It has long been a concern of natural desiccated thyroid users that cannot take the synthetic versions that the FDA will eventually ban the natural desiccated version in favor of the newer, more expensive synthetic alternatives that will yield more profits for the drug companies. It seems that day has finally come. The FDA has halted production on Time Cap labs natural dessicated thyroid medicine and every other major brand has experienced a "shortage" and does not know when or if they will come back in stock. The reason for the time caps shutdown according to the FDA's own written statements to Time Caps lab was because (after 100 years of use!), they claim natural desiccated thyroid is NOT generally recognized as safe or "grandfathered", and therefore according to their Compliance Guide of 2006 is considered an unapproved new drug! According to the Compliance Guide all unapproved new drugs will have to go through the new drug approval process or they will be banned. Meanwhile, natural desiccated thyroid users were given no warning that production was going to be shut down, and many cannot live without this medication and cannot take the alternative. Tell the FDA that natural desiccated thyroid IS GRASE and they should not ban it! If they do so, thousands of people could die. Thank you.
It has long been a concern of natural desiccated thyroid users that cannot take the synthetic versions that the FDA will eventually ban the natural desiccated version in favor of the newer, more expensive synthetic alternatives that will yield more profits for the drug companies. It seems that day has finally come. The FDA has halted production on Time Cap labs natural dessicated thyroid medicine and every other major brand has experienced a "shortage" and does not know when or if they will come back in stock. The reason for the time caps shutdown according to the FDA's own written statements to Time Caps lab was because (after 100 years of use!), they claim natural desiccated thyroid is NOT generally recognized as safe or "grandfathered", and therefore according to their Compliance Guide of 2006 is considered an unapproved new drug! According to the Compliance Guide all unapproved new drugs will have to go through the new drug approval process or they will be banned. Meanwhile, natural desiccated thyroid users were given no warning that production was going to be shut down, and many cannot live without this medication and cannot take the alternative. Tell the FDA that natural desiccated thyroid IS GRASE and they should not ban it! If they do so, thousands of people could die. Thank you.
We signed the "Tell the FDA not to ban natural desiccated thyroid!" petition!
# 960:
1:57 pm PST, Nov 21,Mary Fronckowiak, New York
I could not achieve good health on T4 only medications. I tried and failed. It was very frustrating and scary. However, I am doing great now on natural thyroid and my health has stabilized. I need to have access to this medication which has been successfully used by patients for 100 years. Please let us continue to have choices in the medications we use. They need to be individualized to patient need, as we are not all the same.
# 959:
1:28 pm PST, Nov 21,Tonya Mazurek, Colorado
Does this surprise anyone? Really think about it. They don't care if we are feeling good or being cared for naturally, NO NO they just care about the money. Pharmaceuticals are BIG business, we are just lowly tax payers. Tonya Mazurek
# 958:
9:04 am PST, Nov 21,Joyce Hartsfield, New York
# 957:
7:06 am PST, Nov 21,Donna Kohut, New Jersey
Before being diagnosed with hypothyroidism I was having major health issues. I tried the synthetic thyroid prescriptions and experienced side effects. After being prescribed Armour, my breathing improved and I suffered from no side effects. When people switch from a natural desiccated thyroid medication to a synthetic one, it can wreak havoc on your body which I have experienced. PLEASE don't ban natural desiccated thyroid!
# 956:
6:47 am PST, Nov 21,Name not displayed, Florida
I taken Synthroid and did not feel any better. I asked doctor to switch me to Armour since it has both T4 and t3 hormones. I feel much better. Don't fix what isn't broken. Don't ban a product that does work!
# 955:
6:14 am PST, Nov 21,Joann Ward, Georgia
I have been taking this product for 30 years and have had no ill effects. I do not want to change over to synthroid which has many, many side effects the first year of adjustment. Please do not force this change on the many poeple who depend on this drug daily.
# 954:
6:01 am PST, Nov 21,Name not displayed, Michigan
I switched to natural thyroid about a year ago, and I have never felt better. On the synthetic, even though my labs were in the "normal" range, I still had a lot of the hypothyroid symptoms. There are alot of people that depend on natural thyroid, please don't ban it.
