When the shortages hit the United States for natural desiccated thyroid in 2009, we all had to figure out which way to turn, since the 110-year-old natural desiccated thyroid has been a far, far better treatment for our hypothyroid state than levothyroxine T4-only such as Synthroid, Levoxyl, Eltroxin, Oroxine, etc.
Additionally, Armour thyroid by Forest Labs was reformulated in early 2009, and patients worldwide reported a return of symptoms as well a stress on their adrenals. So patients started an exodus away from Armour.
Luckily, the FDA loosened restrictions and allowed us to order the Canadian brand by Erfa Canada Inc, called simply “Thyroid”. Erfa’s Thyroid proved to be an excellent desiccated thyroid for most, especially if they raised high enough once again to rid them of symptoms. And since it contains sucrose, patients have been able to do it sublingually–a method which is not necessary for benefits, but is preferred by many.
I gathered a list of known Canadian online pharmacies, which you can view on the Options for Thyroid Treatment page.
And just recently, I sought opinions from patients about the pharmacies they have used:
Universal Drugstore aka Canadian Pharmacy Online: This pharmacy received the greatest kudos from US patients and with the best prices.
- Awesome – good prices and fast, friendly service. Will call your drug store and get your Armour script transferred.
- Faxed my prescription and it was mailed the next day. I believe it took a week and a few days to arrive to Florida.
- Great customer service, easy ordering, and was cheaper than paying the co-pay with my insurance. It takes about 10 to 14 business days to get your prescription, according to the company, but mine came sooner than that and it was the holiday mail rush season!
- Rapid service, excellent customer service, email reminders to refill, coupons
- They had the best price and were very professional and efficient. My order arrived within ten days.
- I paid $43.25 for 200 60 mg pills
- Online forms were easy. I faxed my prescriptions and received my Thyroid in twelve days for $7 shipping
- Easy to register and the customer service was excellent. I faxed my prescription. A pharmacist called me to see if I had any questions. I paid $45.63 including shipping for 100 60mg pills
- Excellent customer service, great prices, two week arrival from date of order, wish pharmacies here were this good.
- Good experience, prompt (7-10) days service getting my Erfa thyroid
See more recommendations in the Comments section for this post. And I’m going to hope that no pharmacy “uses” this to advertise their pharmacy. This is FOR PATIENT COMMENTS ONLY.
What has been your experience with online Canadian Pharmacies? Do I need to remove any from the Options for Thyroid Treatment for any reason? Do I need to add any?
ARE YOU A CANADIAN PATIENT ON DESICCATED THYROID? Use the Contact Me form if you’d like to be interviewed by a well-known Canadian reporter about desiccated thyroid in Canada. I’ll need your name and email address. You need to contact me before Monday, January 25.
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Recent blog posts worth reading:
Read a guy’s email to me about his experience with doctors being afraid of HC, which patients know is safe and WORKS!
Will the FDA be more transparent for thyroid patients on desiccated thyroid with their new initiative?
Listen to the second interview, Episode 9, I had with Dr. John C. Lowe. What a brilliant man!
This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 and is filed under canada. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Amy M said:
Jan 20, 10 at 12:05 pmUniversal Drugstore was definitely the best for me. Here are their prices for 1 gr (60mg) tablets:
100 TABLET(S) $19.00 USD
200 TABLET(S) $36.25 USD
300 TABLET(S) $51.50 USD
400 TABLET(S) $64.75 USD
Shipping and handling: $7.00
Kara S said:
Jan 20, 10 at 1:17 pmWow, Universal looks really good.
I’ve used Canadian Meds South http://canadianmedssouth.com/things-you-need-to-know/armour-thyroid-shortage/ – I thought the prices were good there! (I bought a bottle of 500 60′s for $133.95; Universal’s equivalent would be %97.50 – if I could get 500 at a time from them.)
One difference: Universal’s maximum fill is 3 months’ supply, where CMS’s maximum is 500 pills. That means you can get Erfa factory sealed bottles of 500, which is nice if you have an extra that you wish to keep for awhile, just in case. (I’m assuming Erfa’s bottles only come in 500s, and that Universal splits these into regular prescription bottles – but I haven’t ordered from Universal, so I can’t say for sure.)
Anyway, Sue at CMS was super helpful, and she is a thyroid patient herself who posts on various forums. In case you need an alternative to Universal for any reason, I can definitely recommend CMS.
