Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know
Second Edition / 2005
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Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Can't get armour anymore??
Posted by MY3BOYS (Member # 17830) on :
nope, everyone is out and been on back order for long time now,
i changed back to synthroid + cytomel
for me when changed to armour (much cheaper) my body went into slow-motion.
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
I switched to nature throid and didn't find it to be adequate. The best was on armour just before the reformulation. Have tried synthroid, levoxyl + cytomel, but am not where I want to be.
Pharmacies around here can't get armour or nature throid.
About to throw up my hands. How can we fine tune the thyroid meds when there are shortages and problems in the manufacturing?
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
does anyone think that the new formula that Armour is now in trouble for...would have made my reverse T3 high?
I have tried Cytomel and I felt like death on it.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Sounds like a conspiracy to me. Big Pharma is behind it?? Wanting to sell their other more pricey formulas?
Posted by lundeliz (Member # 10806) on :
I called my pharmacy today to get my Armour
refilled. Supposed to be ready in the morning.
I guess I'll find out then if I really get
Armour or not.
Posted by runner21 (Member # 1974) on :
Lou, i was the very same way. I felt the best on armour BEFORE they reformulated it.. I am a bit concerned about naturothrroid but the pharmacist rest assured me its the very same thing.. I pick it up tomorrow..
So , for the most part it seems people feel best on T3?
Posted by keltyl (Member # 14050) on :
I take 30 mg 2x a day. The last time I got my refill, he said he could only get 60 mg, which I split (sometimes does not work very well).
I'll be calling for a refill this week, we'll see what happens. I can't take Synthroid, it almost killed me when I was on it. Armour thyroid is the first that has worked well for me. And I agree with Lymetoo.
Posted by GiGi (Member # 259) on :
Runner, as you continue your PSP, notice one of my recent posts on the Allergie Immune thread, your hormone status is sure to improve as it has done for me and others. But it takes t i m e .
Take care.
Posted by keltyl (Member # 14050) on :
I just called my pharmacy. He has 100 60 mg tabs. and said they give them no idea when they will be getting any. So I get one more refill, then what? I'll have to call my endo and see what they say. This really sucks!
Posted by joysie (Member # 11063) on :
As of this morning, my armour prescription could not be refilled. I am switching to cytomel + synthroid (formerly armour + synthroid). Kris
Posted by runner21 (Member # 1974) on :
Thank you Gigi and everyone for your feedback. I am currently on westthroid and not feeling well at all on it. I will check out the swanson link..and will post if I have luck. thanks again
Posted by n.northernlights (Member # 17934) on :
The most updated site is Shomon's http://www.savanaturalthyroid.com site, with links to the facebook group and the yahoo group. If you need the Natural Thyroid, check the facebook postings for tipshow to find a compounding pharmacy, ans they can make you capsules with the same stuff, with the fillers of your choice.
But the presciption is not the same, it must say "Compound" and the amount must be in grains
Forest has sent out small shipments of Armour now lately.
RLC (Westhroid, Nature-throid, which are indentical) had been subcontracted to Time caps which the FDA had ordered closed, along with Major, and will be back in november.
Erfa Thyroid (exactly the same as the other NT drugs, it is like Armour old formulation) is available from canadian web pharmacies, several patients have gotten it. Check facebook group.
FDA wants NT to be approved and to apply for NDA, and says it believes no drugs are grandfathered in anymore.....
Posted by blackmon (Member # 1528) on :
Question for those with hypothyroidism and Lyme: I have a history of Lyme, but not as debilitating as my son or others.
In the spring I had PVCs/palpitations and rapid heart rate, low TSH. Then in the summer extreme fatigue and sx of low thyroid--TSH went up to 26.
I tested positive for Hashimoto's antibodies. I'm taking synthroid--had to back down b/c some PVC's started again. It may not have been long enough to get things controlled, but I feel rotten with fatigue, myalgias, joint pain and word-finding problems.
How do you know what to attribute to Lyme and what might be Hashimoto's--I've seen the above symptoms listed for hypothyroidism. I'd like to get it under control before treating for Lyme again, but am not sure what is best course. Anyone else struggled with this?
Thanks, Nancy
Posted by runner21 (Member # 1974) on :
hmmm thank you all. i cannot click on any of the sites you all suggested..it says web page error. however, i will check out forest.. thanks again!
Posted by Parisa (Member # 10526) on :
I got a refill of my Armour's so there must still be some supplies.
Posted by Abxnomore (Member # 18936) on :
I have not had any trouble either, but I only use 60mg. It seems that the higher doses are the problem.
This should help if you can't open the link above.
As of June, Armour's spokespeople had indicated that several dosage sizes of Armour Thyroid were undergoing "extensive enhancement process for quality control" and were not currently in production. The dosages included:
At that time, Forest was saying that these dosages would be available again in October of 2008.
Unfortunately, according to the latest status update on Armour -- which you can hear by calling their toll-free Armour information line at 1-866-927-3260 -- those out of stock dosages that are currently being "enhanced" are not going to be available in October. Instead, the hotline indicates that these dosages "should be available late 2008." This is not good news for thyroid patients.
According to Forest, the dosage sizes still being produced include the following:
Not surprisingly, given Armour's obvious inability to ramp up its manufacturing, or meet demand from all Armour users with just several dosage sizes, there is still a massive shortage around the nation. And at present, Forest is significantly back-ordered on all of the above dosages, except for the 15 mg (1/4 grain) size.