# 953:
5:10 am PST, Nov 21,Bruce Halpern, North Carolina
Many people depend on natural thyroid medicine for their lives and health. Clearly it is the duty of the FDA to make sure they can get the medicine they need to survive.
# 952:
3:49 am PST, Nov 21,Name not displayed, Michigan
# 951:
11:21 pm PST, Nov 20,Laurie Karikka, California
I've taken Armour for close to 20 yrs. Natural desiccated thyroid is crucial to many individuals' quality of life, mine included. The fact that this shortage has happened, with no notification, without concern for all those who rely on this medication, is deeply disturbing. Do the right thing, FDA.
# 950:
9:01 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, California
I've been taking Armour Thyroid for a little over a year. I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's and this is the only medication that has helped me feel normal again, and my blood tests confirm it. I'm terrified to think what will happen if we cannot have this medication anymore. I was blessed to find a pharmacy with it early on during the shortage and I stocked up. I don't know what I'm going to do if it gets banned. Please don't opt for pharmaceutical company profits over our health!!!
# 949:
8:34 pm PST, Nov 20,Jessica L. Cook, Massachusetts
I have been taking Armour Thyroid for a year now and the increase in my quality of life is immeasurable. I had been taking synthetic thyroid for years and found that after a few months these would become ineffective and I would again suffer the debilitating symptoms of hypothyroidism. I am also coping with surgically induced menopause and fear the thought of being forced to return to synthetic thyroid.
# 948:
6:16 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, New Jersey
I produced cysts on my thyroid I was using a synthentic medication. I experienced side effects numbing in the face which spread to my chest,and arms. After about 1 1/2 yrs of tests. I was told to try a more natural thyroid medication . Then my doctor put me on Armor Thyroid after changing the dosages a few times my numbers were perfect, and I felt much better. Without this type of thyroid medicine I will grow cysts and become very ill.
Please don't do this! Natural thyroid medication is a MUST!
# 947:
5:53 pm PST, Nov 20,Monica Agrest, New York
# 946:
4:44 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, Illinois
# 945:
3:27 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, Florida
# 944:
2:54 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, New York
Do not take away desicated thyroid! I can not take the synthetic and as I have a lifelong thyroid condition, this will have a serious detrimental effect on lmy quality of life.
# 943:
2:09 pm PST, Nov 20,Elizabeth Brandon, New York
# 942:
1:58 pm PST, Nov 20,Helen Hamilton, United Kingdom
before i started taking ndt i was existing not living please please don't condemn me to that again!!!
# 941:
1:35 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, Kentucky
Can we trust our government ?
# 940:
1:04 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, Michigan
# 939:
10:57 am PST, Nov 20,Nan Peeples, Georgia
I have had a total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer. I have taken Synthroid replacement and Armour replacement. Armour provides better results. If you want to take something off the market...take the synthetic drug...Synthroid. Leave Armour alone. If you have not walked in our shoes, you do not know the results provided [Armout]or not provided [Synthroid] by these drugs. Registered Nurse
# 938:
10:32 am PST, Nov 20,Shirley Gowans, Virginia
I had a full thyroidectomy in 1988, and was put on synthetic T4. It got me by but I did never felt well. I lost my career because of fatigue and depression that hit me hard after the thyoidectomy. I can't even remember many of the things my family tells me happened during the subsequent years. After 18 years of struggle, and time lost, I learned about NDT and found a doctor that would prescribe it for me. It took a while to find the right balance, but I immediately began experiencing significant improvements in both my physical and mental health; like someone turned on the power and oiled all the gears. Just as the fine tuning seemed settled, in early 2009, the formulation regulations for NDT were changed per the FDA, and since then I have been experiencing erratic and mixed hypo and hyper symptoms on NDT. So now that I have already lost 20 years of my life, you are willing to let the drug companies screw up the rest of it. Maybe you should just "Shoot Us All Now!" is all I can say. Oh wait - then we wouldn't be buying their ineffective drugs, and no one would make a fortune on our misery. SHAME ON YOU! Please put the CARE back in Health Care.
