I was wondering if anyone can tell me how the other two NDTs made by RLC Labs compare to WP, other than cost?
They're cheaper, but does this mean the quality is compromised?
Would I need more of the latter two, even though the grain dose is 65mcgs?
Has anyone tried all three, that would give me some feedback, please?
I've just ordered WP again, as that works well for me, but I'm wondering about whether to try one of the others, or both, for my next order. My experience with Thyro-Gold wasn;t positive, & I've no wish for a repeat set back.
Thanks in advance!
M*
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Hi M, I don't think it would be worth changing what you are using. Both are good quality but here is a comparative view. stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...
As far as I know, the company no longer produces Westhroid. And for quite a number of years, Westhroid and Nature-Throid were the exact same product just sold under two names. (The reasoning seemed to be that when the two products became the same, they didn't want to confuse people - and possibly lose customers - so carried on with two names.)
The only difference between Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid that RLC acknowledge seems to be precisely the ingredients - if you have no problem with Nature-Throid there seems no point in paying extra just to get WP Thyroid. If you have problems with the excipients (non-active ingredients) of Nature-Throid you might find WP Thyroid gets round them.
I switched from Armour to Westhroid in January 2017, so yes, Westhroid is still made. The difference between the two, besides perhaps different fillers, is that the Westhroid pigs are fed a healthier diet, with no antibiotics or hormones.
If you are right, I don't know why RLC, the manufacturers, have this on their website:
The REAL facts about Westhroid.
Same formula, different name.
Nature-Throid and Westhroid are identical formulations. Having one medication under two names caused some confusion; therefore, we made the decision to market under one name: Nature-Throid.
I don't know where you got the idea of a healthier diet from? So far as I know, all Thyroid USP, the basic powdered thyroid from which the USA desiccated thyroid products are manufactured, comes from one company.
However, there has been confusion about the naming of the product WP Thyroid, which on the image (link below) also says Westhroid Pure. In most other ways they appear to have stopped using the name Westhroid.
I saw that too and don't understand why they said that. I just got a refill for my prescription and it's still called Westhroid. One thing I would like to know and I can't find this info ANYWHERE.. .and different people, including doctors, give different opinions, but HOW do we take this drug? With food? Without food? If it's without food, how long do we wait after eating before taking it? Or if we take it first thing in the morning, how long do we wait to eat, etc? There has to be one right way and the pro's can't seem to agree on it. I also can't get an answer from the drug manufacturer.
Where did you find that info? Why would we take Vit C with it or the juices? Still need to know how long to wait to eat, or how long after eating to take it.
There are hundreds of posts on here stating the same thing.
Hypothyroid people often have low stomach acid, so do not get the full nutritional benefit of food, or medication. Adding ascorbic acid powder (vit C), apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice, to the water THs are taken with improves the break down & absorption of medication by increasing acid in the stomach. These are also good to take before eating anything for the same reason.
I take my TH first thing, or if I wake up in the night. Always on an empty stomach with water & added ascorbc acid (never fizzy vit C as these have additives & artificial sweetener). I rarely eat before 2 hours afterwards, as I prefer restricted eating times. Most days I don't eat for more than 4 hours after my THs, & never take any mineral or other vitamin supplements until 4 hours after.
I have been taking my med about 5am, then go back to sleep and don't eat til about 9am. It's always best to split the dosage and take half in the morning and half in the afternoon so that's why I needed to know how long before or after eating to take it.
My stomach acid is great as long as I follow the golden rule to stop drinking water 30 mins before eating and no drinking for at least an hour after eating. Before I found out that info, I had horrible silent reflux. Now that I watch the times that I am drinking liquids, I no longer have reflux issues.
I always drink water or weak green tea & lemon inbetween meals or before eating. I tend not to drink with meals to avoid bloating my stomach, though most meals have a very high water conten, & I like to add ACV.
Good to work out what's best for us as reflux is horrrible! Was yours due to low stomach acid?
My reflux was due to drinking water too soon before and after eating and it diluted my stomach acid, causing that flap (esophageal sphincter) at the top of my stomach to relax, fall open and that let my stomach contents go up into my esophagus. The silent reflux went away quickly and I have no issues at all now that I know when to drink and not to drink.
