Armour Thyroid

[Guest guest]

I lliterally went into Thyroid storm about a month and a half ago because

supposedly no one had Armour, and I can't take Synthroid. So not only did I get

close to a heart attack, I also miscarried the baby I was pregnant with. I am

back on Armour, but we have to search around at various pharmacies and take some

from one, other from another one. I do not like having a pulse of 137 and bp of

171/114 which was how I realized I was in thyroid storm, but least of all, I

like having my 3rd miscarriage at 42.

[Guest guest]

Is this a prescription or supplement? If it is a supplement does it have

tyrosine? joyce kaye

> >

> > if anyone knows of a place this can be ordered from without a

> > prescription (overseas?), please let me know. i've searched on the 'net

> > without success.

> >

> > debbie s. - dlsherman@

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Armour thyroid is a prescription medication made of dessicated thyroid.

I have been taking armour thyroid for many years and for the last five

years, there have been periodic shortages. This one, however, is more

severe and longer lasting than previous shortages. The manufacturer's

explanation is at www.armourthyroid.com. The current shortage is

worldwide, and it is a shortage of armour thyroid, naturethroid, and all

similiar dessicated thyroid products.

I have been taking armour thyroid for many years and it has been working

well. However, since armour is not available now, I am preparing to

switch to a compounded medication made by my local pharmacy, upon the

advice of my physician, which includes both synthetic T3 and synthetic

T4. Like everyone else, I am hoping this shortage ends soon.

Wishing everyone the best,

Statement from Forest Laboratories Re: Availability of Armour Thyroid

Forest Laboratories and its supplier understand how frustrating the back

order situation of Armour Thyroid is for patients, and we apologize for

the supply interruption.

Forest Laboratories is working closely with its supplier of the

product's active ingredient, powdered Thyroid gland, and both companies

are working diligently to return to normal supply levels as quickly as

possible.

There are many complicated steps involved in the supply chain for a

naturally desiccated thyroid product like Armour Thyroid. One factor in

the supply interruption involves the manufacturing of a sufficient

quantity of powdered Thyroid gland. American Laboratories, Inc., the

sole U.S. supplier of Thyroid Powder Products, is working as quickly as

possible to provide Forest with a sufficient quantity of this ingredient.

Forest is addressing the backlog of Armour Thyroid as quickly as

possible, however, we are not prepared at this time to give a definitive

date by which the product will be fully restocked. Please check for

future updates on the availability of Armour Thyroid through the Forest

product availability toll-free hotline at (866) 927-3260.

In the meantime, we encourage patients to speak with their physician

regarding appropriate treatment for their condition.

Statement from Forest Laboratories Re: Availability of Armour Thyroid

Forest Laboratories and its supplier understand how frustrating the back

order situation of Armour Thyroid is for patients, and we apologize for

the supply interruption.

Forest Laboratories is working closely with its supplier of the

product's active ingredient, powdered Thyroid gland, and both companies

are working diligently to return to normal supply levels as quickly as

possible.

There are many complicated steps involved in the supply chain for a

naturally desiccated thyroid product like Armour Thyroid. One factor in

the supply interruption involves the manufacturing of a sufficient

quantity of powdered Thyroid gland. American Laboratories, Inc., the

sole U.S. supplier of Thyroid Powder Products, is working as quickly as

possible to provide Forest with a sufficient quantity of this ingredient.

Forest is addressing the backlog of Armour Thyroid as quickly as

possible, however, we are not prepared at this time to give a definitive

date by which the product will be fully restocked. Please check for

future updates on the availability of Armour Thyroid through the Forest

product availability toll-free hotline at (866) 927-3260.

In the meantime, we encourage patients to speak with their physician

regarding appropriate treatment for their condition.

Beck wrote:

>

>

> I've been on Armour 30 mg tabs for over a year.

> Last time I got my prescription refilled my pharmacist told me that

> they had

> stopped making the 30 mg tab.

> He specially compounded it for me (after getting my doc's ok) and got my

> insurance to cover it and my co pay was less than for the regular Armour.

> So ask a compounding pharmacist if they can compound it for you.

>

>

> _____

>

> From:

> <mailto:%40>

> [mailto:

> <mailto:%40>] On Behalf Of jamkaye7

> Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 9:46 AM

>

> <mailto:%40>

> Subject: armour thyroid

>

>

> I just read where the fDA is requiring armour thyroid to go thru the

> process

> of being a new drug. That is a long process and it may take a long time. I

> became aware of this when Humana said they could no longer get it. I am

> trying to go thru canada drugs to get it. Does anyone have a source for

> armour? Thanks! FDA wants us to order the synthetic form instead of the

> bioidentical hormone. Synthroid really raised my blood pressure. I

> could not

> tolerate it.