Good luck everyone!
Kara
Kathleen Steinley said:
Jan 20, 10 at 2:56 pmCanadadrugs.com has a natural thyroid pill that they say is known as Armour Thyroid in the US. It is sweet and I take it sublingually. I think that it might be Armour Thyroid in the original formulation. They are great. I don’t know how their prices compare but they are a fraction of what I paid for Nature Thyroid in the US and the medicine is much stronger, perhaps because I take it sublingually or perhaps because it actually is the old formulation without cellulose. I’m afraid they will run out after I post this but since the knowledge gained from STTM has saved me I thought that I should share.
Patricia Dunlop said:
Jan 20, 10 at 3:08 pmYour link to the “Contact Me” form for Canadian patients does not work. I am a Canadian living in Canada who uses dessicated thyroid medication. Previously I bought Armour Thyroid in the U.S. (Michigan).
Patricia Dunlop
(From Janie: Try again. It works! Or you can find the Contact link at the bottom of any page on STTM)
Jan said:
Jan 20, 10 at 3:12 pmUniversal was great! They advised me on what the doctor needed to put on my prescription to switch me over from NatureThroid. I received my order in a reasonable time. I felt the price was great, considering what compounded would have cost me. I paid about $50 for 300 tablets of 1/2 grain.
AND they have it in stock! Can’t complain there.
yes universal puts them in prescription bottles.
Far better service that Medco or Rite Aid ever gave me with getting dessicated!
Alice said:
Jan 20, 10 at 3:27 pmI ordered ERFA thyroid from Universal Pharmacy in Halifax. I paid about $38 for 200 tablets incl. shipping. I received it in about 2 weeks and their customer service was great. I even received a postcard and phone reminder when i should reorder! I paid out of pocket not through my insurance and it was cheaper. I usually make a $15 copay for 30 tablets…a 1 month supply. I was very satisfied.
Marie said:
Jan 20, 10 at 7:42 pmHas anyone else received Naturethroid pills that are nothing but placebo pills? Are we in some kind of nonconsensual nationalized healthcare experiment?
Judy said:
Jan 20, 10 at 8:23 pmI used Cross Borders Pharmacy. Their customer service is excellent. They called me to let me know when my order was shipped. It took about 1 and 1/2 weeks to arrive in Ohio. I got 500 pills for $110.00 (plus $10 shipping). When I called about ordering my refill early enough to allow time for it to come through US Customs, they sent the refill immediately, instead of me having to wait until my pills were nearly gone like we do here in the US. I am very happy with them.
Beth in T.O. said:
Jan 21, 10 at 9:22 amI used NorthWestPharmacy.com They were very quick (about a week to California). I just ordered online then faxed my prescription for Armour or any similar natural thryoid.
I paid $46.98 plus 9.99 for shipping for 100 pills. Refill is easy as I now have an account on their website, I just have to push a button to reorder.
I am very happy with them.
Dwayne said:
Jan 22, 10 at 6:33 amI must be one of the only people who is pretty disappointed right now. I ordered directly from ERFA Thyroid where I had my prescription faxed (which after the refills will be going through another Canadian pharmacy). The shipping price is ridiculous- it’s almost the same cost as the thyroid itself. I ordered on Jan 7th and they just shipped it out- so now it’s two weeks I have just waited for it to ship- not happy. And it’s way too expensive- With shipping it cost me $70.00 for a bottle of 100 tablets.
Barbara said:
Jan 22, 10 at 7:20 amI ordered from Jan Pharmacy (new) in Manitoba. I got 200 tablets of 30 mg for $28.04. Shipping was $9.95 and they arrived in less than 5 days. (That may have been exceptional.) Service was great. Very responsive.
Paul said:
Jan 22, 10 at 11:08 pmI have used Universal several times now and they are super-friendly with excellent pricing. I have used another Canadian pharmacy but Universal Drugstore is my go-to place.
mette said:
Jan 22, 10 at 11:54 pmI ordered from universaldrugstore.com to Norway.
After a few emails back and forth discussing dosage and strength etc, they confirmed my order on a Wednesday, and the next Thursday I received and signed for it at my door.
The price was very reasonable, as Amy M lists above, and shipping was $40.
