With uncertainty as to the FDA's planned actions regarding natural desiccated thyroid drugs, thyroid patients across the nation are concerned. The FDA has shut down natural desiccated thyroid drug production/distribution by three firms, made by Biotech, Major and Time Cap Labs.
At the same time, the two major manufacturers/distributors of natural desiccated thyroid -- Forest (which makes Armour), and RLC Labs (which makes Nature-Throid and Westhroid) are both on long-term backorder for their product. Forest will not specify when product might be available. RLC is indicating that product should be available in 90 days. Simultaneously, there is also a nationwide shortage of Thyroid USP, the porcine desiccated thyroid raw material manufacturers used to produce the pills.
Various people at the FDA, in unconfirmed conversations with thyroid patients, are telling patients that they will be requiring a new drug application (NDA) from all natural desiccated thyroid drugs, and that the drugs will be withdrawn from the market, but as I write this, that has not been confirmed.
Based on legitimate concerns regarding the future of natural desiccated thyroid drug, thyroid patients and practitioners have banded together, in a coalition designed to help protect their rights to natural desiccated thyroid drugs, under the banner "Save Natural Thyroid."
Save Natural Thyroid has a Yahoo list located at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Save-Natural-Thyroid
There is also a Save Natural Thyroid: Facebook Group with more than 600 patients and practitioners already strategizing about ways to protect the health and well-being of thyroid patients taking natural desiccated thyroid drugs.
Image: Save Natural Thyroid
I joined the “Save Natural Thyroid” site and immediately was inundated with emails, half of which have nothing to do with the issue of keeping natural thyroid on the market. I noticed quite a few have already sent emails to quit. Immediately more emails were posted accusing those who opted out as “against the movement” Responsible Armour users are NOT interested in the claims of
irresponsible Armour users. I did not quit but did go back in and stop the onslaught of what I consider fringe loonie emails.
In my opinion there is no room in making this issue a viable and convincing movement if too many Armour users who ascribe to the must use iodine and take massive doses of Armour to feel better are allowed to inject their opinions. This is the very fodder the FDA and opposing big pharma are looking for to strengthen their case against natural thyroid meds.
The moderator of this site should make it clear what the site is about and reject emails that are not directly addressing the issue.
thyroid.about.com is awsome
htc flyer giveaway
Dear Mary,
Most unfortunate that we Americans are being positioned to do as the Government decides for us.
I have been most active inpursuing the matter for Armour Thyroid and await results from my filing of the matter with our Conressman.
My local CVS has Armour thyroid back in stock!
I have been challenged by doctors time and time again about Armour. When I did not know better, I was switched to synthedic believing what the doc said.. He was of course wrong…After 2 years of being Hypo.. I fought back…Now I tell the doc what I want, and if they are not co-operative, I move on.
I had thyroid cancer more than 30 years ago…a little challenge when compared to the years of being challenged over Armour… This is so frustrating.
Where’s a Class Action Lawyer with a thyroid condition when you need one?
I agree with Frankie; Where is the Class Action Lawyer?
Thanks, Mary, for giving us a heads-up about the yahoo group. I also agree with Barbara’s writing her congressmember, which I will also do, as well as writing the FDA.
I’m fortunate to have a local compounding pharmacy, but it turned out to cost 3 times as much as the old Armour perscription did; I’m wondering if I’ll just have to go back to synthetics for at least a while…
Jean
It’s quite fascinating to watch how people are swallowing the FDA Balogne. And then to hear Armour and Nature Throid say there is a shortage when compounding pharmacies are having no problem at all. Is this scam not obvious to everyone?
My doctor has tried persuading me to take synthetic hormones. I am afraid of this as I took it I felt dizzy.
I have taken Chinese medicine, it cures my thyroid a little, but I NEED THYROID HORMONE. I still have slow pulse and so on and my blood count is not good.I would like to ask you if it is possible to obtain Armour or natural hormone from animal thyroid in Europe.
Yours, Anna
I too, spent years on the synthetics that didn’t work and was miserable.I was finally given Armour it probably saved my sanity if not my life..For people like me this is serious and scary business..I too will write my congressman. As for the compounds BEWARE. I just got off the phone with pharmacy and was told they used synthetics to make that… Go figure..