>

>

[Guest guest]

www.therxco.com has natural thyroid.

AdrienneVictory

armour thyroid

I just read where the fDA is requiring armour thyroid to go thru the process

of being a new drug. That is a long process and it may take a long time. I

became aware of this when Humana said they could no longer get it. I am trying

to go thru canada drugs to get it. Does anyone have a source for armour?

Thanks! FDA wants us to order the synthetic form instead of the bioidentical

hormone. Synthroid really raised my blood pressure. I could not tolerate it.

------------------------------------

This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

[Guest guest]

After being able to receive armour again, I noticed things felt different and

didn't seem right. I even called the pharmacist to see if anyone else

complained, and maybe it was a bad batch. After looking into it further, two of

my doctors had found that several of their patients were feeling the same way

about their new amour. It turns out that they reformulated it, and the fillers

are different. Such as it now contains corn in the filler. For many people who

have food sensitivities, be careful of the newer formulation.

When I wasn't able to get the armour, I sent on a compounded thyroid, and

although more expensive, I felt so much better on it. I am planning on spending

the extra money to stay on the compounded thyroid instead of returning to the

armour, even now that I can get it.

There are other brands, but if you have food sensitivities, check the inactive

ingredients carefully. This might be a good lesson for any of our meds. I

never heard of fillers.

>

> www.therxco.com has natural thyroid.

>

> AdrienneVictory

> armour thyroid

>

>

> I just read where the fDA is requiring armour thyroid to go thru the process

of being a new drug. That is a long process and it may take a long time. I

became aware of this when Humana said they could no longer get it. I am trying

to go thru canada drugs to get it. Does anyone have a source for armour?

Thanks! FDA wants us to order the synthetic form instead of the bioidentical

hormone. Synthroid really raised my blood pressure. I could not tolerate it.

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

[Guest guest]

, could you share where you were able to get Armour, even though it's

the new formulation?

I cannot get 120-180 mgs anywhere in SE PA and have had to go on synthetic

T-3 and T-4.

I was able to get the compounded version of the synthetics, the apparent

difference of which was that the compounded version was time released. I did

not do well on that.

I would be so happy to be able to get back to Armour again, even the new

formulation!

Sharon

> rachelmcdon@...

> Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 2:22 PM

>

> After being able to receive armour again, I noticed things felt different

> and didn't seem right. I even called the pharmacist to see if anyone else

> complained, and maybe it was a bad batch. After looking into it further,

> two of my doctors had found that several of their patients were feeling

> the same way about their new amour. It turns out that they reformulated

> it, and the fillers are different. Such as it now contains corn in the

> filler. For many people who have food sensitivities, be careful of the

> newer formulation.

>

> When I wasn't able to get the armour, I sent on a compounded thyroid, and

> although more expensive, I felt so much better on it. I am planning on

> spending the extra money to stay on the compounded thyroid instead of

> returning to the armour, even now that I can get it.

>

> There are other brands, but if you have food sensitivities, check the

> inactive ingredients carefully. This might be a good lesson for any of

> our meds. I never heard of fillers.

[Guest guest]

You don't want the New Armour... another BAD filler is cellulose.

I also am using a compounded version now and I told them about the

filler issue and so they are using acidophillous as the filler.. How perfect ;-)

There are many legs to this story..

Once good source is:

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/24/why-forest-labs-had-gotten-away-\

with-a-newly-formulated-armour/

From: rachelmcdon@... <rachelmcdon@...>

Subject: Re: armour thyroid

Date: Friday, December 25, 2009, 11:22 AM

 

After being able to receive armour again, I noticed things felt different

and didn't seem right. I even called the pharmacist to see if anyone else

complained, and maybe it was a bad batch. After looking into it further, two of

my doctors had found that several of their patients were feeling the same way

about their new amour. It turns out that they reformulated it, and the fillers

are different. Such as it now contains corn in the filler. For many people who

have food sensitivities, be careful of the newer formulation.

When I wasn't able to get the armour, I sent on a compounded thyroid, and

although more expensive, I felt so much better on it. I am planning on spending

the extra money to stay on the compounded thyroid instead of returning to the

armour, even now that I can get it.

There are other brands, but if you have food sensitivities, check the inactive

ingredients carefully. This might be a good lesson for any of our meds. I

never heard of fillers.

>

> www.therxco. com has natural thyroid.

>

> AdrienneVictory

> armour thyroid

>

>

> I just read where the fDA is requiring armour thyroid to go thru the process

of being a new drug. That is a long process and it may take a long time. I

became aware of this when Humana said they could no longer get it. I am trying

to go thru canada drugs to get it. Does anyone have a source for armour?

