Amidst the concerns over the availability and future of natural desiccated thyroid drugs like Armour and Nature-Throid, Forest Pharmaceuticals, which makes Armour, has issued a statement about its synthetic T4/T3 drug Thyrolar, which has been largely unavailable and on backorder for months.
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U.S. Pharmacopeia, an official public standards–setting authority for all prescription and over–the–counter medicines and other health care products manufactured or sold in the United States, has mandated new specifications for the manufacturing of Thyrolar. As a result, all strengths of Thyrolar are currently on long-term back order while Forest makes the modifications necessary to meet these new specifications.Stay tuned for more information on how this fits in with the natural desiccated thyroid issue.Forest is working diligently to complete these modifications. In the meantime, patients should speak with their physician regarding appropriate treatment for their condition, and check for future updates on the availability of Thyrolar through the Forest product availability toll-free hotline at (866) 927-3260.
MORE INFORMATION:
- The Armour Thyroid and Nature-Throid Shortage Information Center
- Save Natural Thyroid Coalition Website
- Save Natural Thyroid Coalition Yahoo Listserv
I am writing in regard to ordering thyroid from your recommended Knowles Pharmacy. I was told I could order 90 days worth, and billed 78.36. Today I received ONE 30 day supply from them, (we were told this was off the shelf) and when I called I was told $78 was the price of 30 days worth. Here in Minnesota, when it is available it is about $30 for that amount. Gouging people? I guess, but I won’t be desperate enough to try them again! I’ll just have to go without!
PenCol Compounding Pharmacy in Denver Colorado reports that they have a stock of Armour Thyroid. It’s not clear how much they have, but it’s worth investigating further.
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First of all, if Thyrolar is synthetic, that should have nothing to do with the shortage of natural thyroid drugs ( what a strange coincidence though ). And second, what exactly does “mandated new specifications for manufacturing Thyrolar” actually mean? And why would it only affect one drug? So many unanswered questions
Sometimes i think we will never know the answers to any of these questions.
Actually, Thyrolar was put on back order first. I emailed Forest, and this is the information they sent me:
“At this time, the following strengths of Armour Thyroid are on short-term backorder:
.25 grain (also known as 15mg) – expected to be available July 2009
.50 grain (also known as 30mg) – expected to be available the week of June 29
1.50 grain (also known as 90mg) – expected to be available the week of June 22
All other strengths of Armour Thyroid are available from Forest Pharmaceuticals.”
My doctor switched me to Armour, and then that was put on back order. I wonder if Synthroid would be put on back order if I switch to that?
Oh, well … I still have about a week’s work of Armour. I have an order in at my local Walgreens. They found some last month, so maybe they will again.
I work for a BHRT doctor in Mississippi, and have been following the armor thyroid shortage with much interest.
The latest update is that Forest Laboratories (http://www.armourthyroid.com/default.aspx) is STILL not sure when their supply will be restocked, and their sole supplier American Laboratories issued a statement near the end of August stating that they were working as quickly as possible to produce enough supply to meet demand (article here: http://www.americanlaboratories.com/company_news/Press_Releases/Thyroid_Information.pdf).
That being said, our patients are still being told by their pharmacists that Armor Thyroid is being discontinued (untrue) or that Forest is “going out of business” (also untrue).
What is plain is that–for whatever reason–there is a HUGE shortfall and patients, doctors, and pharmacists are all scrambling to meet demand.
Our local compounder has Armor Thyroid available at 30 mg ($27.00) and 60 mg ($31.50) for a 30 day supply, as of this morning. Their phone number is 601-261-0503. Naturally they need a prescription to fill it, but they are not charging 80 bucks for a month month supply.
Just thought I’d share.
There is a foreign equivalent, called Cynoplus. It is available at http://www.panamrx.com for about $20 for a 50 tablet package each at 120/30 mcg. The mg (which usually means milligrams) in the above comments should really be mcg or micrograms. I dont know how many they have left. I have ordered from them before and they are reliable.