Comments on: FDA’s Safe Use Initiative–think they will listen to our cries about T4-only meds?

By: Leigh

Leigh — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:21:54 +0000

Response to Sandy, just before me, questioning whether phrase “desiccated thyroid” is on the FDA website: yes, it is. Re-do the search using a format I learned from reading Google’s help-with-search pages: enter your search terms and then hit the spacebar and add site:fda.gov, which limits Google’s search to just the fda site. You’ll get about 10 hits.

And as for the safe use initiative, the FDA ought not create more work for itself – what it already does it does so badly – is there some way to say that without sounding like a crank?

By: Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:49:35 +0000

I don’t think the words natural or desiccated are even on the FDA website. I see what they suggest as the only treatment (synthroid & the like). I did a internal search on the FDA site for desiccated thyroid – the result list links lands you on The American Thyroid Association’s website. THEY say, “sold as a prescription, desiccated thyroid is illegal”. Having purchased it from my local Walgreens for the past three years, this was a surprise to me!

By: Dwayne

Dwayne — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:05:30 +0000

I doubt it. It’s all about money in the end.

By: Rose

Rose — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:46:54 +0000

I filed a MedWatch report to tell the FDA that I was harmed by use of T4 only treatment. You can do it online or they will mail you a form.

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm

I think T4 medicines need a label that says, “Patient may still experience symptoms of hypothyroidism while taking this medication.” I think that’s what the FDA does – put warnings on medications.