Any American Folk? I Need Advice Pls 😊

Does anyone from the States or otherwise know if any of the American NDTs, especially NP Thyroid and Armour are government drug approved? Any light on this would be gratefully recieved.

[helvella Administrator]

Sorry, I am not American. However, this page might help:

For Armour Thyroid:

NDC Code(s): 0456-0457-01, 0456-0458-01, 0456-0458-11, 0456-0458-63, view more

Packager: Allergan, Inc.

Category: HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG LABEL

DISCLAIMER: This drug has not been found by FDA to be safe and effective, and this labeling has not been approved by FDA. For further information about unapproved drugs, click here.

dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailym...

And, for NP Thyroid:

dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailym...

Quite how we can interpret these entries on an official USA site, I don't know. In fact, I am not entirely sure what you mean by "government approved".

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Thanks, sorry I clarify... Endorsed by FDA if this is the American equivalent to the BMA. If NDT is prescribed by MDs in the U.S, they must be prescribing unapproved meds at their own professional risk then...Very brave, and good on them for trying to help their pts at their own risk. I didn't think you could prescribe something which wasn't FDA or BMA endorsed anyway 🤔.

[Kell-E in reply to Hidden]

I believe that because NDT existed before the FDA it was grandfathered and did not require FDA approval. It is a prescription medication here in the US. My endo was hesitant to prescribe more T3, but she happily prescribed NDT which had a higher ratio of T3/T4 than I was getting synthetically. I don't believe that prescribing NDT is any great risk for the doctors here. It's just that most are ignorant and were taught that Levo is far superior. Arghhh...

[Hidden in reply to Kell-E]

Thanks, appreciate your thoughts.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

NDTs are, I believe, called 'grandfathered' as the original was first given in 1892 and from then on up until the 60's when Big Pharma introduced blood tests along with levo and I read an American Doctor state that it was due to financial inducements to doctors etc that levo became No.1 prescribing plus of course the blood tests. Nice profits and also if we have remaining symptoms we get 'extra' prescriptions for them.

Before 1892 we died an awful death so thanks to NDT (in various forms) we lived. NDT also contains T3, T4, T2, T1 and calcitonin. T3 is required in our millions of T3 receptor cells and is the only Active hormone. Calcitonin (good for bones). Levothyroxine T4 is inactive and has to convert to T3.

We used to be diagnosed upon clinical symptoms alone and given a trial of NDT. As it has been used since 1892 and has been proven to be

Even today, one of our doctors (deceased) stated that many were in a parlous situation because the reliance was only upon a blood test whilst ignoring disabling symptoms.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Thanks, was just hoping I could find one NDT that has been given the FDA stamp to show my GP, they tend to get a tad nervous when there is no medical association seal of approval.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Just for your information, the nearest equivalent to the FDA in the UK is the MHRA. (The BMA is more-or-less a trade union for doctors.)

gov.uk/government/organisat...

Organisations such as Veterans Association prescribe Armour Thyroid (their difficulty seems to be that there is only one supplier so there is no second source or competitive supply).

[Celestialbeing]

Yes they are approved. Check out The manufacturers’ websites for info regarding Armour, NatureThroid and WP Thyroid.

[Hidden in reply to Celestialbeing]

Thanks, I will do.

[Leto0923]

Hello, I'm from New York and I have been on 90mg of NP Thyroid for the past year(prescribed by my Endo). I recently starting seeing a new Endo, I basically wasn't happy with the one I was seeing for several years. I wasn't making the health progress I was hoping for. I've learned through this forum and my new Endo that your levels are very important on determining which medication you should be on. What makes you want to go on NP or Armour?

[Hidden in reply to Leto0923]

Thanks, I am on Thyroid S which the first two batches seem to help but I think I am sensitive to Lactose and possibly some of the fillers (Thyroid S has quite a few). I've read that Acella NP Thyroid has minimal fillers and is gluten and lactose free. I cannot get NDT prescribed so I am purchasing it myself, and self medicating with support from my General Practitioner. I tried Thyroid S first because it seemed to be the cheapest.

