Thyroid-S

[TeamMK]

I understand that TR TMan are no longer available, and that Thyroid-S is the "alternative". For anyone who has had to change to Thyroid-S who had previously been very happy with TR TMan, please could you advise whether you noticed any significant difference. Any problems with Thyroid-S?

[Howard39]

Hi

Yes I have taken both. I’ve had no issues swapping over to thyroid s.

Scrumbler is spot on. It is taking 3 months ish from Thailand overland. The planes aren’t leaving at the moment which is a shame as I’ve received parcels from America and Canada within 10 days and Poland 4 days, all this week.

[TeamMK in reply to Howard39]

Thank you for this, Howard 39.

TeamMK I have removed your question as it can't be discussed on the forum. You can send Howard39 a PM to ask.

[TeamMK in reply to Howard39]

And what is the shelf life of the product?

[Howard39 in reply to TeamMK]

Hi

They all have a best before date. Usually ( broadly speaking it’s been 2 years.)

[biowarrior in reply to Howard39]

I'm currently using Thiroyd- S that epired in october 2020. Do you know how potent that would be?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to biowarrior]

If the manufacturer is operating properly, they will do various things like store samples in bad conditions (to effectively accelerate deterioration), and keep samples for much longer than their expiry date. Using their experience from testing these, they will be able to assess that the product will maintain potency up to the expiry date if stored within the conditions they specify.

However, if stored in particularly good conditions (from the point of the view of the product), they might maintain potency well beyond expiry. Or, if stored poorly, might deteriorate much faster.

We, as patients, cannot really guess. Certainly not sensibly estimate. The best we see is when people take out of date tablets and report their impact - possibly similar to "new" tablets, possibly somewhat sub-potent. Along with blood tests to back that experience up.

(Even if we knew everything else, we do not know what range of potency they see fit to apply.)

[biowarrior in reply to helvella]

Thanks.

I don't have much of a choice with this, as the supply issues are serious. I have tried T4 only and have increased and increased and T3 doesnt budge above 3.8.

I have just switched to some of this expired NDT + T4, rather than 125mcg T4.

I dont want to go on T3 as I tried that and was a faff dosing it, but obviously if this is not potent, I dont see an option

They are lightish in colour, I really can't tell if they are potent. Someone said they should be close to 90% as thats what they should be at expiry. But I dont know if thyroid S from thailand is under these requirements/regulated like western pharms. And I read that NDT loses potency fast. But I have kept it in a suitcase underneath a bed for the last 2 years, and the room is pretty cold.

I remember I was overmedicated with 3-3.5 grains (FT3 7.3) of this NDT back in 2018, so will be frustrating if not potent, or if the T3 in it doesnt work.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to biowarrior]

I have never seen an official statement that they have to be above 90% at expiry date - seems feasible but only based in the old standards for levothyroxine. That is, just a reasonable guess.

Again, desiccated thyroid products vary. The rate of deterioration could be very similar across all of them, or could vary markedly from one product to another. Ingredients like coatings do vary significantly.

In the end, as a patient on your own, the only realistic way you have of finding out is trying them. I think I would assume they are fully potent and see how it goes. Be aware and make fine adjustments depending on experience.