I complained to the FDA about the makers of Armor Thyroid, and they told me (via email) that they were trying to get them to submit drug trials and do testing as if this was a new drug.
They let through dozens, if not hundreds of drugs that have serious adverse reactions almost immediately (necrosis of the jawbone for Fosamax, hearts attacks and death for others), which proves that their testing doesn’t help patients much, but they want a non-drug that has been proven safe over the last hundred years to submit proof that it’s safe?!
Are they going to do this for asprin next?
This is further proof (in my opinion) that they’re just in it for the bribes, and they just don’t care how many people they kill!
Remember how fast they shoved through the H1N1 vaccine? Its what the Government wanted because of the ginned up hysteria they generated. Yes, people got sick and some passed, but long before the vaccine was available, the FDA stopped recording cases of H1N1 and actually told doctor’s offices not to test for it anymore. They were ginning up the figures to make them sound great and glorious for getting the vaccine out so fast, because you know GW Bush let Katrina drowned.
The FDA will be told what to do by Obama and his administration. If they say that synthetics are cheaper and all patients must take them under Obama-care, you can bet your missing or disfunctioning thyroid, we will not be able to obtain the medication we need. The FDA is part of the Government – and you think I’m going to believe anything out of their mouth?
I have found smaller pharmacies are getting the 1 grain of Armour in now. Since I pay out of my pocket (High Deductible Plan), I can chose my pharmacy and my doctor will call the scripts in.
If the FDA wanted this medication on the market, they’d shove and push like they did with the H1N1 vaccine.
it is now Feb. 13th and I would like an up to date comment on availability of Armour Thyroid and like products.
I was radiated as an infant to destroy my tonsils. Medical science recommended stupid procedures like that back in the 1950’s. The radiation destroyed my thyroid gland! I was on Armour Thyroid for years and did well. Switched briefly to Synthroid ’cause doctors pushed it. Synthroid didn’t work at all for me. I was paying a lot, and hypo symptoms returned. I was miserable and my doctor switched me back to Armour. I’m feeling well again, but I’m concerned about the shortages. How can we get this situation turned around?
I’m also interested in an update. Is Armour Thyroid now more commonly available again? Thank you.
Updated Statement from Forest Laboratories Re: Availability of Armour Thyroid:
Forest Laboratories is working diligently to resolve the back-order situation on Armour Thyroid. We are focusing our efforts on producing the 1 grain (60 mg) and 1/2 grain (30 mg) dosage strengths because these strengths account for approximately 70 percent of Armour Thyroid use and can be used alone or in multiples to achieve common total daily dosage requirements. We have recently produced and shipped a limited supply of 1 grain and ½ grain tablets, which we expect will start becoming available to pharmacies in early February. We will continue to ship more lots of Armour Thyroid as they become available.
We appreciate your understanding as we manage this Armour Thyroid back-order. If you have any questions about Armour Thyroid, please call the following toll-free hotline: 1-866-927-3260.
This is just unbelievable. A new-drug application for desiccated thyroid? I wish I understood what’s behind this – is the synthetic thyroid lobby that powerful? All I know is that Synthroid and synthetic thyroid drugs in general made me sick, dizzy, and set my levels off. Natural thyroid has always worked well for me; I’d like to keep using it! Right now, my pharmacy has obtained for me a 90 day supply of Armour Thyroid, 60 mg…and I’ll keep my eye on how this supply issue develops!
Have you guys seen those pages that claim natural treatment possible? How can it be proven? Or is there any authoritative site on natural resources?
I gave up trying to find Armour Thyroid in the US in 2009. My primary care physician wrote a 90 day RX and I get my AT (and my husband’s) filled in Canada.
I get armour at a little mom ans pop pharmacy here in Texas and I don’t see an Endocrinologist I see a holistic prationer that works with an internal medicine spec. You think they will put a medicine on the shelf that actually helps people? No the more ill folks the more money!
11/20/10
So now Nature-throid has re-formulated as well and I can’t absorb. Any suggestions? I would like an answer to the question why they like Armour need to change the formula. If it is to save money, let the public decide if they would like to pay more for what works or have to switch because they can’t absorb the new product.