for you or what it’s longrange effects are. I have read a couple of your books, feel tired, under stress and I know this is not good, have a tumor on my adrenal gland, I picked up a small bottle of kelp at GNC for the sodium intake since sodium is essential. I felt ok after the surgery but went back to work and really did not rest, but i still keep on going. Is there any support group in the manassas, va area? I am looking for employment also, and am interested in knowing if you know of any company that is involved in the thyroid research industry? These stories are frightening because we need our medications. When I asked my doctor a few years ago if T3 was a good idea for me to use along with my levothyroxine he replied no. According to my blood reports my level was ok. But then I read in your book where T3 was an essential supplement to our thyroid medication. Can you please give me some input on my concerns? Thank you.

I have Hasimoto’s. Several years ago, I tried Kelp (what my mother used to take.) Was up to 12 capsules of Nature’s Way (or maybe the professional brand MMS). The doctor who usually lectured me about going off my thyroid (I didn’t know how important it was and had gone on and off it most of my life…didn’t see much difference….maybe never had it adjusted quite right) said “you don’t need thyroid.” But I did when I stopped the Kelp.

We have a new doc in town who is MD but is into natural things. He is letting me try the Kelp again…still on the same amt of Thyroid that “wasn’t quite getting it” (TSH too high.) He is most willing to test me from time to time to follow this more closely than in the past.

I don’t know my reaults yet, but hoping this will help others….tried Dr Brownsteins Iodoral, but didn’t think that helped as much as the Kelp (might have needed more or maybe I need the other minerals in the Kelp as much as the Iodine….I do have a poor absorption problem that the new doc is also working on.)

Mark Drugs in Roselle, Illinois has Armour Thyroid in stock. Their number is (630) 529-3400.

As far as American Labs being the only supplier of dessicated thyroid powder . i am not sure… I called
Wellness Pharmacy ( also on line ) of Alabama. they told me their compounded powder was provided by PLPC ( or something similar ) NOT American labs. I asked if it was independently tested ( as RCL.. makers of westhryoid did their testing and who rejects @50 percent) The pharmacy aide told me they receive it in a box from the above stated company PCCL or someting similar .. and it has a potency lab result on it

Of note: I called a local compounding pharmacy.. and NOT until I picked up a weeks supply of the compounding RX Did they tell me that they rejected their Dissicated powder failed their testing for potency and are using a CHEMICAL compound instead.. of Dessicated — So CAVIAT EMPTOR

This same pharmacy in San Diego County quoted one price and failed to tell me of an up charge/ minimum charge.( purchase) huh? it was 10 dollars more..
Later to check their practice I called 3 times in 4 days.. and got 3 different price quotes for 30 day supply for 2x daily… they were $45, $75, and
$97 PLUS shipping……

When Wellness called to transfer my script they stated they could only transfer a compounded CHEMICAL RX — WRONG ,,, are ya seeing a pattern here? economic times and suspicious business practice? Wellness called my Doctor and got the issue resolved……. AND called me back to say they had a very small supply of NatureThroid in the 15 mg
and could fill the RX for only $25 dollars this month

Now THAT’S what I call a full service pharmacy.. I am impressed .. and you bet I ordered from them -( I have other scripts from them.. ‘my T3 and Ioderol and Adrenal supplements ….. kuddos to them

Whatever pharmacy you use do your homeowork first see if they have dessicated compounded ability AND if that powder has been independently tested for potency
AND do a price check on at least 3 compounding pharmacies Best Regards , KA, SanDiego County, CA

I live in the UK . Please can someone let me know who to contact in the UK to obtain Armour Thyroid

Why is no one speaking to why this is happening!! This is caused by the corrupt FDA and the greed of big pharma! WRITE TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES!

Armour Thyroid and other similar thyroid hormone brands are about to be
banned from production by the FDA.

Even though Armour Thyroid has been around since 1890, everyone thought that it
was “grandfathered” before the creation of the FDA in 1938. Well, in 2000, the FDA
announced that they would regulate every single drug regardless of year of origin; and
in 2006, they initiated their persecution in earnest.

