Thoughts on Expired NDT?: Hi I have found a... - Thyroid UK

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Thoughts on Expired NDT?

FancyPants54 profile image
14 Replies

Hi

I have found a stash of expired NDT, and some expired Cytomel, and some expired NutriAdrenal supplements. Plus other supplements. They all stem from this struggle which started years ago.

What do we think about expired NDT? How long after the expiry date would you still use it for? The same with supplements. What's in them that will expire?

I hate throwing away expensive things if they could be used. But there's no point taking them if they don't work.

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14 Replies
waveylines profile image
waveylines

NDT has an expiry date on it because after that time, the manufacturers can't guarantee that the active ingredients will be of the same potency. At a guess, the further away from this date, the more likely the greater degradation of the active ingredients. Can't advocate taking them but its up to you. I have never taken other prescription. meds outside their expiry date.

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to waveylines

I would not take prescription meds out of date because I didn't pay much for them. But Armour! It's so expensive. But I don't want to risk an ineffective dose. It's a conundrum.

waveylines profile image
waveylines in reply to FancyPants54

How out of date are they?How were they stored? Worse case scenario is that you may end up having to take slightly more. Armour is very expensive. I wouldn't want to bin it either. I'm using an out of date one at the moment. Not noticed any difference tbh.

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to waveylines

Different dates, but several years. But sealed. Kept in the utility room, no heating in there.

I've just gone through the pain of reducing my Armour and letting the dose bed in for 11 weeks (that was hard!) and now I have my test results back on that I can see I'm very low in T4 and low in T3. As I've tried adding T3 several times and ended up a sweaty mess with even higher heart rate, I'm adding in some Levo this time. I've started today with just 12.5mcg and I haven't fallen asleep yet!

My aim is to get the NDT back to 2&1/4 grains (where I was last summer), because once I moved to 2&1/2 grains my legs and feet suffered a lot of swelling and fluid retention. So I'll be adding in Levo slowly and then knocking the Armour back to that level when I can. I'm hoping this helps because I'm out of ideas after this. So best not to mess with out of date NDT at this point. I might try that in the summer.

Are you doing OK on your NDT again now? Back up to your usual dose?

waveylines profile image
waveylines in reply to FancyPants54

Sounds a good plan to me. I'm doing better....am up to 70% of my usual ndt dose. However as Amiodatones drop of rate practically plateaus this next 30% back in could be very very slow progress....lol...

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to waveylines

You sound much happier now though, which is good. And you are still AF free which must feel wonderful.

I'm just reading the thread about the mini-maze. I'd love to get that done too. But no one will operate on someone as large as me - thanks thyroid! It's like a catch 22, if I have any energy and try to use it the AF makes me puffed out too fast.

My dad had the maze surgery when he was 80. His doctor told him he would get an extra 5 years of quality life if he had it done whilst having a valve repaired. But it wasn't successful for him. He did live reasonably well for around another 8 years before he deteriorated and died. But he was never AF free.

waveylines profile image
waveylines in reply to FancyPants54

So sorry about your Dad. What a brave man. The Maze is a very big op....I put a lot of weight on when my hypothyroidism wasn't treated, then poorly treated. Still a bit over.

I'm Afib free.....have been since my op. Even with the stress that Amiodarine put on my body, my heart stayed in NSR.....just beat fast.

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to waveylines

It's lovely to know it worked for you.

I look fat, but I know a huge amount of it is fluid retention. I can see it. It moves around! If I could only find a balance I can imagine it would dissipate. I live in hope.

Dad had to have his heart cavity opened for the valve repair so he thought it worth a try. And he was improved for around 8 years. But by the end he was in a right mess and on so many drugs. Then, after he collapsed and they took him into hospital and said he was on end of life pathway they just stopped all his meds cold turkey! I will not forgive them for that. He was in a terrible state. His heart was beating out of his chest it was terrible to watch. He didn't die soon enough for them and so they put him back on some limited medication and started to talk of hospice care. But he died before a bed came available. I was not impressed with his care at the end at all. But although he suffered complications and was in intensive care for nearly 2 weeks after his open heart surgery, he made a good recovery from it at the time.

A young woman I know, born with a congenital heart condition, has just had open heart surgery for the second time. She has 2 little girls, one adopted and one natural, which was not supposed to be possible for her but she managed the whole thing, including birth with her heart doing well.

The thing that has amazed me this time is that she was operated on a week ago today and she went home on Tuesday! Walking out of the hospital with her scar proudly on display, all beams and praise for her surgical team (who have been the same team for her for years). She lives in Cornwall but had to come up to Leicester for her surgery. Such a massive operation and discharged in 5 days. She has to stay with friends for about a month though, so she can have regular reviews with her team. So she can't go back down to her own home yet.

waveylines profile image
waveylines in reply to FancyPants54

So frustrating for you. I'm so sorry about your Dad....terrible to be treated like that. I'm so sorry you has to watch your Dad going through that. Poor you..xx

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame

No dates given ....but I've used Tiromel /T3 up to at least 2 years out of date and it was fine.

Our late expert, SeasideSusie used to write about this fairly often and she did this.

It's up to you but in your shoes I'd just use it....you will soon know if potency has reduced ...and can add a little more hormone as a temporary measure.

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to DippyDame

I think you are right. I'm in a period of change right now, so not a good idea. But I will keep hold of it and use it up later when I could spot if it were weaker.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK

First page re expiry dates

From my Vade Mecum
helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to helvella

Second page re expiry dates

From my Vade Mecum
FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to helvella

Thank you helvella

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