Levothyroxine recall in USA report from August ... - Thyroid UK

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Levothyroxine recall in USA report from August 2018

Nanaedake profile image
23 Replies

Levothyroxine recall in the USA and apologies if this has already been posted. I know it doesn't apply to UK but I've noticed USA visitors to this forum from time to time. It's interesting to read the reasons for the recall.

healthline.com/health-news/...

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Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake
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23 Replies
keeta profile image
keeta

Does that mean .it should be recalled in the uk. First time i.ve heard this thanx kathy

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tokeeta

No - see my other responses.

Product has never been available in the UK.

It caused a lot of unnecessary panic in the Facebook groups. It was actually reported incorrectly - as levothyroxine and liothyronine, which is the name of the product. It is NDT though: fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm6....

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply to

However the naming is based on identified active substances and on that basis it is reasonably correct.

In the UK, Armour (and the few other desiccated thyroid products which have been prescribed on the NHS) were listed under the heading "Levothyroxine". I personally pointed out to those who manage such things that it is a combination product and it is now classified as "Levothyroxine and liothyronine". We might argue further, but it is a step in the right direction. Otherwise anyone reading summary documents only could easily have thought Armour to be levothyroxine-only.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply to

The FDA recall notice is headed: Westminster Pharmaceuticals, LLC. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Levothyroxine and Liothyronine (Thyroid Tablets, USP) Due to Risk of Adulteration

It should not have caused panic as even that title line includes "Thyroid Tablets USP". Thyroid USP is the standardised desiccated thyroid powder used to make USA desiccated thyroid products.

in reply tohelvella

Oh I agree completely. Personally, the first thing I did was to go to the FDA page and look it up and the FDA page was very clear. However, the news services reported it as two drugs. :(

This article explains it: kdvr.com/2018/08/15/fda-rec...

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply to

That link is not available in the UK, I'm afraid.

This is what happens when news services are so ignorant.

Baobabs profile image
Baobabs

The article states 'Levothyroxine and liothyronine are medications derived from porcine (pig) thyroid glands.' I'm not sure this is accurate as these products are synthetic? Could there be some folk in UK getting supplies of T3 from this cited source?

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toBaobabs

It is accurate as the product is a desiccated thyroid product. It is not a synthetic product.

See my other response(s) on this thread.

in reply toBaobabs

It was the name of the product.

Karen154 profile image
Karen154

This is very interesting. Relates to symptoms of feeling over to under treated. Thank you for uploading this.

Sus64 profile image
Sus64

Does anyone know what actual brand this would be referring to, or are they all affected by the same base ingredients?

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toSus64

See my other response(s) on this thread.

Sus64 profile image
Sus64 in reply tohelvella

Oh, Westminster NDT. Had not heard of that one before. Thank you.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toSus64

Almost no-one had. Looks like a very minor, Johnny-come-lately product and in itself the recall is of little to no consequence except for those actually taking it.

Of course, anyone else using Chinese desiccated thyroid from that company would also be affected, if there are any others.

Worried. Doctors in the UK should tell patients and/or look into their Levothyroxine medication.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply to

See my other response(s) on this thread.

in reply to

It was one specific American brand of NDT, not levothyroxine

I thought Levothyroxine was synthetic?

in reply to

It is, this med was an NDT product

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

This recall was discussed right here on this forum on 17th August 2018. This was my first response on that thread:

The recall is of Westminster's desiccated thyroid product - which contains T4 and T3. I don't know if the company handles any plain T4 or T3 products but, even if they do, they are not the subject of the recall.

More information including FDA link, here:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

That thread from August can be found here:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

The report read to the affect that Levo is also derived from pigs thyroid which I didn't know.

sweetsusie profile image
sweetsusie

Why is the article saying these are made from the pig thyroid? They aren't, are they?

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