It took 3 years, but the FDA officially banned Time-Caps lab, a huge generic
manufacturer of Armour thyroid, earlier this year. The wording of the FDA letter
effectively targets ALL Armour manufacturers (brand names Armour, NatureThroid,
and Wes-Throid).

It is only a matter of time before the other manufacturers receive the same ban letter.
No wonder they are cutting back production! Getting a drug approved by the FDA
will cost them hundreds of millions of dollars and many years delay.

The million or so Americans taking Armour or similar desiccated thyroid are just out
of luck. Mainstream medicine, Big Pharma and the FDA arrogantly think you should
be taking Synthroid, instead.

I too have had a wonderful experience with Armour thyroid after years of struggling with synthroid and have been symptom free of my Hashimoto’s for the last three years – until now. Lethargy, muscle aches, hair loss, temperature disregulation, digestion problems, and just feeling like a 60 watt bulb only able to muster up 15 watts of energy. After reading what everyone has said I called Forest Labs and spoke with a pharmacist, a nurse and customer care. They were very interested in what I had to say and would like anyone who is having problems since the reformulation to contact them. The reason for the change is a supposed bioavailability increase with the change between sucrose (why the original tasted sweet) to cellulose. Doesn’t make sense to me as cellulose in indigestible and if the active ingredient is binding to it, it may be less available than with the sucrose formulation. Any thoughts? I also asked about the rumored FDA requirements – NO the FDA is not requiring them to go through trials as they are grandfathered in under the “generally recognized as safe” ruling. They have also just released a large amount of the one grain size (60mg) to pharmacies so it should be available. He said that if the pharmacy didn’t have it yet to call Forest Labs again. He also wanted me to speak to a nurse to document the symptoms I was experiencing. The transfer was quick – no getting put on long holds, and she was very thorough and pleasant. The pharmacist, Pat, and the nurse that I spoke to want to hear from the people who are having difficulties with the change in formulation – so Call, Call and Call again. The only way to get the formula back to where it was is if we let them know it now doesn’t work. Call 800 678 1605 ext 66297 for medical input and 66298 for customer service and quality control. One voice is a whisper, many voices is a shout to be acknowledged.

I would like to know where you got your information on the FOrest labs changing the formula of the medication. I cannot find anything about it except on your site.
2 of the pharmacies here are stockpiling Armour and some others are completely out.
Thank yo ufor your help.

Hello, fellow thyroid patients,
As with many of you, I have also noticed a change with the new formulation of Armour. And, as with many of you, I do not do well on Synthroid. I also have Hashimoto’s.
I just called the number that Sandra offered: 800-678-1605. Instead of pressing the extensions she noted, I contacted the safety line. The lady was very nice, took some information and transferred me to a pharmacist. She, too, was very nice, but did not give me the information that we all want to hear. At present, there are no plans to revert to the original Armour formula. They are, however, producing and shipping the Armour again. For a list of product availability, call 800-927-3260.
If the issue with the new formulation is absorption, perhaps an increase in dose would help?
Of course, depending on TSH, etc.
Anyway, if enough folks call Forest and relay the info re the new formula, maybe they will revert to the original formula. It’s worth a try.
May God Bless us all. Have a great day!

Correction to the product availabilty phone number:
866-927-3260. It was last updated on 9/21/09, however.

I have also experienced the drastic weight gain and hair loss in the past six months or so. At first i thought that maybe I just need a change in dose but now realize that it is the new formula. I have read where you have contacted Forest to see if they plan to make changes back to the old formula..but now maybe I am thinking the quicker route is to determine when we can get our hands on the nature thyroid instead since everyone that is using it seems to be as happy as all of us Armour users. Right now I dont feel comfortable going back to the armour even if they get it back in to the pharmacies.

