Today, I had an opportunity to speak with Dai Jinn, the Chief Science Officer and Chief Pharmacist at RLC Labs, maker of Nature-Throid and Westhroid. When I'd spoken with RLC and reported in my update on Monday, November 23 Nature-Throid Natural Desiccated Thyroid: A Status Report, Dai had said that they would begin shipping 1 grain Nature-Throid this week.
As some thyroid patients have found, however, after calling the company, or checking with their pharmacies, this is not happening.
So I checked in with Dai to find out what the situation is and what thyroid patients can expect, and how thyroid patients taking natural desiccated thyroid can plan for the next several months.
First, according to Dai, the issue for RLC at present is that production levels are in flux. Production capacity depends on the supply of raw materials, and RLC is getting raw material -- natural desiccated thyroid powder / Thyroid USP -- from what appears to be several suppliers. While RLC will not share the names of the companies supplying their raw material, they have said that the incoming product is not necessarily consistent in terms of quality, and availability has been fluctuating.
Dai said, however, that wherever he is sourcing his natural desiccated thyroid powder, the critical issue for him and RLC is quality control. This means that not all the raw material he gets is being used to produce the RLC natural desiccated thyroid products.
But that also means that even if raw material is coming in, not all of it is being made into Nature-Throid or Westhroid.
So, when can you expect to get Nature-Throid? At this point, Nature-throid (and Westhroid) are still in a backorder situation, and RLC hopes to begin shipping 1 grain (65 mg) Nature-Throid later this week -- but next week is more realistic and likely. But keep in mind, that means that it's likely that the Nature-Throid that begins shipping in the next two weeks would be available in pharmacies late December or early January.
Based on the raw material supply issue, RLC will be trying to get out of the backorder situation as soon as possible, and they expect to be shipping more 1 grain Nature-Throid over the next month. Dai also said that ½ grain and ¼ grain size pills will be next to come out of backorder, but that will depend on the availability and quality of the raw material supply.
In the meantime, Armour Thyroid (the natural desiccated thyroid drug made by Forest Laboratories), is also almost entirely unavailable. A small amount of 1 grain (60 mg) tablets have been released by the manufacturer in the last month, but Forest is adamantly refusing to discuss Armour Thyroid's availability, and when (or if) Armour will be back in production. (There's reason to speculate that Forest may in fact be planning to take both Armour and Thyrolar off the market. See my current story about Forest Labs' Crediblity and Thyrolar Status in Question.)
Implications for Patients
What does this mean for thyroid patients taking natural desiccated thyroid?
My advice is, don't plan on being able to get Nature-Throid or Westhroid (or Armour, for that matter) anytime in December.
That means, even if you're planning to start or return to Nature-Throid when it comes back on the market, you should make sure that you have a supply of your current thyroid medication that will last you through at least February 2010.
If you need a prescription from your doctor for a refill, contact the doctor/book your appointment now. And if you need to order from Canada or elsewhere and wait for delivery, place your orders accordingly so you are not left without medication.
MORE INFORMATION:
- The Armour Thyroid and Nature-Throid Shortage Information Center
- Save Natural Thyroid Coalition Website
- Save Natural Thyroid Coalition Yahoo Listserv
Image: clipart.com
Thanks a million Mary – You got a ton of info from that spokesperson from RLC.
Thanks Mary, for all the time, research, and phone calls. Your helpful and timely info has helped me keep my natural thyroid prescription filled.
With the ever repeating mentions of raw material quality and availability problems, it leaves me wondering if there is some kind of bigger, scandalous “problem” lurking.
thanks again!
I was reading my Swanson Vitamin catalog this morning and was excited to read: ” Pharmacist Jack Slama says… Can’t find Natural Thyroid? I can help! Call the Thyroid Line toll free today 1-800-323-3873. The Natural Thyroid industry has been plagued by unexplained shortages and backorders for over a year. Supplies for brand names like Armour, Westhroid and Naturthroid and their equivalents have been spotty at best. At The Rx Co. we anticipated the shortage months ago and acquired excess inventory to carry us (and you) through these difficult times. Call our Thyroid Line for assistance.”
