Are you on NDT and having trouble obtaining it?

[lynmynott]

If you are taking NDT and are worried about low stocks, you might find this interesting. Mary Shomon, thyroid health advocate, has created a new website called The Natural Thyroid Guide Site where you can find out why she thinks NDT is having a hard time -

tinyurl.com/y69powss #naturaldesiccatedthyroid #thyroid #ndt

[nightingale-56]

Thanks for posting this lynmynott . I have today started on Armour, so am hoping that it does not change how I have been feeling on WP Thyroid and that it continues to be available.

[RedApple Administrator]

Very interesting indeed.

I can see exactly where Mary is coming from with her 'follow the money' theories about World Domination of all thyroid related meds by AbbVie (Armour) versus small time manufacturers Acella (NP Thyroid) and RLC Labs (Nature-Throid, WP Thyroid).

With regard to the reclassification by the FDA of NDTs as 'biologics', I have mixed feelings.

On the one hand, I absolutely cringe every time I see any thyroid hormone referred to as 'drugs'. No matter how hard I try, I cannot accept this classification. Thyroid hormone replacements are exactly that, hormone replacements. Everyone is happy with oestrogen and progesterone replacements being referred to as HRT, so why not thyroid hormones? Thyroid hormones are NOT DRUGS. This very word, in my view, has masses of negativity embedded in it from the start.

So, I'm sort of thinking that reclassifying NDTs as 'biologics' rather than 'drugs' might not be such a bad idea in itself. EXCEPT, if, as Mary suggests, this is also 'follow the money' motivated. Armour is, and always has been, the most expensive of all NDTs. Forcing Acella and RLC to go down the same route will obviously force their prices up too, if only to pay for the astronomical extra costs involved in this reclassification. Maybe these two small labs will simply give up, and Abbvie (Armour) will win the game?

[RedApple Administrator]

lynmynott What, if anything, can TUK do about this? Can the UK (TUK and individual patients) do anything to help fight this or is it out of our hands because we're not in the US and have no way to influence the FDA?

[lynmynott Partner Thyroid UK in reply to RedApple]

I was thinking that we may be able to write a letter to the FDA although I don't really know the US processes very well. Also not sure they would listen to us...

[helvella Administrator in reply to lynmynott]

They definitely can't listen if you don't!

The worst that could happen is the email/letter doesn't get through to a useful person.

[lynmynott Partner Thyroid UK in reply to helvella]

I agree. Just don't want to get peoples hopes us.

[helvella Administrator]

I suggest one reason for the focus on desiccated thyroid products might have been the recalled Westminster product manufactured with desiccated thyroid from China.

Unfortunately, as a part of the article, Mary Shomon makes a minor mistake in identifying Pfizer as manufacturer of Cytomel. The product in now manufactured by Peptido GmbH in Germany.

Of course, this doesn't affect her argument.

[amala57]

What about the Thai NDT? Has this got anything to do with the unavailability of Thyroid S ?

I'm really worried about what to do when my supply of NDT runs out. I dont do well on synthetic T3.

[Lora7again in reply to amala57]

I have heard it will eventually become available but it could be early next year. The supplier I used has put "out of stock" on his site because he still has back orders. Hopefully someone else will reply with an update.

[amala57 in reply to Lora7again]

Thank you. I hope you are right!

[RedApple Administrator in reply to amala57]

amala57, The NDTs being discussed here are all US brands. I don't think the FDA has any control over NDT produced in other countries such as Thailand.

[amala57 in reply to RedApple]

Thanks