I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer in March of 2004, after having my Thyroid removed and radioiodine treatments I was informed that I have Hashimotos as well. I have been on Armour since then. My dose is higher than most and I don’t feel well unless I am a little hyperthyroid. I am so glad to have found this site. I thought I was losing my mind. I noticed my last prescription looked, smelled and tasted different but I thought it was a different generic form, I knew that Armour was getting difficult to get but I had no idea that all this was going on. It explains so much! I thought I was starting menopause, I never suspected my Armour. I have had horrible headaches, an incredibly sore throat for weeks, been so crabby I can’t stand myself, had difficulty concentrating, my hair was falling out, I have insomnia so bad I had to get sleeping pills after being unable to sleep for more than three days straight. I figured I was going to have to go to my Doctor and have my hormone levels checked. Now I know what my problem is. I just started Levothroid. Now I feel EVEN WORSE. I am just downright evil, emotional, exhausted, have a permanent headache, even more hair loss, I can’t sleep at all, can’t seem to concentrate or focus. I am in the middle of midterms, trying to become a nurse! Oh and the stomach cramps and diarrhea. I go from not being hungry to starving and eating everything in sight. The medicine head and disconnected feeling is the worst and I told my Medical Terminology teacher I that I was so tired that I really did not give a shit during my oral exam. I can’t believe I said that, I have a 3.87GPA! (For now) And I never talk like that! This is not working for me at all. I called my Dr. and she said it’s only been a week, give it more time. I don’t know what to do. I can’t go on feeling like this and taking nothing is not a choice, I have no Thyroid at all. I at my wits end! Is getting a T3 supplement to the Levothroid going to help me? Can anyone suggest a good Endo in southeastern Michigan? Someone needs to do something! Aren’t there enough people taking Armour to make a difference?

I have done great on Thyrolar for years but they have had both potency and availability issues (it’s also made by Armour). I do okay with Armour but am slightly allergic to pork so Thyrolar was a better choice.

When this latest shortage started I had my doctor write a prescription for ERFA in Canada. They have a program for people in the US who either can’t get thyroid or are allergic to the ingredients in our available formulations. It cost me less than $100 for a bottle of 500 tablets (I take 90 mg day) which included shipping. It did get stuck in customs for a few weeks because the agent claimed he couldn’t read the paperwork (I had no trouble reading it). I finally called and talked to him directly and worked it out.

The ingredients in ERFA “Thyroid” are:

” Each tan-colored tablet, embossed PD, contains: desiccated thyroid derived from porcine thyroid glands 30 mg, 60 mg or 125 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: cornstarch, magnesium stearate, sugar and talc.”

I get a little GI pain, probably because of my pork allergy, but it’s worth it to keep my thyroid levels up.

They do have supplies available for both the US and the UK and the dosage is identical to Armour. Here’s their website: http://thyroid.erfa.net/

I know you’ll all understand how comforting it is to have a source for thyroid with all the supply problems in the US. I get congestive heart failure within weeks if I stop taking thyroid. I’ve tried Synthroid and Cytomel and have reactions to both. For some reason Thyrolar never caused problems for me. I will probably switch back to that once it’s available again. I do wish they’d use natural coloring, but I’m okay with the red in the 1 grain formulation.

Janet

I had radio active iodine treatment in 1995 was started out on a synethic but it did not work for me and was put on the Armour Thyroid which worked very well. I am supious that the Swine flu vacines has something to do with the production of Armour Thyroid. Have been having problems getting the pills for over 3 months plus. Some of the ingrediants for the vacine is also used in the Armour pills. Which I found out on the Internet. I belive it was an intened shortage. Any one else think that? Very upset about the whole thing.

Bring back Armour. I too had the Iodine Cocktail and the declining result in everything I knew about me was like going down a drain. After a year, and several physcians, I found one who prescribed Armour Thyroid. Started with low dose, and finally settled on 180 mg daily. What a relief and I was a human again. Weigh I gained came off, and my personality returned. I did notice a change in my body within the past 6 months, but didn’t relate it to they Armour….then I couldn’t find the drug anymore and back on Levothyroxin…..what a drag down the drain again. I’m canvassing pharmacies to keep me in stock so I can remain healthy.