It continues – but I think you get the idea. After reading your blog, I ordered from a Canada Pharmacy (before reading the above quote). My doctor has to fax them my prescription, but I was happy that my doctor was willing to do that. I don’t think I will have any trouble getting my prescription from Canada and I was surprised that the cost will be less per pill than I was paying in America. If for some reason I have trouble with receiving my Thyroid (Armour) from Canada, I will order from The Rx Co. I know you will be happy to get this information as well.
Thankyou for the kind advice to everybody–the part about making the doc apptmts. was probably a Godsend for some.
Makes me wonder what happens to the poorer quality porcine USP powder. If its USP–it was made to specifications. Were the pigs not fed adequate thyroid-friendly diets? Are the poor pigs needing thyroid treatment of their own?
And what are these companies doing with the substandard powder? (I know, none of my business…but….)
Thanks again, Jan M.
Thanks, Mary, for all you do.
You really know how to get to the heart of things and bring home the bacon.
Many kudos to you!
Thanks – this story just keeps getting more and more bizarre. Kaiser was able to refill my Armour 1 grain after waiting two months & I became symptomatic again within three days (that’s how I learned of the reformulation). So while they have it at my pharmacy (west L.A. facility), it sucks.
I was able to switch to westhroid, and am still adjusting to it. I’ve been tired, cold & easily winded during the week I’ve been on, but took someone’s suggestion yesterday to double wrap a dose in plastic wrap, crush it powder between my teeth & then deposit the powder under my tongue to take sublingually (like “old” armour). I don’t want to jinx it, but after 1 day of divided doses at 5 a.m. 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., I feel I’m getting sufficient thryroid & have more energy.
RLC gave me the name of this pharmacy that seems to have stock & will ship – the price is fairly low (actually less than my Kaiser co-pay for the Armour) & they are helpful. You need to have your Dr. fax the Rx: Clark’s pharmacy: 480-488-2007 Phone /480-575-0541 Fax
Also, I spoke with Peter Koshland at Koshland Pharmacy – they compound & are trying to learn more about the “old” armour formula & if it is not possible to approximate, whether Thyroid USP with limited filler (he does capsules) would be the functional equivalent. He’s looking into it, but says he sources the thryroid from one place and maintains quality checks. Here is their contact & good luck!
Lisa Bishop-Ratley
(415)344-0600
lisa@koshlandpharm.com
http://www.koshland.com
301 Folsom St., Suite B, San Francisco, Ca 94105(p) 415-344-0600 (f) 415-344-0607www.koshlandpharm.comlisa@koshlandpharm.com
I thought I was all set when my compound pharmacy said they can get USP Armour Thyroid and can compound me in a dye free Veggie Capsule at 45MG (also they don’t have to add the recommended yellow dye in the filler). Well, I do have it in hand, but after reading Mary’s update on Forest Labs – I’m not sure I want to have anything to do with a company that has such disregard for the people that depend on thyroid medication. If they treat people this poorly, how are the animals being treated that are used to provide the medication?? I’m just going to start my compounded Armour Thyroid tomorrow – I don’t know what to expect since I was probably on the old formula Armour Thyroid and then recently on the newly revised formula and now I don’t know how my compound compares??
I would like to know what is causing the problems in raw materials supply. Like a poster above said, it seems like there is some corruption at that level. Do you think someone is trying to thwart the companies that are trying to produce quality raw material?
Today I pick up my last few remaining Westhroid pills on God’s green earth. My compounding pharmacist has been limiting each customer to 30 days and now is limiting to a few pills. He had enough foresight to stretch it this far, he’s been a blessing. I have been very diligent to take my pills first thing in the morn. one hour before eating and three hours before any calcium and taking sublignually. I have been able to cut back on my dosage and thus save pills.
