WP Thyroid.

[NickP1]

Is it possible RLC labs deliberately stopped the production out of financial gain as opposed to supposed factory refurb or the inability to obtain another source of ingredients.

I’m struggling to believe it would take a company this period of time to get production back in place unlesss it’s deliberate.

Most if not all on here need a hormone replacement of some sort. Those of us on WP had to switch to another when supplies ran out. I’m sure most went over to Nature Thyroid as their first alternative. an RLC product.

If RLC have bigger margins on Nature Thyroid, it makes sense that this move to their other product would benefit them financially and simplify their production process at the same time.

Just a thought.

[helvella]

I am not a pharmaceutical technologist!

We can speculate endlessly. I'll just point out that switching products is not a simple exercise. If they have one production line they have to close it down, do a major cleaning process, then start it up again. I'd be surprised if they don't have to do at least some test samples and analyse them, before committing to a full size run.

The interruption to Nature-Throid production could be very significant. In more usual circumstances, they'd probably check their warehouse is well stocked before switching product. If they are running to stand still, they might have virtually no stock - hence no buffer.

(Of course, they could have two production lines that are dedicated - one to Nature-Throid, the other to WP. Even then, perhaps the WP line is still being installed and tested? Perhaps there are difficulties because of the different formulation not performing exactly the same in the new machines?)

Do we really know that RLC would do well out of not producing WP?

[NickP1 in reply to helvella]

I hope you’re right and you probably are.

But surely you would run a production line refurb that would produce as little interruption to business as possible.

Downtime is money down the drain, as a company you would try to minimise this as much as possible. Have all new machinery in place to make a changeover as swift and painless as possible. I’m struggling to see that it’s taken more 8 months to achieve this.

But as I say you’re probably right, just having a moan. 😀

[helvella in reply to NickP1]

Not having the slightest idea of their site(s) or plants - what if they had to knock down one building, and build a new one, and the equip it? Eight months could represent a heroic effort.

They appear to be saying they were taken by surprise.

The issue is fully moan-worthy!

[NickP1 in reply to helvella]

Yep agreed, you may right.

Never judge a nun until you’ve walked in her habit as they say. 😉

It’s a beautiful crisp day. Blue sky’s and sunshine, just giving some balance by avin a moan.

[BadHare]

I had a chat with a microbiologist friend who worked in quality control & quality assurance for many years. The issue that's shut production down is possibly some sort of contamination that's not easily dealt with for RLC to suddenly stop production like that, & then take such a long time to get up & running again. That's not the sort of thing a pharmaceutical company would want known to the public, for obvious reasons, & I can't imagine a company would deliberately railroad their best seller & force happy customers to buy elsewhere. The product being made from raw pig thyroid is potentially dangerous for that reason alone, when it's a meat that's known to need thorough cooking to kill parasites & pathogens in the food chain.

I've been rationing my WP & will have to order NT next week, having found Thyroid S unsuitable. I tried it previously & found it ok, just a tad weaker than WP, though I'm worried after reading reports that the new formula isn't the same.

[NickP1 in reply to BadHare]

Hi.

I’m currently on NT. An issue I’m finding is late afternoon early evening, I have a feeling of uneasiness, very slightly anxious, also have started to have heartburn. Which is not had for qutiw a while.

I’m on my second week, so I suppose it takes time to adjust but I’m seriously considering going back to Levo and supplement with T3 because I’m tired of the constant experimenting and adjusting of NDT. I’d rather have a little less energy but at least have a set routine of take meds in the morning and forget until the next day.

[BadHare]

Oh, no!

Have you tried taking slightly more? I found I needed 1 1/4 grain of NT to 1 WP.

I've never taken T4, & I'm fine on T3 only in the summer, but my skin issues return & my temperature drops again in winter without NDT. The rationing this winter has affected my immune system, despite taking an overall similar dose with T3. I only need a low additional dose of NDT to get me through to May so will have to give it a try. I do hope WP production is back on before next winter!

[NickP1 in reply to BadHare]

Yes.

Tried increasing by 1/4. I’m currently on 1 1/2 grains. Which seems very low for my size and activity level. I’m 6 feet and 15 stone. I spend very little time sat.

Maybe a coincidence but following day, whilst watching tv in the evening BPM jumped to 150, my resting rate is in the low 60s. Took about 1/2 an hour for it to slowly come down. I had taken NDT about 4 hours before.