IM in the middle of this battle too & its been going on now since the beginning of April! My Dr never even saw me, just a phone call, to tell me that I need to change my meds and the amount. I take 90-mg of Armour for 6 days, but I have to cut a 60-mg in half to make up the 90-mg & it crumbles so badly IM not sure that IM getting the correct amount. Where do I go from here? I know something is NOT quite right because IM not feeling like all engines are running at full speed!

I have been diagnosed hypo for 9 years. I have been on Levothroid for the entire time with little or no positive change in symptoms. My Doc agreed in August to put me on the generic for Armor and was possibly on my way to feeling better (or at least feeling something other than crappy) when this whole dessicated thyroid debacle arose. Now am desperately looking for any releif!!

i also had been using armour, and i begin to feel almost 100 percent better, now this shortage or what the reason fda is making this big change, for how can someone make people take something that making them sicker instead of better,it’s really terrible how we as people with such a disorder to be treated as if we don’t know what makes us function better,i am puzzled to see some doctors against the natural brand i thought if doctors and fda were so concerned it would’nt be such a big controversy over doing what is right for people’s health and well being, now my doctor has switched me back to synthetic thyroid, and it makes me feel terrible causes chest pain and depression and other side effects, i can not take this medicine it’s like they’re telling us to commit sucide, something need to be done about this and i intend to make complaints, thank u for allowing us as a people to make an comment. sheila

This is just so unfair. I’m going to cry. I’ve been on Levoxyl and Cytomel for 10 years because my endocrinologist refused to write me a script for Armour. I was desperate because I’d been on a slow downhill decline to depression and was near suicidal. I went to my PA and he wrote one. I felt fantastic within 2 days! Just my luck this was in July 2009! I don’t want to go back! Help!!

Hi Folks,

Not to be cynical, but could Forest Labs be cutting/eliminating their production of Armour in favor of producing their brand of Thryolar? It’s probably more profitable for them to do so…
just a thought…

I was getting NT from Women’s International Pharmacy in Wisconsin. They cannot supply that but they have offered to compound a product with natural glandular infredients that has the same dosage as the NT I was taking. I haven’t taken any of it yet, so can’t be sure that it will work. They said they had no problem with a supply of the glandular material.
Mary in Ithaca

Hi folks. I just wanted to let you know that my mom, when switched from armour (due to run out) to nature throid and then back to armour was doing horribly. Edema in lower extremities, hot/cold all the time and nauseated. I finally tried the compounded version from our local pharmacy I got before the armour came back, and in 4 days she is now FINE. I would definitely try the compounded version. I think it is horrible that they are doing this. They could have killed my 83 year old mom. These people are cruel and heartless!!!!

I have been offered an Armour alternative from this manufacturer http://www.apothecure.com/

Has anyone got any experience with these?

It looks like a compounded version of Armour, which should be OK as an alternative. — Phoenix

I just finished reading all the comments and was alarmed enough to continue searching this site and all the available info from Mary Shomon to get some clarification on the rumor of Armour Thyroid going off the market and I came accross this letter response from Mary Shomon addressing this issue. Please read her remarks as she is assuring us that it is only a rumor and there are some very important points that she makes for all of us to be aware of. Here is the link to Mary Shomon’s “The Claim that Armour Thyroid is going off the Market” http://thyroid.about.com/od/isthatso/f/armour.htm

Hi,

I too am in the same situation, I can’t find natural thyroid anywhere in NYC. I am freaking out as my mental capacity is effected as well as my other issues.
I have a complex cyst on my thyroid as well. doctors tell me they are not making a synthetic for T4-T3 that will be a yet another drug to take as well.

Help, can anyone direct me, thanks

Women’s International is providing compounded dessicated thyroid using the same starting material used by Forest and RLC. 800-279-5708