You take it exactly the same as any other thyroid medication, I take one in the morning before breakfast-wait an hour before eating, then one at bedtime at least an hour after you have eaten. I hope this helps. This is how I was given instructions by my endocrinologist!
My endo told me there are too many fillers in NP, for medical reasons she wanted me on WP only!! When I asked my pharmacist, he laughed and said they are exactly the same. I lost weight on the NP, I have gained on the WP!!
Well, WP Thyroid does have different excipients (binders, bulking agents, etc.) to NP Thyroid but I always take the view that what they are can be as important as how much! And often the total quantity is much the same even if the number of different substances is different.
Fillers. That's the only difference. Nature-Throid is described as hypoallergenic and has no nasties in it, but WP has even fewer fillers in, designed for the very sensitive gut.
If you're sensitive to what's packaged up with your pills, WP is the best. But if your body handles most drugs well, Nature-Throid would be fine. In terms of potency, they're identical.
To add to the good information given above. People react to different NDTs so it comes down to individual preference. Some have different processes for the uptake, uploading of the drug (sorry am not technical) -some people find that different fillers affect how well they respond to the NDT. It's all in the individual response. Really you would have to try to find out.
WP is the new name for Westhroid-P (P standing for 'pure').
Westhroid had different filler in it to WP. I did not do well on Westhroid but did great on Westhroid-P or WP as its now called.
You really have to do some digging to find that Westhroid (since 1934) is still available, even on the RLC Labs (manufacturer) website. But here is a link...
RLC's webpage says the ingredients in Westhroid and Naturethroid are identical but Naturethroid is offered in more tablet/dosage strengths than Westhroid.
WP is offered with only 3 inactive ingredients and is considered hypoallergenic for folks who have trouble with the other ingredients (excipients) in other NDT brands.
I have tried WP and Naturethroid. Naturethroid is chalky tasting and didn't really suit me but WP is what I take and I am quite happy with it. All these NDTs are of equal quality and RLC Labs is a top-notch manufacturer. I don't think you need be concerned about their efficacy or their strength so... no need to take larger doses. Westhroid and Naturethroid are NOT weak products.
Naturethroid is very economical and WP can cost about 1/4 to 1/3 more. If finances are a concern, I would give Naturethroid a try. Maybe try Naturethroid for a few weeks and see how it goes? You can always return to WP if WP is working well for you.
That looks like a page they put up when they decided to stop marketing Westhroid. (My emphasis.):
Nature-Throid and Westhroid are identical formulations. Having one medication under two names caused some confusion; therefore, we made the decision to market under one name: Nature-Throid.
Without being certain of the date, maybe there is still some Westhroid in the distribution system? Or maybe it has now all gone or reached expiry?
I agree, helvella. There was an internet site that was still offering Westhroid as well as WP as recently as last year. I checked the site before I posted (was going to check prices) and it isn't offered any longer.
It is a long time (several years) since Westhroid was an available product. I doubt you will find it for sale anywhere!
When RLC brought out their new formulation, they chose to call it Westhroid Pure, which was then abbreviated to WP Thyroid. So, RLC produce two products, Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid.
Info on commonly used desiccated thyroid is on the main Thyroid UK website. Click on the purple bar that says
I spotted it on the website that I use, but could only get info on WP & Nature Throid. I don't take a high dose, & I've started adding a bit of T3, so think I'll have enough to last to the autumn. I might try a small bottle of Nature Throid before then, as a 1/4 of a 5 grain pill should take me through to the end of the year.
Helvella that is really interesting and explains some historical confusion with my pharmacy who were also repeatedly told it was one and the same thing. They then on top got confused with the two DIFFERENT meds Westhyroid and Westhyroid-P stating they were the same. I can now understand why they kept thinking this and kept sending me the wrong meds.... At the time I found it very frustrating! Clearly one can see why the manufacturers changed the names to WP &Naturethyriod. Just amazing they didn't do it earlier!! Common sense finally prevailing, Though they have been marketing WP as a NEW product.....!!!
Isn't WP the same as Westhroid-P. That was my understanding -they changed the name from Westhroid -P to WP (taking the W & P from the old name....) Westhroid-P was completely different to Westhroid.