# 937:
9:17 am PST, Nov 20,Frank Nordstrand, Norway
# 936:
9:14 am PST, Nov 20,Anne Giskeødegård, Norway
# 935:
8:25 am PST, Nov 20,Dawn Quinlivan, North Carolina
Please don't take the natural desiccated thyroid off the market. I was on the synthetic and even with my labs saying I was in the 'normal' levels, I was still having severe hypo symptoms. After stating natural desiccated thyroid treatment, I found myself again. No more brain fog, no more feeling sleepy all day. I was back. Please don't force me into the world of hypo-hell. I can't do again.
# 934:
7:31 am PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, Arkansas
16 months of misery on levothyroxine. Three days on natural dessicated thyroid and i feel human again. To take this away would be akin to cruel and unusual punishment.
# 933:
7:15 am PST, Nov 20,Ruth Parsons, Michigan
# 932:
5:31 am PST, Nov 20,Marvin Bullock, North Carolina
Been on natural thyroid for three years. Recently was put on synthetic T3 and T4. Back to sleeplessness. Synthetic does not do the trick. May travel to Thailand and purchase Greater Pharma product if I can't get natural soon.
# 931:
1:20 am PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, Virginia
Please do not ban natural desiccated thyroid. I tried synthetic thyroid for 2 years and it does not work for me.
# 930:
11:19 pm PST, Nov 19,Jennifer Quiroz, Georgia
Many people's lives are being destroyed by taking away desiccated thyroid. I know mine is. It's been around since the early 1900's and has proven itself. Big Pharma has put out many dangerous drugs that has killed thousands but those drugs stay on the shelves. I think we all know what is really going on. All I can say is please, please don't do this. Let it be available while it is being approved. PLEASE!!!!!
# 929:
11:08 pm PST, Nov 19,Lee Kendrick, Arkansas
Please do not take this choice away from us!
# 928:
10:45 pm PST, Nov 19,Name not displayed, Oregon
I feel ill on synthetic thyroid medications - natural, dessicated thyroid medication works the best for me! Please don't take away the health/wellness of thousands!
# 927:
10:28 pm PST, Nov 19,Kristen Greenwood, Kentucky
# 926:
9:47 pm PST, Nov 19,Andrea Walters, California
# 925:
8:11 pm PST, Nov 19,Tina Wise, Georgia
# 924:
7:01 pm PST, Nov 19,Name not displayed, Texas
# 923:
4:50 pm PST, Nov 19,Ellen Moore, New York
# 922:
3:38 pm PST, Nov 19,Celia Reid, United Kingdom
I was very ill for years on Thyroxine and when I then changed to Armour 7 years ago I finally got my life back. Why does the FDA have to mess with people's lives? These natural dessicated products have been around for many years and have been lifesavers for many people. I'm one of them!
# 921:
11:24 am PST, Nov 19,Mary Grettenberger, Florida
Do not ban natural desiccated thyroid; I can't take synthetics. I continue to have all the hypothyroid symptoms on synthetics. If natural thyroid is banned, I might as well save my money and take nothing but that's what synthetics do for me - NOTHING.
# 920:
11:19 am PST, Nov 19,Cindy Ramos, Kentucky
Please do not take this off the market! I cannot tolerate synthetic thyroid medications. I could die without this option.
# 919:
10:02 am PST, Nov 19,Name not displayed, Florida
Been on Armour since 1972. On two occasions, once in 1988 with "synthroid," and once again in 2004 with "levothyroxin," Docs wanted to experiment with me. Both of these experiments caused severe problems and in 2004 I had a "thyroid storm" and almost died.
I would hope that both Forest and the FDA would also adhere to the Doctors oath of "due no harm."
# 918:
9:51 am PST, Nov 19,David Farrington, Connecticut
# 917:
8:56 am PST, Nov 19,Jeanne Johns, Pennsylvania
my mother depends on this medication for health reasons.she has been on it for many years and has had no negative side effects from the medication.
# 916:
7:42 am PST, Nov 19,Name not displayed, Virginia
My husband and I have been taking Armour thyroid for 17 years, and we are outraged that the FDA is trying to force us to take synthetic versions!
