Forest Laboratories is the manufacturer of the thyroid drug Thyrolar, which is the brand name for liotrix, a synthetic T4/T3 combination thyroid hormone replacement drug.Thyrolar has been on the market for several decades, but is currently unavailable, after several years of erratic availability. Forest has not been forthcoming regarding the status of this drug, and, according to the statement on their website, they continue to maintain that "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 a component used in 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."
This didn't make sense when they announced it back earlier this year (see Why is Forest Pharmaceuticals Lying About Thyroid Drug Thyrolar? And What Else Are They Hiding?) and it still doesn't make sense. Nor has Forest been willing to address the questions and issues, despite direct inquiries.
The truth is, official representatives of U.S. Pharmacopeia have indicated that there are no new manufacturing specifications for Thyrolar.
According to Karen A. Russo, Ph.D., Vice President at USP and one of the authors of the new levothyroxine monograph, that liotrix (Thyrolar) has its own, independent monograph. According to Dr. Russo, the monograph for liotrix has not been changed, and there are no new manufacturing specifications for Thyrolar. Dr. Russo has said that changes to the levothyroxine monograph and potency range do not apply to Thyrolar, and she has no explanation for why Forest would be suggesting that their backorder and availability situation with Thyrolar would have to do with any USP specifications.
Why is Forest continuing to put out misinformation about Thyrolar? Will the drug ever be back on the market, or is this backorder just Forest's attempts to keep its options open? It's not likely that we'll have answers anytime soon.
In the meantime, patients who require a combination of synthetic T4 and T3 can get their medication in two ways:
- Using a levothyroxine drug (i.e., Levoxyl, Levothroid, Synthroid, Unithroid) plus a synthetic T3 medication (Cytomel, generic synthetic T3, or compounded T3)
- Having a compounded synthetic T4/T3 combination medication prepared by a compounding pharmacy
Image: clipart.com
Having used Thyrolar for extended periods of time
during the last few years, it doesn’t surprise me if this
company seems to be playing games with what’s going
on with this product. The longer I was on Thyrolar each
time, I felt the drug behaved more erratically and
worsened my symptoms…..this isn’t how a GOOD
thyroid pill is supposed to act! I think they should just
quit producing it if Forest has no interest in putting out
a really good product, as seems to be the case (at least,
in my opinion.)
I have used Thyrolar for several years and it is the ONLY med which has fully addressed my hypo symptoms. I’m almost out, can’t find any and am scared to death about being forced to use an alternative because I’m unemployed and looking for a job. I’ve got to be “on my game” and not dragging!!
I just cannot understand why someone else can’t make this stuff.
Thyrolar was the only medication that helped me lose the weight gained because of thyroid disease. After it was discontinued I tried various amounts of Armour then Cytomel but still the weight would not budge. (Synthyroid never helped at all.) I talked my doctor into letting me try 50 mg Cytomel and 60 mg Erfa (Armour type thyroid med made in Canada). Once again I am able to see results from my diet and exercise program. I think the Erfa is a closer to the original Armour thyroid before the reformulation. I hope this helps someone else who is not doing well on present medications and wants to try something else.