Comments on: Thyroid patients say PHOOEY to new Armour formulation and Forest Pharmaceuticals

By: Joel

Joel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:06:26 +0000

I said PHOOEY to Armour and Forest Labs! I started on Armour when first diagnosed with hypothyroidism due to the favorable (if not preferable) articles about it on this site. I did fine on it for a few years. The “new”, undisclosed formulation made my heart skip and gave me chest pains. I got on here and read about other people having this problem. I switched to Levoxyl and 6 weeks later all is well. Forest should be investigated for this. I’ll be surprised if patients aren’t able to bring a class action lawsuit. I know I was very alarmed at what was going on with me because I didn’t know what it was. One night I almost went to the emergency room, thinking I was having a heart attack.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:02:02 +0000

Now they tell us! So for the last few months, my thyroid has tanked: I eat non-stop and have put on 10 lbs at least. 9 hours of sleep leaves me still tired…. Super dry skin…. Losing a small pony-tail of hair a day….

The only thing that changed for me was my new refill of Armour. Now I have to pay almost $500 for a doctor visits and labs. I have been squeezing into my clothes at work and look horrible. I’m afraid I’ll lose an important interview because I look so “fat and frumpy”.

We should sue Forest labs.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:33:28 +0000

For those who suffered or are suffering side effects from the new formulation of Armour – Here is contact information to file a complaint with Forest Labs. I worked my way through Forest Labs departments today and fought to speak with an actual human being to let someone know about the side effects of the new formula. Forest Labs is required to take down reported complaints and or side effects of a drug. You will speak with an actual human who will take down your complaint and file it. If enough complaints are filed, maybe that will do some good.

Forest Labs
Safety Department
800-678-1605 ext. 66296

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:28:42 +0000

I think I’ve been lucky up until a few weeks ago because my Armour tasted the same and I still felt great. I’m not sure how I was getting old Armour all this time, but I was. I had read about this reformulation here at this site, so I was prepared for the possibility of side effects when I finally got it.
I got the new Armour, tasted a big difference and man did my hypo symptoms come on with a vengeance. Just like everyone else, it took me years to find a doc to give me Armour, and that medicine was life changing after suffering with Synthroid for 5 years.
I am SOOO fatigued all day long, yet at night I have trouble sleeping. I feel like I’m in a fog or there is a veil in front of my face and I just can’t lift it. I’m having anxiety, and then because of my symptoms interfering with daily life, depression sets in. I’m forgetting things, and I keep dropping stuff. I’m so clumsy. I have 2 small children and it’s taking everything I have to interact with them and make things normal for them, which then leaves me with NOTHING energy wise for myself later.
How could they do this to their patients? I called the lab and they had me speak to their medicine safety person. She was wonderful, took lots of info, was apologetic that I feel badly and admitted that they are getting lots of calls. But she isn’t sure that they will go back anytime soon.
I found one pharmacy with West-throid, so I’m trying that as soon as my RX gets filled. I hope and pray to God that the medicine works, because living like this is unbearable. If it doesn’t, I might have to try Synthroid and Cytomel, but that’s is just awful to me. I also called the company that makes Naturethroid because I can’t get it anywhere. They said that so many people are abandoning Armour and switching to them that they just can’t keep up with production. They might not have it in full swing until January!!!! I just want to curl up and cry. After all these years I finally felt better for 9 short months and now this.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:49:06 +0000

I have been taking Armour Thyroid for about three years. It took a while to get up to 180 mgs. I just really started feeling well then the reformulation. Most of my hypo symptoms are back, but I also have other hyper symptoms, as well. I am shaky, nauseated, sweaty, and nervous. I am also tired, my joints hurt, and I have begun loosing my eye lashes and hair. I am not happy. I called my insurance provider and have gotten them to agree to allow my doctor to prescribe desiccated thyroid from a compounding pharmacy. Hopefully, I will be better soon…

By: Dave A (UK)

Dave A (UK) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 10:55:14 +0000

Started Armour last year and it seemed to improve things; friends commented I was more my old self.

I noticed the change (chalky, crumbly) in my latest bottle (1/2 grain) in mid-August and since then have problems; mainly mental ‘turmoil’ and tiredness. And this was before I discovered that there had been a change in formulation and that other people were having problems.

I shall ask my local chemist (’UK-speak’ for pharmacy !) if they can get Westhroid, and if they can I shall ask my doc if he will prescribe that instead.

By: Jo

Jo — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:08:45 +0000

I take so many meds & supplements it took me a bit to figure out the culprit, but I, too, have had hypo relapse with the new Armour. Like many of you hear, it took me YEARS to convince someone to support my goal to be healthy and to use Armour. So the reformulation by Forrest THOROUGHLY CRANKS ME UP!

I decided to vote with my wallet, and have tried several times to switch to WesThroid / NatureThroid, but none of the nearby pharmacies (including my compounding) could remain supplied.

Spoke with RLC today, and was told that they have increased production by about 300%, and expect to begin reshipping in mid-November.

So now it’s just figuring out how to hang in there until then.

By: mary

mary — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:59:09 +0000

I noticed the switch immediately but didn’t realize it was a health issue til I came here looking for info on why my script was so hard to fill (most pharmacies have armour on back order) Now it all makes sense since I refilled in June things have been different and I have also developed severe esophagitis from swallowing the new formula .I took the sweet smelly stuff under the tongue and it worked great now I am in digestive Hell. I will try Westhroid as I can’t find Armour anymore anyway and it sounds like it isn’t working with the new formulation. I called Forest but I doubt they will return my call. I am sure big pharma had something to do with the switch. Why would they want us to have a cheap, effective drug with NO side effects? That’s just not good business when your business thrives on keeping people sick!

By: Jean

Jean — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:15:59 +0000

I do not understand why all the American companies making natural thyroid hormone have changed so drastically. These medications were very good the way they use to be.

I think if they need more money to keep up with it, they should just charge more for the medication. Why change something that was absolutely perfect?

These changes do not make sense because they are affecting so many people.

They should not change something so perfect. People will pay the difference in price if they raised their prices and kept the product the same quality.

Don’t change the quality, only the cost of the medication should be changed. Money is less important than your health. Where are their priorities? I thought they were there for the people just as much as they were there for themselves.

I really hope these companies will change back to what they use to do. The FDA is only there to protect the people, not cause havoc on pharmaceutical companies.

I’m sure if these companies want to make a good quality medication, they would. They are letting money run their
not so perfect anymore companies, run the show.

I say just charge more and keep it good.

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:56:01 +0000

Thoughts and questions about the reformulation of Armour thyroid.

When I received the newer formula, I noticed that it does not have that peculiar order that the old formula had. Did the makers even use any desiccated porcine powder in the new formula? Did they perhaps just use a synthetic product as the main ingredient and add the other fillers to make up the pill form and consistency?

Seems like they took something out because most of us are having hypo symptoms with the new formula.

Just wondering.