Thanks! FDA wants us to order the synthetic form instead of the bioidentical

hormone. Synthroid really raised my blood pressure. I could not tolerate it.

>

>

>

> ------------ --------- --------- ------

>

> This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the filler info, and for the link to the Erfa news. I'm keeping this

for reference!

Sharon

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of bodieangels

>

> You don't want the New Armour... another BAD filler is cellulose.

> I also am using a compounded version now and I told them about the

> filler issue and so they are using acidophillous as the filler.. How

> perfect ;-)

> There are many legs to this story..

> Once good source is:

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2009/07/24/why-forest-labs-had-

> gotten-away-with-a-newly-formulated-armour/

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila

I have an appointment with my GP on Wednesday of this week. She has been

prescribing Armour Thyroid for me and having read your posts i am unsure as to

what to suggest for her to prescribe in place of Armour. Is there a letter I

can print off explaining the current situation and the alternative thyroid meds

available - other than the posts which I can print off?

Can you explain the differences between Erfa,Nature Throid or West Throid as i

am unsure as to what will be best suited to me.

Thanks very much

Shell

>

> Hi Everybody,

>

>

>

> Seems this is no longer a rumour, but true. I wrote to the Broda

> Foundation last week and today received their response. I have attached the

> mentioned letter from Forest which they sent to the BB Foundation. If you

> have any questions, please let me know and I will try to respond. If you

> were being prescribed Armour Thyroid in Europe or the UK, you should ask

> your doctor to change your prescription to either Erfa 'Thyroid' (this can

> be taken sublingually in the same way as you could take Armour before it was

> reformulated 3 years ago), Nature Throid or West Throid.

[Guest guest]

>

> >

> > Hi Everybody,

> >

> >

> >

> > Seems this is no longer a rumour, but true. I wrote to the Broda

> > Foundation last week and today received their response. I have attached the

> > mentioned letter from Forest which they sent to the BB Foundation. If you

> > have any questions, please let me know and I will try to respond. If you

> > were being prescribed Armour Thyroid in Europe or the UK, you should ask

> > your doctor to change your prescription to either Erfa 'Thyroid' (this can

> > be taken sublingually in the same way as you could take Armour before it was

> > reformulated 3 years ago), Nature Throid or West Throid.

>

Hi Sheila, I hope you are well. Sorry to say but I'm behind on this news, is

Armour thyroid being stopped? I do hope not, just the thought of it has sent me

in a tizz.

[Guest guest]

I was more than shocked to get a prescription for Erfa rather than Armour

yesterday. Erfa hasnt worked for me in the past and no one can adequately

explain why Armour is no longer being shipped to the UK by Forest

Pharmaceuticals.

After much research I found an international drug pharmacy

(internationalpharmacy.com) that will sell me Armour Thyroid, no prescription,

though I can get a prescription I'm sure from Mr Skinner my consultant.

I am utterly shocked and appalled I have been put in this position of no supply,

when on Levothyroxine I was sleeping six hours a day and ten at night and told

it was normal along with hallucinations by the NHS Endocrynologist.

Mr Skinner has been the only one to help. It seems that there is some sort of

vendetta against him by the GMC and against Armour thyroid prescription.

I am so upset right now I feel the 'system' is against me being well.

>

> Hi everyone

>

> i have just sent a message to Sheila re suggestions as to which other thyroid

med would be most suitable now that armour is nolonger available. I have lost

the plot and cant figure out how to continue with the message i wrote 10 mins

ago hence this new one! I now wonder whether it would be wize to phone Dr S -

who i have seen several times and ask his advice - I think i will do that in the

morning. just had a crap morning at the hospital having a follow up after

having abnormal smear test. Now need further treatment after biopsies taken

today - trying not to stress too much but dont want to get in a position of

having no meds

>

> Shell - i am just rambling really!

>

[Guest guest]

don't worry about rambling ...we all do that at times

i believe a lot of people take erfa which is reputed to be very similar to the

pre-reformulated version of armour...have a look in the Files and you will see

where you can buy it from.

although easier said than done, try not to worry about the abnormal smear

result. you could do some deep breathing to help calm the mind (in through the

nose, out through the mouth and a slightly longer exhale because that will get

rid of stale air). from a practical standpoint to support your stressed state

(at the very least) try and make sure you take vit c a few times a day and a

good quality vitamin b complex.

best wishes

trish

>

> Hi everyone

>

> i have just sent a message to Sheila re suggestions as to which other thyroid

med would be most suitable now that armour is nolonger available. I have lost

the plot and cant figure out how to continue with the message i wrote 10 mins

ago hence this new one! I now wonder whether it would be wize to phone Dr S -

who i have seen several times and ask his advice - I think i will do that in the

morning. just had a crap morning at the hospital having a follow up after

having abnormal smear test. Now need further treatment after biopsies taken

today - trying not to stress too much but dont want to get in a position of

having no meds

>

> Shell - i am just rambling really!