For me, the RLC Labs is the way to go.
I had taken 1/4 grain of the old Forrest Labs Armour Thyroid for years successfully. Then came the shortage and the change in production and it all fell apart.
Luckily, I read about the RLC Labs and NatureThroid on this board and I contacted the company. They suggested I contact a compounding pharmacy in Tucson which has carried their products for years.
I was able to obtain a year’s supply of Naturthroid through the compounding pharmacy at a fair price and I’m now feeling secure.
However, my primary doctor wanted to be sure that the NatureThroid was effective, so he had blood drawn for a TSH about six weeks after I went on NaturThroid.
According to my doctor, the results from NatureThroid are better than those that he received annually when I was on Forest Labs Armour Thyroid.
Also, I had trepidations that I might not tolerate the NaturThroid. That proved unfounded after I took the pills for several days without any adverse effects.
Needless to say, I’m now sold on NatureThroid. And I’m impressed with their high standards for selecting raw materials for their products.
Hopefully, those high standards will impress the folks at FDA and they won’t close them down.
Hi Rob Marks (and all),
Rob, you said…”According to my doctor, the results from NatureThroid are better than those that he received annually when I was on Forest Labs Armour Thyroid.”
I just wanted to comment that my doctor said that my levels were better with NatureThroid than they were with Armour….hmmm…makes you wonder. I was able to buy a 6 month supply of NatureThroid by contacting a pharmacy in New York that was mentioned here on this blog! Whew ! what a relief! I sure hope things are “settled” before my 6 month supply runs out!
Blessings to my brothers and sisters
with thyroid issues (=
Patti in Alabama
Thanks to everyone for their help.
I just called the Thyroid Line at 1-800-323-3873 (see Suzanne’s post above) and they said that they’re now out of all Armour and NatureThroid but have 2 grain compounded available.
I then called Clark Pharmacy at 480-488-2007 (as suggested by Serena above) and they said they still have 2 grain Westthroid in stock. (They don’t have 1/4 grain Westthroid in stock.)
Good luck to everyone!
Dean
How can I order Westthroid or NatureThroid from Canad? Is it realistic to expect this to be available in the US by January as I have been wanting and have repeately asked my new Endo to prescribe this as I’ve been on Synthroid since 1986 and my overall health has worsened critically.
Thank you!
I have NOT throid medication! Have been without for more than 6 weeks and I’m not doing well at all. I tried some over the counter Thyroid help — but it didn’t help. Brain is getting fuzzy. Does anyone have any suggestions other than Synthroid!
after the new armor came out i had to adjust my dose and still didn’t feel as good as the old, I switched to the canadian ERFA 2 weeks ago and feel soooo good again !! it disolves sublingually is sweet to taste,the price is reasonable,I went to universal drugs in Canada,
what is canadian EFRA… I was taking nature throid and finally doing great.. then go to refill prescrip 2 weeks ago and NONE.. so he compounded for me.. besides costing 4x more for a months supply it is aweful.. I can take for 4-5 days 15 mg -was taking 30 with nature throid..and then the mild anxiety starts.. I stop and it gets better. So, I don’t know what to do. I am still taking the iodoral with not problems, this is what raises my temp to a normal temp like dr. wants.. but cant take this compounded thyroid..any more ideas.. I would love to buy a 6 month supply
Hi! I ordered my EFRA from http://www.canadamedicineshop.com/ All I had to do was call and place my order. Then I had to fax my prescriptions over to their pharmacy. It took about 5 days to receive my order. They tell you it may take longer if the package gets stopped at the border. If you provide them with your e-mail address they will send you confirmation notices, about your order ect.
If you go to their website look under Armour Thyroid.
I’m a new Thyroid patient so I’m not sure if it’s the same as Armour. My doctor told me that she has had her patients switch to the EFRA with out any problems.
I hope this helps!
I am unable to get the Armour Thyroid in my area at all I was taking 90mg 1 1/2 gr. How do I try to find a Canadian pharmacy so I can order?
