What are capsule shells made of?

[Anthea55]

A few months ago a post mentioned capsule shells. They said that there is an ingredient which is not allowed in the UK but is allowed abroad.

I'm asking because my doctor recommended an NDT from Germany. I reacted badly to it and the only thing we could think of was that it might be caused by the capsule shell rather than the contents.

Does anyone know what that might be? I should have made a note of it, but I didn't.

Thanks

[nightingale-56]

So glad you have brought this subject up  Anthea55 I took the NDT from Germany, Receptura, and to begin with the first 6 months worth were fine, leaving me with quite good blood results. The second lot had the capsule changed and reacted on my skin very badly. Since the beginning of May I have been on Roseway Labs compounded NDT, and unfortunately it looks as though they are no better. I am just about to have blood taken to see what my results are, but feel strongly that it is the capsules that are at fault. I feel most are going down this route now as it is a cheaper way of delivering medication. The NDT part of the 'pill' does not seem too bad. Armour NDT has Acacia Powder in it and Erfa has Cellulose in it. Have Pharma Companies not cottoned on yet that these substances cause problems?

The best NDT for me was WP Thyroid from RLC Labs in USA, but the FDA, in it's wisdom had them taken off the market. It was a small tablet with none of these substances in it and the minimum of excipients.

[Anthea55 in reply to nightingale-56]

That's the one - Receptura. Expensive purchase. Mine gave me stomach problems. It was suggested that I could empty the capsules, but I wasn't prepared to try that as it was so unpleasant.

Are they just making capsules with whatever they have been sent and not looking at the ingredients? A capsule is a capsule, so what?

So far I haven't had problems with any of my supplements which are in capsules.

I've given up on NDT and I'm now taking Levo and T3. Both are tablets so can be cut when needed.

[nightingale-56 in reply to Anthea55]

I think I might have to go back on this regime, but not looking forward to it.

[Noelnoel in reply to Anthea55]

Try emptying the contents into a smoothie/orange juice/any number of cold drinks. If it’s the capsule composition you’re reacting to this will alleviate the problem. Would be a shame to give up on NDT and have that trouble of starting a whole new regime, if NDT worked for you

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There are numerous formulations for capsule shells. Many are available in a range of colours and transparency/opacity.

Gelatin - could be porcine or bovine

Starches

Cellulose - often hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose.

Other plant extracts - carrageenan, etc.

They might also contain a variety of other substances to achieve the required performance.

I can't rule out some unscrupulous company using whatever they can get their hands on, but the majority are as highly specified as the active ingredients.

If I were you, I would ask the supplier what they used. They should provide a list ingredients just as for all other medicines. And the worst that can happen is they don't reply, or say they won't.

There is little that is allowed in Germany but not the UK. I mean, until recently we both came under the European Medicines Agency, etc., so (other than possibly a few historical exceptions) had the same rules. I'm not aware of any changes that have been made which would apply here - but that is not saying nothing has changed.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I've just had a look through my supplements and checked the ones which are capsules. There seem to be different types, some of which are

Pullulan from vegetable tapioca

Gelatin capsule

Hypromellose

Hydroxypropyl methylcullose

All mine seem to give details of what the capsule shell is made of.

Does the Receptura bottle not detail what their capsule is made of?

[Anthea55 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Found in my box of out of date medicines waiting to send to the pharmacy.....

It just says "Thyroid N Hormone Capsules" "Cellulose capsule" .... "Thyroid N (USP), [Liothyronine, Levothyroxine]. Olive oil"

So - what can be in Cellulose? and there are all sorts of Olive Oil?

That's all I know and I find it interesting that nightingale-56 had a good batch followed by a bad batch.

[nightingale-56 in reply to Anthea55]

I find it interesting too Anthea55 . I did write and complain and they replied saying that it was not changed from the first cellulose capsules that I had. The second lot were definitely larger and looked 'harder'. helvella , my current Roseway NDT has a capsule made from bovine hide, and I was asked about this when I ordered my prescription. I said I thought it would be alright, but it doesn't appear to be. I do know that things changed for the better within a few days of taking WP Thyroid.