[Kazbe in reply to Hidden]

Hi just read your post try Nature Throid it’s available not too expensive easy to order very efficient with extensive paperwork explaining ingredients, dosages side effects everything you need to know ! I feel so much better I’ve only been on it 3-4 months hope this info helps you can private message me if you want the name of the company and I can explain costs and my experience which has been very positive so far 😀

Take Care

Kazbe

[Hidden in reply to Kazbe]

Thanks, I will

[Beachytoes2u in reply to Kazbe]

Sorry for pop in, I have armour compounded. 75 pills, currently at 60mg are $65. I'm told here I'm under medicated, so soon to be upe's, plus I hope a t3 added. Could you send the info to me also? I'd be really interested, especially how you felt to feel now, thank you🌞

[Leto0923 in reply to Hidden]

I’m Surprised that your doctor can’t prescribe it, but good luck with it. It didn’t really help me much. I just started a paleo diet for people with Hoshimoto’s, this plan was put together by Dr Isabelle Wentz. Look her up, she can give you a lot of insight about the disease and how diet can truly help. The best to you.

[Hidden in reply to Leto0923]

Thanks! Drs in the UK will now only prescribe T4 only meds (Levothyroxine). I have read her website. I have adopted a gluten free and Lactose free diet but will not go as far as the paleo diet. I tried it for a while but hated it and basically all food allowed on it started to repulse me in the end. I didn't feel any different, possibly worse due to my repulsion to it so I stopped it. I cannot tolerate such a restricted diet... Gluten, Lactose and Soya free is hard enough for me. Personally, I don't really agree with the Paleo way of thinking anyway, I don't believe we were made to eat so restrictively, although the modern processed diet isn't what we're designed for either... There's a happy balance in everything, however if folk think it's for them, then that's right for that person. So I wish you all the best in your journey to wellness whatever method you choose 😊

[sweetsusie]

Hi...I an American and I was taking levo. for awhile, then switched to Armour. last time I went to pick up my prescription, the pharmacist said they were totally out of Armor, so he gave me Nature Throid (32.5 mg). SO MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE. Might want to give it a try. Here's a list of Amerian-approved thyroid meds: drugs.com/condition/hypothy...

[helvella Administrator in reply to sweetsusie]

Afraid Drugs.com has some dreadful information.

For example, in that list you can find Levothyroid (from Forest) - which has been withdrawn from the market. It also lists Thyrolar which hasn't been available for many years (at least 10, quite possibly longer).

The site is nothing to do with the FDA so I don't think we can take their information at face value. Mind, even the official site (below) has these same products listed.

dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailym...

[sweetsusie in reply to helvella]

So sorry...I didn't research it very well....

[helvella Administrator in reply to sweetsusie]

It isn't your fault that the site isn't as good as it looks!

[Hidden in reply to sweetsusie]

Thanks, I'll take a look 😊

[Terriann1]

Hilary Clinton uses Armour thyroid for her health needs. It was announced what meds she was taking during the 2016 election. So yes it is obviously approved to be taken in the USA and I would think her doctor would have her on the best med for her condition which they did not name. Hope this helps.

[Hidden in reply to Terriann1]

Thanks! Perhaps this info should be more public. If NDT works for a high profile polititian, then it could help us in the hope for better treatment if it was better advertised.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Big Pharma would not like to acknowledge that people who don't do well on levothyroxine do have an alternative. After all NDT (which is Armour, Nature-throid etc etc) is the very original thyroid hormone replacement.

How much money does Big Pharma get when you include blood tests for diagnosing plus levo, plus 'extra' prescriptions for remaining symptoms.

We used to be diagnosed by clinical symptoms alone and then given a trial of NDT. No blood tests at all.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Yes I agree but my symptoms (fatigue and allergies) seem to be returning even when trying a higher dose since ordering more. Perhaps its a bad batch although it says pure grade, or perhaps I am starting the menopause which may be affecting it. My periods are few are far between and haven't had one for two months and I am not pregnant.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Can your doctor test if you are menapause

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

If you think you've a sensitivity to your thyroid hormones, try the following:-

Take one anti-histamine tablet 1 hour before dose and if your symptoms resolve you should switch to another NDT.

I shall also give you three chapters which might be helpful which one of our Advisers (deceased) wrote:-

Copy and paste the 'tiny urls' onto a new page.