This has happened before, it’s always been when I’m over medicated.

Unless of course I’m undermedicated. This is the issue I’m fed up with all the guess work. I have a life to live outside of thyroid medication.

[BadHare in reply to NickP1]

That does seem odd!

Do you split your doses? Maybe you have some thyroid function to need a small amount.

I'm 5'2" & 9 stone, & on 50mcg of T3 & 1/2 a grain of WP, though I prefer a higher ratio of the latter when it's cold. My pulse has always been 80-85 BPM, though it was empty & very hard to find before I took THs. How's your temperature? Mines still slightly low at 36,2, but I feel warm compared to my previous norm of 35.2 when I felt cold unless there was a heatwave, & I couldn't cope with that.

Some folks have been fine with NT, so I'm hoping I'm one of them. I think there were similar issues when Armour changed formula, but odd RLC insist it's the same. I've only taken theirs, Thyro Gold which I couldn't tolerate, & Thyroid S which gave me a milder reaction to Thyro Gold, but still unbearable. Pity Acella NP is so expensive,

[NickP1 in reply to BadHare]

Had a total thyroidectomy October 2015. Unless it’s started to grow back.

I gave NP thyroid a go. Within an hour or so of taking it, my face went bright red. Not a good look or pleasant feeling.

Before going on NDT my temp was always below 36. I tried medicating by temp at the start of NDT it put me over medicated. Not sure if it’s that reliable.

[BadHare in reply to NickP1]

Good grief! My thyroid is supposed to be "normal" & I take a lot more than you.

Odd how we react so differently to one type of medication. Even a tiny dose of Thyro-Gold made me burn & itch all over.

I took my temperature obsessively till I got used to how I feel I should be feeling, & adjust dose accordingly. WP & the old NT enable me to produce body heat which I don't do as well on only T3.

[NickP1 in reply to BadHare]

For me, I don't think NT is the same as WP.

When I was still taking WP, about a month ago, I was taking my dog for long walks over the weekend. I think about 20 kms over 2 days. I've just come back from a short stroll, maybe 2 or 3 kms. Im knackered and feel short of breath.

Have to say I'm really getting f**ked off with this, 2 steps forward 1 step back. Sorry for the language. I'm going to the GPs tomorrow to see about going on Levo and T3.

[BadHare in reply to NickP1]

Was your GP helpful?

I’m hoping I get on ok with the new stuff! As I can’t even get T4 from my GP & my endo’s have been useless!

[NickP1 in reply to BadHare]

Hi,

Haven't been yet. Not sure if the steroids I've been taking are having an impact on heart rate. I've stopped these and going to give it a couple more days. Fingers crossed.

Sometimes we are our own worse enemies and meddle when we should just give it a little time before crossing something off...I'm very impatient when doing stuff, not a good trait when dealing with this...

T4 is very easy to obtain abroad and very cheap. When on T4, I bought my own in Serbia, Euthyrox which is a German brand and assumed to be good quality.

Its a terrible assumption but I assume in the UK you'll be given the cheapest available, because its free. I decided to buy what was considered to be good.

The cost of Euthryox, which you can buy over the counter, is less than a £1.00 per month in Serbia. I still have about 12 months supply stocked away...

[BadHare in reply to NickP1]

We’re you taking steroids before NT?

I have Greek T3, & assumed it would be weak at £1 a pack, but it’s been fine unless the weather’s cold. Perhaps swap some of your NT for the T4 you have, then at least you can tell your GP if that’s been better for you. It’s sometimes hard knowing what the impact is of food, meds & supplements, when we try something new. I never take two new things at once, so I’m more aware of what’s happening if there’s any issues.

Some folks have mentioned taking antihistamines to ameliorate the effects of NDT or other meds. Perhaps that would help?

[NickP1]

Started both around the same time.

I take an antihistamine nightly at the moment. Certainly helps you sleep.

The face swelling had disappeared. Itching is still there though. Tried all the recommended creams, E45 Aloe vera, etc. Best by far was the cheapest. Atrixo enriched moisturising cream.

Cant believe I'm discussing bloody face creams, I'll be depilating my legs next. Hell, how do I even know what depilating means ...Jeez whats happened to my life..... :-))

The thing i'm noticing at the moment are sudden rushes of adrenalin. Can be sat doing nothing and poof, adrenalin buzz. Little bit disconcerting..