Normally it isn’t really legal to buy prescription drugs from countries outside Europe. But customs only checks a few packages, and if they stop it, it’s possible to apply for a one time permission (from Legemiddelverket)in special circumstances.
Amy Haught said:
Jan 23, 10 at 7:00 amI purchased from canadamedicineshop.com. It cost me $59.99 ($9.99 for shipping) for 100 60mg tablets. I ordered the Erfa on 1/13/2010. They just got around to shipping it on 1/22/2010. I spoke with a representative on 1/22/2010 (yes, I’m anxious to start my Erfa) who explained it should arrive within 3-8 days. I was taking the reformulated Armour but had to stop due to racing heart, and severe dizzyness–I never experienced these symtoms with the old armour. I am currently surviving on OTC Nutri-meds porcine tablets until my Erfa script arrives. I’ve found in order to relieve my dizzyness and severe fatigue I’ve got to take more of the Nutri-meds porcine tablets to get through the day. I’m counting each day until my Erfa arrives. I hope Erfa will bring relief to all who have been suffering!
Laura Caliguari said:
Jan 25, 10 at 7:57 amI used old Armour until Oct. 2009 when my supply ran out. I then switched to Erfa Thyroid. My endo was nice enough to send my Rx to 77CanadaPharmacy.com. I ordered 200 60mg pills and paid $80 plus shipping. After reading other posts about Universal Pharmacy it sounds like I totally overpaid! I will say that 77CanadaPharmacy had great customer service and shipped on time. I will also say that I am thrilled to have found Erfa Thyroid. I use 120mg/day (chew with meal) and so far, so good. Thanks to everyone for all of the helpful information!
Deana said:
Jan 25, 10 at 9:51 pmI used Universal for ERFA and am completely pleased with them. I will use them as long as legally allowed. I take 4 grains sublingually. I am in New Mexico.
dex said:
Jan 31, 10 at 2:22 pmI started taking erfa about two weeks ago, I have taken Armour for almost ten years. Do I need the same dose or should I increase it some as I notice the T4 and T3 are sligtly less in erfa? I feel my hypo symptons returning since taking erfa. I have never taken anything sublingually is this the same pill or do I order something different? I took four grains of armour.
Regina said:
Feb 02, 10 at 4:44 pmTo dex: you don’t NEED to take Erfa sublingual. It is just many of us did this with the old Armour and were doing good and neither the new Armour nor Major Labs nor Westhroid nor Naturethroid and whatever else I was on last summer worked well, and definitely not sublingual for me.
Erfa seems pure and sweet, no filler, so for the ones who do well on sublingual it is heaven.
You should probably try taking it as you did with Armour, and see how that works. If taking it like Armour does not work, maybe you do need more.
Lisa said:
Feb 03, 10 at 9:50 amI had been on the original formulation of Armour and noticed a decline in my health after the reformulation. I went to Naturethroid but since it’s not available anymore, am left with my doctor pushing me towards compounded. I’ve had compounded before, and it was helpful, but nothing like the old Armour. I came here to see what my options were for a ‘generic’ and with my script for Armour in hand, I called Universal. Since my script is for Armour 120mg, I can’t fill it for Erfa, through Universal, until my doctor sends a new script for Armour 125mg. I haven’t read of the dosage differences between Armour and Erfa and when I called Universal last week, they told me if I had a script for Armour then I would have no problems getting Erfa filled with it. Well, Armour doesn’t come in 125mg so she won’t write it for that dosage. She won’t write for dessicated thyroid or Erfa, either; dessicated is too vague and she’s not heard of Erfa. So, what do I do? Any suggestions?
From Janie: either you really need a new doc to do what’s right for you, or convince her to write it in grains, as Universal should take that, no matter the mgs. difference! Also try getting feedback in patient groups: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others
Lisa said:
Feb 03, 10 at 11:59 amThank you, Janie, I did post to natural thyroid group.
Pat said:
Feb 03, 10 at 3:54 pmI ordered from Universal Drugstore, and have no complaints about the pharmacy, BUT the Canadian thyroid product was NOTHING LIKE Armour – it was worse than taking nothing at all, or like taking Synthroid ! YUK !!!!!!!!!