>

[Guest guest]

I am

forwarding the following message from Forest Pharmaceuticals in case the

message posted by Joanne the day before yesterday caused confusion. The message

below confirms the message I put on the forum previously with a copy of the

Broda Foundation Message. I doubt that this will affect US Pharmacies

who may continue to export Armour Thyroid without prescription to those in the

UK, but for those who get an NHS or private prescription, they may need to ask

their doctors to change their prescription to Erfa 'Thyroid'. Nature Throid or

Westhroid.

Sheila

---------- Forwarded message

----------

From: Customer Service Requests <customerservice@...>

Date: Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 7:50 PM

Subject: RE: Armour

tcpace@...

Mr.

Collingwood,

Thank you

for your inquiry. Following a re-evaluation of Forest business considerations,

we decided to discontinue shipping Armour Thyroid to Europe and to restrict

distribution of the product to the U.S. market only. Forest is working with the

U.S. Food & Drug Administration under its 2006 compliance guidance to bring

Armour Thyroid into the current U.S. approval process and has decided to focus

on its core U.S. business operations at this time.

Regards,

Customer

Service â–ª Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. â–ª (800) 678-1605

ext. 66298 â–ª customerservice@...

This e-mail and its attachments may contain

Forest Laboratories, Inc. proprietary information that is privileged,

confidential or subject to copyright belonging to Forest Laboratories, Inc.

This e-mail is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which

it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, or the

employee or agent responsible for delivering this e-mail to the intended recipient,

you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying or action

taken in relation to the contents of and attachments to this e-mail is strictly

prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this e-mail in error,

please notify the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and

any copy of this e-mail and any printout.

[Guest guest]

The only explanation we have as to the reason we can no

longer get Armour thyroid is from a letter from Forest Pharmaceuticals, the

manufacturers of Armour. I posted such a letter on the forum some time ago by

way of explanation. They state that they will no longer be exporting Armour to

Europe or the UK but will be continuing to manufacture it for the US only.

If you look in our FILES Section (accessible from the Menu on

the Home Page of this Forum, and scroll down the long list of FOLDERS which

carry every kind of information you would need to know, open the FOLDER

entitled 'Internet Pharmacies' and you can find a long list of pharmacies who

sell thyroid hormone replacements, both synthetic and natural thyroid extract. You

can buy thyroid hormones from all these reputable pharmacies without the need

of a prescription. International Pharmacy is also experiencing difficulties in

meeting orders for Armour Thyroid at the moment, and has asked that people

order just 1 tub at a time, in order that all can receive what they need.

It does work out more expensive to get a private prescription

and purchase from Springfield Pharmacy, but unfortunately, Springfield pharmacy

are no longer able to get Armour.

There are other brands of thyroid extract, i.e. Nature Throid,

Westhroid and Erfa 'Thyroid' and there are generic thyroid extracts you can

buy, as you will see in the FILES SECTION. If you are unable to tolerate Erfa,

you may have to experiment to see what suits you. What happens when you try

Erfa 'Thyroid'?

Forest Pharmaceuticals have been causing problems for patients

who use Armour Thyroid for a few years now. They changed the formulae without

being asked to and without giving any reasons as to why over 2 years ago,

taking out some dextrose and adding more cellulose, which, for some patients,

changed the potency. You can no longer take it sublingually as it just goes into

a nasty gooey mess and is designed to be chewed and swallowed with plenty of

water. They gave no warning to anybody about their decision not to ship this

product to Europe and the UK - it came right out of the blue. Seems we are

unable to help you with this, but be assured you are not alone.

If you want to blame anybody for any possible

" conspiracy " perhaps you should read what the Royal College of

Phys8icians and British Thyroid Association state about T3 and natural thyroid

extract.

I was more than shocked to get a prescription for Erfa rather than Armour

yesterday. Erfa hasnt worked for me in the past and no one can adequately

explain why Armour is no longer being shipped to the UK by Forest

Pharmaceuticals.

After much research I found an international drug pharmacy

(internationalpharmacy.com) that will sell me Armour Thyroid, no prescription,

though I can get a prescription I'm sure from Mr Skinner my consultant.

I am utterly shocked and appalled I have been put in this position of no

supply, when on Levothyroxine I was sleeping six hours a day and ten at night

and told it was normal along with hallucinations by the NHS Endocrynologist.

Mr Skinner has been the only one to help. It seems that there is some sort of

vendetta against him by the GMC and against Armour thyroid prescription.

I am so upset right now I feel the 'system' is against me being well.