Thanks Mary. Here’s another theory. Perhaps some of the natural desiccated thyroid powder shortage goes back to the swine flu scare and when major customers for US pork such as China stopped buying from us. This could lead to a much smaller US pig population and so less pig by-products such as the thyroid powder being available. But that still does not explain the inconsistent powder quality that RLC is talking about.
Thanks for the light at the end of the tunnel!
Thanks to all who have posted info. here….I do have a question however? Is the Armour thyroid medication from Canada the old formula or the new? Like others the “new” formula doesn’t work and the compounded version of Armour that I have received from a Walgreens Pharmacy in Indiana also isn’t working.
I will be contacting RLC Labs to found out if their products are available anywhere in the US.
Thanks for the sharing…makes a difference. Losing my health after 4 years of taking Armour is a mightmare.
Good luck to all of us!
Thanks, Mary. You’ve told me what to do–and I’m going to do it.
I’ve been using a compounded version of Armour, and it hasn’t been as effective. So depressing. Like so many others, I’m going to hold out my hope for NatureThroid in the next month or two.
Thanks again for the valuable information, Mary.
I’m one of those many patients who does not do well on a T4 only (Synthoid) type product. (Endocrinologists don’t believe me, but fortunately both my GP and internist do believe me since they’ve seen this with multiple other patients.) I was on Armour for over 12 years. The Armour re-formulation last Spring threw me into major hypothyroid symptoms within one week. My GP saw this with other patients he had who were also on Armour. My solution was to go to a compounding pharmacy. Obviously some are better than others, and everyone reacts differently, but my compounding pharmacy made up a T3-T4 product in a capsule similar to Armour strength I was taking that appears to be working well (have been on it for four months now.) It cleared up the “reformulated Armour” symptoms within the first few days. My only problem is the expense – it is much more expensive than Armour was, and is not covered by my insurance (insurance has a limited formulary which does not include compounded medications). However, I’m now ordering in a 90-day supply quantity from the compounding pharmacist now which makes it much more reasonable.
My compounding pharmacy is: Mark Drugs
http://markdrugs.com/
They have various fillers that can be used in case of allergy etc. (and no dye is used.)
I am really pleased with this since Armour had been my standard medication for so long – Synthroid didn’t work 12 years ago, and neither did a generic product (Major) when there was a temporary Armour shortage several years ago.
I suggest checking with a compounding pharmacy for anyone who needs a T3-T4 type product at least until we are assured of a good supply of decent dessicated thyroid product again. My compounding pharmacy is a long-time expert in bioidentical hormones which is why I think that they are capable of making this type of product. My GP has referred other people there as well for the same type of product and gets good reports from his other patients, although of course everyone is different in how they will respond.
Like many others, I was devastated to suddenly find my Armour prescription cut off last summer. I was forced to switch to the dreaded Synthroid and found it to be less than effective, as I had feared. All my old symptoms returned and no end to them seemed to be in sight.
I friend who was in the same situation recently suggested I get my doctor to write me another Rx for Armour as before, and that I just take it to our local compounding pharmacy. Last week I did as she suggested and it worked like a charm. They made me up some 90 mg capsules of Armour – although next time I’ll see if they’ll do them in smaller divided doses for me. 90 mg is a lot for me to take in one dose, especially after being off it for so long. I do get a lot done around the house now, though.
Anyway, I’m a happy camper again. No more Synthroid!
I hear the concern and adaptation or worrying that you all have gone through, however, I don’t believe that your pharmacy will be able to provide more than a month supply at a time. My pharmacy is only able to get 1 bottle of Armour every 7 days. If you want to know how to tell your pharmacy how to order these bottles email me at april30angel@msn.com. It’s not a well known thing as of now. Where I am working (pharmacy) we are trying to get all of our patients as much as we can until we can order again!
Hope this helps! Rachel
Does anyone know of a reputable Canadian pharmacy where I can purchase Nature Thyroid for my hypothyroidism?