Levothyroxine recall in USA report from August 2018

[Nanaedake]

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/...

[keeta]

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

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to keeta]

No - see my other responses.

Product has never been available in the UK.

[Hidden]

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 Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

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 Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

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.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

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 Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

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

This is what happens when news services are so ignorant.

[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 Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Baobabs]

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.

[Hidden in reply to Baobabs]

It was the name of the product.

[Karen154]

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

[Sus64]

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

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Sus64]

See my other response(s) on this thread.

[Sus64 in reply to helvella]

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

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Sus64]

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.

[Hidden]

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

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

See my other response(s) on this thread.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It was one specific American brand of NDT, not levothyroxine

[Hidden]

I thought Levothyroxine was synthetic?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It is, this med was an NDT product

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

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...

[Hidden]

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

[sweetsusie]

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