# 915:
7:21 am PST, Nov 19,Name not displayed, Texas
As coleader of a Thyroid Forum (currently 52k members), I've read countless testimonials as to the efficacy of the Porcines for some individuals, in circumstances where Synthetics were just not restoring an adequet quality of life. Eliminating the Porcines as an option, is in my opinion, a mistake that could have dire consequences for a large number of people. My choice is Synthroid, but its not everyone's choice, simply because this isn't a one sixe fits all world. Please keep this option open for those that need it.
# 914:
6:12 am PST, Nov 19,Name not displayed, Maryland
# 913:
6:01 am PST, Nov 19,Eleanor Cook, United Kingdom
i was only on synthetic thyroxine for approx 6 months i didnt get better but didnt get any worse, ive been on natural thyroids for 5 months and ive just about got my old life back, please let us choose which meds to take
# 912:
4:19 am PST, Nov 19,Nancy Glover, Michigan
# 911:
3:31 am PST, Nov 19,Deedee Ewubare, Georgia
In the 6 months I've been on natural thyroids I've been better than the 6 years I've been on Synthroid. Leave us with the option to choose.
# 910:
8:16 pm PST, Nov 18,Bobbie Cizon, New York
# 909:
8:16 pm PST, Nov 18,Vivian Scanlon, Connecticut
As my friend #844 ("Anonymous") states, please do not take away hers and others rights to choose medication that is helpful AND has been proven useful to patients since for nearly a century as: the cleaned, dried, and powdered thyroid gland previously deprived of connective tissue and fat... obtained from domesticated animals that are used for food by man. Since the 1960s, it was known that thyroxine was the essential hormone produced by the thyroid gland, and that most T3 was manufactured in other parts of the body by deiodination of thyroxine. It was demonstrated in hypothyroid animals and people that replacement of thyroxine alone corrected the measurable manifestations of hypothyroidism. By the 1970s doctors could measure T4, T3, and TSH in human blood with approximate accuracy and confirmed that treatment with thyroxine alone could produce normal blood levels of both T4 and T3. In the majority of patients normalization of these levels eliminated all signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism. 2010 -- what's the real issue? Is it akin to women not being entitled to a mamogram until age 50 and thereafter every 2 years? Every day, a new awakining, of diminished care.
# 908:
7:09 pm PST, Nov 18,Rebecca Novak, Ohio
# 907:
6:37 pm PST, Nov 18,Grace Pennington, Maryland
# 906:
6:08 pm PST, Nov 18,Mindy Flatow-Dickens, California
I had been suffering for many years. Then I started treatment with natural dessicated thyroid. It was so successful, that I felt I could regain my full health and enjoy my life. Now without it I feel the symptoms returning, and it's frightening. It's also so frustrating knowing how many thousands and thousands of people are affected, and we're all suffering needlessly. It's such a simple treatment, yet so effective. It's not right to make us all suffer, and all our families suffer - and for no reason. Do not ban our lifeline.
# 905:
5:05 pm PST, Nov 18,Christine Cochran, Texas
Stop putting big business and your damn golfing buddies before MY needs. Jerkoffs.
# 904:
4:22 pm PST, Nov 18,Janice Farrell, Florida
FDA has to take a serious look at this issue. It is unbelievable how after 100 years of use the FDA can say that it is unsafe.
# 903:
4:14 pm PST, Nov 18,Jennifer Freeman, Australia
Many people do NOT thrive on synthetic hormone. Natural Thyroid Hormone SAVES lives. People need this alternative. Dont let Big Pharm kill us off for their bottom line.
# 902:
3:35 pm PST, Nov 18,Leyland Del Re, Virginia
I cannot find Armour anywhere and this is the only thyroid medication that has really worked for me! How can you take this away from us?
# 901:
3:29 pm PST, Nov 18,Name not displayed, California
Why is is that most every readily available, inexpensive, and/or NATURAL thing we start to use gets banned or approval lags for an unreasonable amount of time? You folks (FDA) seem more influenced by what BIG PHARMA can give you rather than for our health welfare. Since I refuse to to use synthetics, my health suffers--as does everyone else here! Please DO NOT ban NDT!!!