Well how strange. I was on Westhroid-P and the manufacturers told me Westhroid -P was now WP. They changed the name because a lot of confusion was caused between their two original products Westhroid and Westhroid-P. That certainly was my experience as the pharmacy were for ever receiving the wrong product ordered in by their supplier who didn't seem to understand that the P at the end denoted a completely different product -drove me crazy. I was soo relieved when they changed the name -Alleyluya for common sense! So technically maybe it is a newish product but it's not really if you know what I mean!! Haha...
Just to underline my point below -here is the link to the stopthemadness website stating its a name change -Westhroid-P to WP. Product has NOT changed -it isn't new only the name is!!
What I was trying to put across was that WP Thyroid (whether called WP Thyroid or Westhroid P) is a real Johnnie-come-lately compared to the ancient ones like Armour and even the original Westhroid.
I think I inadvertently made it read as if WP Thyroid were newer than Westhroid P - it is only its name that is slightly newer!
Haha... Well in that case I suppose it is a Jonnie come lately BUT it's the only one that works for me -not even Armour did due to its fillers. But then again the original formula was better for me but in all honesty WPs ingredients for some reason has given me the best uptake of all the NDTs I've tired......even had to drop my dose by a whole grain plus!! Now that would make an interesting piece of research..... 😊😊
Hi...I'm interested in your post here..l was on Levo for years and was never well...then miraculously my new doctor gave me Armour..stllmnot really well after 18 months.
Had been on 100 mcg Levo..then 2 grains Armour.
These two don't seem to equate as they should...
Now , since yesterday my doctor hads given me WP thyroid...took first dose yesterday...1-5 grains..being cautious...have not felt very well today ,.certainly knew l had a new drug inside me...feel very unsure what dose to keep at to try..any ideas ? I'm interested how you dropped your dose...I must say l suspected this could happen ..
I was on Levo for many years at 100 mcg,,Never well .
. Then for about twenty months been on Armour....at two grains. ..not quite as bad but still not well...
So three days ago began on WP Thyroid...felt very cautious and read your post so began on 1.5 grains.
Day one....surprised by the strong feeling in my body that l was on something different and strong. ,..didn't feel too well actually. But couldn't decide if l felt hyper or hypo and kept thinking l must change the dose...but what to ??
So finally decided to stay on 1.5 till l knew for sure which way to go..
The bad feelings wore off on day two.,.land l don't feel too bad now...so have decided to jog along and see what happens...have you any further points to help me with here, or any advice...I'm wondering Howe it will all pan out having been on 100 mcg Levo, 2 grains of Armour etc.
Hi...no, just the first day l took WP thyroid I reallly New I had something powerful inside me..it was weird. But by next day it's fine...now I'm on day four..and having been two grains of Armour....then started with 1.5 grains WP....and today reduced to 1.25 grains as I've n even feeling just antad hyper. I can always go up again.
But otherwise I'm feeling ok ..so things are looking good. Thanks anyway...all best wishes to you.
Here in the states, some folks were having the same problem.... the pharmacy filling their WP prescriptions with Westhroid. I can only assume that they chose the Westhroid, thinking it was the same as WP, because it is cheaper than WP. What a mess. Now we have to educate the pharmacists.
Think Phoenix its because WP used to be called Westhroid-P. I had no end of problems as many pharmacies thought it was the same as Westhroid. Ridiculous -clearly couldnt read! So they renamed Westhroid-P to WP. Ive not had a problem since......
I used Armour for years, then tried NatureThroid (new doc advice) last summer and I immediately ;felt better' on the same dosage. So he suggested I try WP and started couple of weeks ago - thinking there is a difference although not so dramatic (and unfortunately, going through a period of high stress makes it harder to tell). For me, WP is 4x cost of NT, but think I may stay on it....
Now that I'm becoming so aware of the 'filler effect', I'm worried about my many supplements. Put on my to-do list: look into side effects of the fillers in my capsules and tablets. I already buy 'no soy' but hate to think I've got to start making my own capsules.
Hi guys - just stumbled on your posts & although a year ago now, with
regard to WP NDT wondered if anyone could offer advice. Looking for alternative to Armour & WP would be my choice as has least non-active ingredients. But just noticed WP contains Lactose, although I'm guessing in small amount. I have filler sensitivities & just wondered if anyone has found the Lactose element problematic ? Thanks
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Changing from Nature-Throid to WP Thyroid? (This is my first post)
Armour v's WP Thyroid v's Westhroid tabs