That means that the ONLY dosage size of Armour currently available from Forest is the 15 mg size. Some of the other dosages may be available with distributors and pharmacies, but it's likely that those outlets will soon run out.
The hotline claims that the other dosage sizes will be available the week of September 22, 2008.
Given these problems, I am still receiving calls and emails from patients around the country who are unable to get ANY Armour Thyroid from their pharmacies. These include patients trying to get prescriptions filled at local pharmacies, as well as chains like Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens.
Clearly, Armour has not been forthcoming with thyroid patients, and has offered no information as to the reformulation, only ever-shifting timeframes, and promises they aren't keeping. Frankly, the lack of concern for their patient population is obvious in their cavalier attitude toward their customers.
That said, if you are one of the many patients who is struggling to deal with the shortage of Armour, I have some solutions for you.
What Can You Do? How Can You Get Your Thyroid Medication?
First, be careful. Your pharmacy or doctor may suggest switching to an easily-obtained synthetic drug, like Synthroid or Levoxyl, or the generic, levothyroxine. They may claim "It's the same thing." It's definitely not. Synthetic thyroid hormone replacement drugs like Synthroid operate very differently; they are not the same as natural thyroid medication. People who do well on Armour Thyroid may not do well on synthetic substitutes. So my suggestion is, if you are doing well on natural thyroid, work with your practitioner to stay on natural thyroid, even if it means switching to another brand name natural thyroid drug.
For those of you who rely on natural thyroid, there are ways to get prescription natural thyroid medication.
Armour Thyroid Availability
A reputable compounding pharmacy, Knowles Apothecary, has a decent supply of Armour Thyroid available. The pharmacy is located in Kensington, Maryland. (Full disclosure: It's the pharmacy that fills my prescriptions, and I love them. They're very knowledgeable and thorough!) They fill prescription drug orders by mail, but your doctor's office will need to fax or call in a valid prescription. Make sure it's written for nothing larger than Armour 60 mg -- so if you take 3 grains or 180 mg a day, the prescription should be for a total of three 60-mg per day tablets. Ask your doctor to write you a decent supply -- at least three months or more -- to carry you through the shortage period.
(Important Update: As of Sept 9, 2009, Knowles is no longer able to fill orders for natural desiccated thyroid, due to the product shortage. )
Knowles is likely to face shortages as supplies dwindle, you have the doctor include on the prescription that if the Armour is unavailable, substitution with the Western Research products Nature-Throid and Westhroid is acceptable. That way, the pharmacy will fill your prescription with the other brand name desiccated thyroid, manufactured by Western Labs.
Nature-Throid and Westhroid
Western Research Labs manufacturers Nature-Throid and Westhroid. These are both prescription natural desiccated thyroid drugs, like Armour Thyroid. The primary difference is that Nature-Throid is hypoallergenic, for those who might be sensitive to some of the filler and binders. It comes in the same dosage sizes as Armour Thyroid.
To get Nature-Throid and Westhroid, you can:
* See if your pharmacy considers Nature-Throid/Westhroid equivalent to Armour, and fill the prescription with Nature-Throid/Westhroid. If so, your pharmacy may be able to order it for you through their distributors. * If your pharmacy can't get it through their distributor, ask them if they will order it directly from Western Research, by calling toll-free 1-877-797-7997 * If your pharmacy doesn't consider Nature-Throid/Westhroid equivalent to Armour, ask your doctor's office to call or fax your pharmacy a new prescription for Nature-Throid/Westhroid. * If your pharmacy can't get Nature-Throid or Westhroid and won't order it directly, then have your prescription sent to you by mail. Have your doctor call or fax your prescription for Nature-Throid or Westhroid prescription to: Knowles Apothecary 10400 Connecticut Ave, Suite 100 Kensington, MD 20895 Phone: 301-942-7979 Fax: 301-942-5544
Again, be sure to ask your doctor to prescribe at least a three to six month supply if possible, so that you are sufficiently stocked for the shortage.
For Doctors Who Prescribe Armour
If you are a doctor who prescribes Armour, be aware that the shortages of Armour are likely to get worse until the end of 2008, at best. You may want to consider direct-ordering Nature-Throid or Westhroid so that you have it in stock for your thyroid patients who take natural thyroid. Call Western Research Labs toll-free 1-877-797-7997 for more information. (Patients, if you have a doctor who does a lot of work with Armour Thyroid, you might encourage him or her to also consider stocking Nature-Throid or Westhroid for their patients.)
Posted by n.northernlights (Member # 17934) on :
several patients have posted on the savenaturalthyroid facebook page that they have gotten Thyroid from canada via several canadian web pharmacies. There is a list in the discussion tab at the facebook group.
The canadian Thyroid is made by erfa, who bought the old Parke-Davis Thyroid together with several other brands some years ago.
They were surprised that patients wanted Thyroid, and even posted on the thyroid.about.com forum briefly, and erfa has increased the production to be able to supply patients. They are approved, so there is no fda problem in Canada of any sorts, since they already are approved.
the raw material is from the U.S., identical to Armour and RLC raw material. (there is only one supplyer, and they had to start capturing and recycling solvents this summer, so maybe the raw material shortage is because of the solvent issue)
Posted by runner21 (Member # 1974) on :
Hooray! My pharmacy finally got some in. tomorrow i will be back on it (lets hope its the same as it was) the pharmacist said there is still a hold on it, and he is not sure when they will be able to fully stock it.