Thyroid Tablets Recalled in US Because of Impur... - Thyroid UK
Thyroid Tablets Recalled in US Because of Impurity Risk
The official FDA notice of the recall is available here:
Westminster Pharmaceuticals, LLC. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Levothyroxine and Liothyronine (Thyroid Tablets, USP) Due to Risk of Adulteration
fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm6...
This is a porcine desiccated thyroid product.
Wow.. I am in the states and we had just had some conversations on the STTM yahoo web group about folks with prescriptions for NDT - WP (RLC Labs product) getting some tabs with WP stamped on them but the manufacturer being Westminster. The pharmacists had no clue (of course) that this WP was a different one. We decided to reserve judgment pending some folks' experiences with the 'new' NDT, WP - Westminster. It is a shame this is happening so soon but if this NDT is going to be subpar, it should be taken off the market.
A pharmacist who assumes a marking of "WP" must mean "WP Thyroid" should not be called a pharmacist.
WP Thyroid are marked RLC on one side and P over a score mark over a number, 025, 050, 075, 1, 125, 150, 175 or 2.
getrealthyroid.com/wp-thyro...
Westminister Levothyroxine and Liothyronine (thyroid tablets, USP) are marked WP on one side and 155, 156, 157, 158 or 159 on the other side.
dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailym...
Your comment re: the qualifications of a pharmacist is 'right on'. Some of them are almost as dumb or willfully ignorant as some doctors and endos when it comes to hypo/hyper thyroid conditions. But the 'new' WP by Winchester calls itself a generic as does the NP brand by Acella and therefore either can be substituted for a named brand if the prescription allows generic replacements. Some patients tho were thinking that this 'new' WP was our old WP by RLC Labs. Fortunately, pharmacists are required to list the manufacturer on the prescription label. Just means we have to be on our toes and alert.... as usual.
I do wonder why a new supplier of NDT, just entering the American market would choose to call itself WP, right? I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer but surely they would realize that massive confusion would prevail between this WP and the old, familiar WP by RLC Labs.
How interesting, thank you, this begs a question! Firstly though, and further to Helvella's post, Westminster was being made from thyroid extract sourced from the Sichuan Friendly Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., which doesn't sound very friendly to me.
I am one of many who is struggling with the currently available Nature-Throid and whose FT3 levels have gone down on it despite increasing my dose. I've read that the shortages of Nature-Throid and WP are due to both a change in place of manufacture and a change in supplier of an essential ingredient. I've also read that the main US supplier of thyroid extract tried to take over all supply and raise prices and that RLC Labs went elsewhere for it. I just wonder where they are now getting it from, and which other companies the Sichuan Friendly Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is supplying.
We try so hard to do the right thing and trust that our doctors will prescribe meds from reputable sources, but we really don't know where the ingredients originate, assume the best and put our lives in the hands of these companies don't we!
I can feel an email to RLC Labs coming on.
A commendable approach. They can only either answer or not!
I'm having the same frustrating experience, Framboise. Very discouraging. Regarding RLC's new source of USP and whether they are linked with Sichuan (un)Friendly Pharmaceutical, have you seen this post from Janie Bowthorpe that includes the following?:
"Also note that the reason this all happened, says RLC Labs, is because of increased difficulty in obtaining their Thyroid USP–that means the desiccated porcine powder. Costs were getting higher, as well. So they state they are now sourcing their thyroid powder from both the US and Canada…they wouldn't state from whom."
stopthethyroidmadness.com/2...
Thank you wellness1, I hadn't seen that before but have now looked at what Janie reports and it puts my mind at rest somewhat. I thought it unlikely that RLC would have used a source in China, but you just never know these days. It's a shame that the only new generic in ages has chosen to do so and from a company with problems. We could do without that!
Are you also having problems with the current Nature-Throid? I got my latest results today and despite increasing by half a grain 4 months ago, now up to 3.25grains, my FT3 has gone down, which explains why I'm feeling as I am. As you say, it's frustrating!
I completely agree with you, Framboise. We have to trust that these manufacturers are using quality ingredients from reputable suppliers, but trust is the operative word.
Yes, I'm pretty sure it's really affected me, but I came to the realisation a bit later than some. I had just ordered a supply before the 'new' Nature-throid hit the shelves. I had a 2-month period with a lot going on and I fully expected to pay a price for it. Initially, it seemed like the inevitable crash, but it coincided with being completely on the new formulation. I had heard rumblings here and elsewhere, but I didn't really make the connection until I got labs back. (attributing it to other causes and being in a stupor, lol) Like you, my FT3 tanked following an increase. I even wondered if there was a problem with the lab and considered re-testing, but came here and found posts from others experiencing the same thing. It's interesting that you're staying with Nature-throid and trying to increase your way out of it. I really hope that works for you. I debated, but in the end decided to switch brand. Too early to tell how I'll get on, but I have my fingers crossed to an excruciating degree. Best of luck to you!
It's so annoying isn't it wellness! I have to say the only reason I'm staying with Nature-Throid is because last year I found a wonderful endocrinologist who is now treating me. Previously I'd been treated by Dr Skinner and had had to self-treat after he died because no-one else had ever believed I had any sort of thyroid problem. I've taken most things it seems - Armour until it reformulated, then ERFA until something happened to it after a change of manufacturing facility, then Thyroid-S which I did well on but was a bit wary of the fillers, but I do have a 3 month supply of that left in case it all goes completely wrong. The new endo favours Nature-Throid, although last year he did suggest WP for a while which I preferred and had intended to stay on. Until that comes back I'm going to go along with him and see if another increase works, or even if it was just one batch that was less effective. I do wonder though what will happen to WP when/if they ever start making it again. May I ask what you've switched to? I only have a choice of Acella's NP left now!
Annoying, indeed! I've PM'd you. 
wellness1 and Framboise - After originally taking WP Thyroid and then the old Naturethroid, I am also having issues on the new Naturethroid, despite an increase in the dose (it helped for a couple of months, and now I'm back to where I started). I'm also contemplating a switch - it would be good to hear of your experiences with different meds!
Too soon to tell, alannalifts . I looked at reviews for ERFA and NP Thyroid. It's clear that how one responds is an individual thing. I found clusters of complaints about both, so decided just to try one. I went with ERFA, despite concerns about some of the fillers. (Have you seen this thread? healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... After one poster said she was feeling better on a more recent batch of Nature-throid, I looked into sourcing some from a recent lot but for now I think I'll continue with ERFA long enough to see how I get on. When I started Nature-throid, I was already seeing some encouraging signs my body was responding by this point, so I hope that happens soon. I suppose I'll stay with it at least long enough to test. I hope you find something that works well for you!
Thanks - still good to hear what my options are! Would you mind sending me a PM with your ERFA supplier? Right now I'm considering Thyrogold, since based on the reviews I've seen, it seems 50/50 whether people that did well on the "old" WP Thyroid and Nature-throid still do well on NP Thyroid. Hope the switch goes well for you :).
See above. Have you decided whether to try something different?
reduction to thyroid tablets
