Nature-Throid® & WP Thyroid® Recall – Compounded Alternatives
Nature-Throid® & WP Thyroid® Recall – Compounded Alternatives https://communityclinicalrx.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Featured-thyroid-and-hypothyroidism-1024x538.jpg 1024 538 Community Clinical Pharmacy https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e5859a5ea81a26a35dbca0f20faaa25d?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Nature-Throid® & WP Thyroid® Recall - Compounded Alternatives
Nature-Throid® and WP Thyroid® Recall 2020: Know Your Options when Treating Thyroid Conditions
Some of you may know that on September 3rd, 2020, RLC labs, Inc. announced that it is voluntarily recalling hundreds of lots of Nature-Throid® and WP Thyroid® in all strengths. These products are used to treat hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and are being recalled because testing of samples from six lots by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found the products to have less active ingredient than they are supposed to have. The pills may have as low as 87% of the labeled amount of Liothyronine (T3) or Levothyroxine (T4).
What the Thyroid Gland Does
The thyroid gland produces T4 that travels to various tissues throughout the body. T4 then converts into the active T3 hormone. A normal amount of T4 will not produce a normal amount of T3 when the conversion process gets blocked. That is why some patients would benefit from a combination of T4 and T3.
Treating Hypothyroidism
Most patients with hypothyroidism receive Levothyroxine or T4. To eliminate the problem of providing only T4 or giving too much T4 to patients that do not convert T4 efficiently to T3, doctors may prescribe a combination of T4 and T3.
Here is a comparison of thyroid replacement medications prescribed in the US market:
Contain | Source | Natural to humans | |
Nature-Throid | T3 and T4 | Porcine-pigs | No |
WP Thyroid | T3 and T4 | Porcine-pigs | No |
Armour Thyroid | T3 and T4 | Porcine-pigs | No |
NP Thyroid | T3 and T4 | Porcine-pigs | No |
Euthyrox | T4 | Synthetic but same T4 that human body produces | Yes |
Cytomel | T3 | Synthetic but same T3 that human body produces | Yes |
Compounded T3/T4 | T3 and T4 | Synthetic but same T3 and T4 that human body produces | Yes |
Compounded T3 | T3 | Synthetic but same T3 that human body produces | Yes |
Compounded T4 | T4 | Synthetic but same T3 that human body produces | Yes |
How Compounding Pharmacists Can Help
Compounding pharmacists can provide the right thyroid hormones in the right amount for each patient. Compounded thyroid preparations can contain T4, T3, or a combination of both according to the patient’s prescription. Also, the amounts of each hormone can be formulated based on the patient’s testing levels and clinical response.
Compounding pharmacies use bioidentical T4 and T3. These pure powders are identical in molecular structure to the hormones produced in the human body.
Products made from USP Desiccated Porcine Thyroid contain both T4 and T3. Armour Thyroid®, NP Thyroid®, Nature-Throid®, and WP Thyroid® are examples of desiccated porcine thyroid. These preparations contain a 4:1 ratio of T4 to T3. The normal ratio in humans is about 3.3 to 1. These products are often referred to as “natural” thyroid replacement products since they consist of a pig’s thyroid gland. These substances may be “natural” to pigs but are not automatically “natural” to humans.
Ask Us for Help
Please ask our knowledgeable pharmacists what may be the right medication for you. In many cases, an animal sourced thyroid product may not be the best choice. We will be happy to offer other options to your prescriber and with his/her approval switch you to a preparation that suits your needs better.
For those who would like to help their thyroid glands and or their thyroid medication work better, taking the appropriate thyroid supplement may be a great idea. Feel free to contact us to find out more about supplements that may help you feel better.
Refills
When in doubt, contact one of our knowledgeable pharmacists at Community Clinical Pharmacy. We are here to offer you solutions and assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Contact us with comments, questions, or pharmacy related topics you’d like to know more about. And, as always, stay healthy!
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