Connie said:
Feb 05, 10 at 10:26 pmI switched to ERFA at universal drugs store, I feel fabulous again after the armor reformulation left me felling bad, the price is good and their service is fabulous, thanks so much for letting us all know where to go !!!
carolyn hunter said:
Feb 08, 10 at 8:47 pmI got worse and worse on the reformulated Armour, but did NOT know WHY I was getting worse, …since I had NO knowledge of the re-formulation…..but my body did.
when my regular mail order pharmacy sent me a letter telling me they could no longer get Armour, I went on an internet search… and gradually stumbled on the
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com web pages, where I got a huge education on WHAT was going on, and HOW I could get a replacement for natural dessicted thyroid. And WHETHER I was taking the correct doses and frequencies,…. based on my pulse and temperatures throughout the day.
I discovered based on my weakness, exhaustion, and inability to DO anything, I was so deficient that I was actually near death at that point.
As a result, I had to RAISE up my thyroid AND cortisone to an unusually large amount. (My body temperature was sinking and staying so low, and fluxuating wildly, up and down, I was freezing, and way below “normal”. )
After experimentation, over several weeks, I ended up with a DAILY DOSE of aprox. 40 mg of hydrocortisone (oral) DAILY, and 315 mg of natural dessicated thyroid (Erfa) DAILY to cause the desired changes, and FINALLY stabilize my temperature.
I am, for the first time in my recollected life, usually in the 98.0 or higher, after a morning start of 97.1.
I also had to divide the doses into four doses, whereas previously I was taking a smaller daily amount,….and only two times a day.
Erfa has done well for me, and I keep track of my temperatures several times a day,….so I will know WHEN, IF, and/or WHETHER ….I need to lower any of my doses.
Marla said:
Feb 12, 10 at 8:49 pmI ordered through Northwestpharmacy.com. They sent me 200, 60 mg, Erfa ‘thyroid’ pills. I’m on 120 mg a day. It ran $56.49 plus $9.99 shipping, $66.48 total. They are sweet and I can take them sublingually. The order took about 2 weeks from start to finish. I have 3 refills, so hopefully that process will be even easier.
Andrew Poretz said:
Feb 27, 10 at 3:02 pmOkay, great customer service experience I wanted to share. In December I ordered Erfa Thyroid from Canadadrugs.com, which I learned about from this page. Today they actually called me to ask if I was ready to get a refill! I said I still have nearly two months’ supply left so wasn’t ready to re-order, and this nice woman with a wonderful French-Canadian accent offered a 10% discount and will not process/charge the order for a month, and told me they now have free shipping, and also offered to call my doctor after that refill, since I only had one. So I’m pretty impressed. Definitely beats the robo calls from Duane Reade for my other meds, and the monthly e-mail refill reminders from drugstore.com (which has been out of Armour for months, so what’s the point?)!
Sharon said:
Aug 18, 10 at 6:56 pmSwitched to erfa last year, needed about 25% higher dosage than previous brand. Got 100 180 mg tabs then, now cutting into 3 parts, 100 doses cost 10 cents apiece. Now looking for comparable savings–greed appears to have taken over. Jan pharmacy seems the closest reasonable alternative.
Jan said:
Oct 15, 10 at 9:57 pmI am in Ontario Canada and get my script for desicated Thyroid from Erfa @ Shoppers Drug Mart. I don’t understand why people are going online for it.
However, I am having a problem finding someone who actually knows how to perscribe it properly. I reluctantly switched to Eltroxin….not staying on that crap! Blurry vision, tired etc. I am currently on nothing trying to find my way through this fog. I have the Thyroid, just don’t know how to dose properly.
(From Janie: Because many of us who use and appreciate Erfa do not live in Canada)
Nikki said:
Oct 27, 10 at 12:15 pmI used Universal Drug and had a horrible experience. I e-mailed them my script 2 weeks ago and they still haven’t been able to get anything right. And what is up when they ask if I want it from New Zealand? They constantly put me on hold, one time they came back to see if I was still on hold than put me on hold again. They said my card was declined 2xs. So I called my flexcare people and they said the pharmacy hadn’t even tried to put it thru. They said there was no dosage listed on the script and there was. I will never use them, I had my script sent back to Smart Choice, the place I used the first time for my script. I only tried Universal as it was listed here as a good pharmacy. Grrr…. I am now out of my Erfa and will be out for about 7 days till Smart Choice can get them to me. I would have had them if Universal knew what they were doing.