Chapter 2

tinyurl.com/ya5blrr2

Chapter 3

tinyurl.com/y7ejh9sh

Chapter 7

tinyurl.com/ycxpz565

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

I have just come back from the GP, not my usual, as he's male and I wanted to discuss my lack of periods, cramping and possible menopause. Straight away she wanted to put me on HRT, which I don't want. She finally agreed to a smear swab, but heh ho, I had to do it myself whilst she stood on the otherside of the curtain. What has the NHS come to? Do we have do our own smear test ourselves now as it isn't in a doctor' duty anymore? We'll be performing our own mammograms next, bet men don't have to do their own prostrate exams 🤕. Also, as I wanted to get an up to date blood test as my symptoms seem to be returning, I asked her for them to be done and told her that I was on NDT with agreement of her colleague. Of course she thought I was crazy and told me if I am taking that there is no point scheduling further blood tests because they are useless for any thyroid treatment other than Levo... Shameful. Looks like it's all expensive private tests from now on 😔

[Beachytoes2u]

Yes, it is covered!!! And, it's not super expensive . Also, you can get it compounded? Where ever your at, must have a natural or compounding pharmacy? I brought them my prescription for armour, they filled it. 75 pills/60mg for $60 they don't deal w insurance co., but you can submit the paperwork. OR, a pharmacy, does armour, also t-3., Good luck

[helvella Administrator in reply to Beachytoes2u]

Afraid I don't see how "compounded" can be Armour?

Given the differences between products that people notice between products, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to swap between "Armour" and other desiccated thyroid products (or vice versa).

[Beachytoes2u in reply to helvella]

? Straight armour prescription to the compounding pharmacy, where it's made into a pill form. I'm unclear, what/why a difference of a product? Explain please?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Beachytoes2u]

"Armour Thyroid" is a registered trade mark of a single manufacturer of desiccated thyroid tablets.

Armour® Thyroid

armourthyroid.com/

If it wasn't made by Allergan (formerly Forest), it isn't Armour® Thyroid . If it didn't go through Allergan's quality control, it isn't Armour® Thyroid . Even if the ingredients were identical, it wouldn't be Armour® Thyroid.

Maybe you remember a rocky patch when Erfa Thyroid was being criticised for failing to work as effectively? At one point it was being said that the only change was a small adjustment to the pressure applied to the tablets as they were being moulded. It seems not to be just ingredients but the whole manufacturing process that results in the product we know as Armour (or Erfa, as appropriate). Not something that a compounding pharmacy can re-create and adhere to. (I also doubt that there is any significant post-compounding testing.)

At various points Armour has been in short supply. More than once I read posts or reports around that people had been given what was described as Armour by compounding pharmacies in the USA - only to find that at best it was levothyroxine and liothyronine formed into combination pills.

A pharmacy given a prescription written properly and explicitly as "Armour Thyroid" should only ever give out Armour® Thyroid. Any substitutions should be cleared before dispensing with the prescriber.

When people just in passing talk about Armour when they are just generally referring to any desiccated thyroid product, I rarely make a point. But if done in a way that could mislead or deceive, I most certainly do. If a compounding pharmacy is claiming to supply Armour® Thyroid but is not, that can only be deceitful practice.

If a prescription were written for, say, Desiccated Thyroid USP tablets, that is another matter entirely. (I'd criticise the doctor for poor prescribing practice!)

[Beachytoes2u in reply to helvella]

Clear, explanation so how as a patient, becoming informed (from intelligent, sharing people) be sure of a correct dr., and my medication is correct (either thru pharmacy or a compounded pharmacy (I thought I was getting a healthier,Poirier form (dumb me) it was brand! For a dr., do. I go to thryoid specialist, not my general practitioner?

[Hidden in reply to Beachytoes2u]

Thanks, I have to order online, I cannot get NDT on prescription and British pharmacies do not stock NDT without prescription

[Kazbe in reply to Hidden]

I have to order mine online too I’ve only had NDT Nature Throid I am ordering and self medicating as I was ill on levothyroxine ! I can share details if you need any help mine takes 4 days to arrive by post and so far no problems 😀

[Hidden in reply to Kazbe]

Thanks, I have PM'd you 😊

[Beachytoes2u]

I currently am taking armour, prescribed by top dr., #1 hospital in California, #3 in USA, prescription covered under Medicare medical coverage, for a early retired government employee, so it's in my plan of covered medications. However it's a bit higher 3.75 due to being a name brand. Yet, "admin" Helvella reply in my opinion, makes it seem the medication is not. My decision to armour, over the multiple others: it was natural, not a pharmaceutical, a pig not exactly a choice, but when u feel lousy anything is a try. I had tried other meds, with side effects. I hope this can be helpful🌻