Comments on: Here’s the skinny about the “new” Naturethroid: the good, the bad, and the curious

By: Ren

Ren — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:37:40 +0000

I was doing great on Naturethroid before the shortage now I am barely OK. I have been having a lot of joint pain, head aches, fatigue, and brain fog. I was trying to figure out why I am not doing well I had’nt thought of the reformulation until recently. I am so upset that they have tinkered with a great product. Any suggestions? What about ERFA?

(From Janie: as mentioned many many times on my blog (hint), chew it up thoroughly before swallowing)

By: Pollie

Pollie — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:02:28 +0000

RE: Suzanne, I have been on Nature-throid for a little over a month now. It worked great for the first couple of weeks. But , too, started having major foot, ankle, and joint cramps on it (so bad my doc had to prescribe me prednisone to reduce swelling). This has NEVER happened before. He thinks it’s the Nature-throid causing it: makes sense. I am really disheartened because I have tried almost EVERY thyroid med and this one is good, except for this debilitating side effect. Anyone know how to combat this? I want to stay on it because it makes my hair, skin, and overall mood great! Thanks.

(From Janie: you need to be chewing the Naturethroid up before swallowing to release the thyroid from the cellulose filler. And you may not be on enough. http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/mistakes-patients-make )

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:15:16 +0000

For about a week I tried crushing it up and mixed w/honey under my tongue but felt kind of sick to my stomach after about 1/2 hr. Didn’t notice any real difference in energy and still had all the other symptoms.
I wrote in because I was curious if any one else felt good after switching and then a downturn after a few weeks. I am going to the dr on Wed but she is not into saliva testing or Naturethroid for that matter. She gives it to me because I request it. I have been to several drs in the area but have not found a dr that is knowledgeable about desiccated thyroid meds. I read this website and try to help myself from the other suggestions.

(From Janie: you order the saliva test yourself. I would. Also use this page: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/mistakes-patients-make and get further feedback from other patients: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others )

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:01:43 +0000

Have been on Naturethroid for about 4 mos. after having compounded meds. Went off compounded meds because I seemed to be all over the place from one mo. to the next. The Naturethroid seemed to be working and then for the past 2 weeks I have been really fatigued, bad foot & ankle cramps, light-headed when standing up and headaches on a pretty regular basis. I go back to my dr. on Wed. but wanted to know it anyone else is having problems on Naturethorid.

(from Janie: you need to be chewing it up to release the desiccated thyroid from the cellulose filler. But you may need to be doing a 24 hour adrenal saliva test, as well.)

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:40:23 +0000

Went on Armour thyroid meds after another doc put my on Synthroid and I had horrible symptoms appear. My new DO took me off the Synthroid and put me on Armour. (6 months or so) Started to feel fine but after a couple of months I went down hill again. One of the new things I noticed was a bout with swollen ankles, fatigue and a change in my urine color. Now I drink plenty of water so that isn’t it. She then took me off Armour and compounded my meds. Started to feel better but for the second time I had a bout of swollen ankles and fatigue. I just started the compounded meds a week ago so I do need to give them a chance. Has anyone had this, should I be getting my kidneys checked, heart?? I am so disheartened at this time.…..

(from Janie: you needed to be chewing up the Armour to release the desiccated thyroid from the excess cellulose–the latter which binds the thyroid. Doesn’t work well unless you do. Now that you are on compounded, you need to tell them NOT to use cellulose as a filler, but powdered acidolpholus. Also see if you are here: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/mistakes-patients-make )

By: Denice

Denice — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:05:36 +0000

I went from synthroid to Naturthroid in Aug 2009, it took 3 months to get though it but seemed worth it — until I ran out of naturethroid and went on a compound — that caused all kinds of reactions, finally got the new naturethoid and my heart has been having all kinds of problems from racing to palptations. Working with doc to change dose, but the only thing that seems to help is to continue to add levo. I am about to give up on the naturethroid.
Anyone else having heart issues on the new naturethroid? Will crushing it stop the heart issues?

(From Janie: Yes, crushing it and adding a bit of honey or sugar definitely helps. See my other blog posts below this earlier this year. If you continue to have palps after a week of doing that, you either have low cortisol and/or low ferritin that needs discovery and treatment. Patient groups can help you: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/talk-to-others Adding Levo is simply masking the problem and will make you worse down the line )

By: ellen

ellen — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:30:04 +0000

hi. i’m on the new armour, pulverizing etc, but what a pain! i like the zip in the am, and didn’t get that on Naturethroid, but my temps still low and tired in pm. Can we tell the compounding pharmacies what we want in the compound. If so, what would be the closest thing to the original armour? ellen

(From Janie: Erfa is the closest to the old Armour. Yes, you can tell compounders, via a doctors prescription, what you want. Just understand whether you are getting des. thyroid or synthetic T4 and T3. Ellen, are you sure you are on enough thyroid meds?)

By: Hilary

Hilary — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:33:05 +0000

Update: I ordered the Erfa from universaldrugstore.com ($20 for 100 60mg…I’m psyched!) AND compounded desiccated thyroid with acidophilus from Hook’s in Indiana. One of those HAS to work, right? Thank goodness I have a good doctor who let call in both RXs today! She’s also on natural thyroid (Armour) so she understands. New Armour was just OK for me but after the shortage when I started Naturethroid, it was a huge improvement…until last week when I got the reformulation. I take it orally in the a.m. then sublingual in the afternoon and although it dissolved just fine with a bit of sugar or sublingual B12, it wasn’t working at all for me. In the 4 months I was on Naturethroid (plus low carb, exercise, blah blah) I finally was able to lose 12 of the 25 pounds I gained when going hypo and I don’t want it back. So until I get my new RXs, I’m mortar and pestling my brains out to pulverize that evil cellulose and rotten little fillers. No offensive to those of you that are doing good on the new NT! Cheers to you! I wish I was too!

By: Hilary

Hilary — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:53:41 +0000

Wake Up and Smell the Reformulation! Holy Hypo. Temps plunging, hair falling out, brain fog, mood in the tank. What's up? Oh, here's a week old refill of my awesome Naturethroid. Hmmm...let's Google reformulation. Bam, here I am. What, there's no obligation for them to tell you the formula is changing? Just the old switcheroo, again! Boy, did I get into this natural thyroid game at the wrong time. After my DX, tried levo for one year until I switched to Armour. I had one month of feeling great on the Old Armour until my first refill of New Armour. Now this! I KNOW it's the reformulated Naturethroid that's not working for me. I had a small stash of Westhroid, and after taking them for one day, my recent stomach and IBS troubles went away along with all my other hypo symptoms. Too bad I only have a few more. Now it's on to Erfa. I'm pissed, but hopeful. Thanks Janie and everyone for the scoop, which you can only find here.

By: Mila

Mila — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:13:28 +0000

I love this site and all of you. I am an NTH yahoo group veteran and have been googling my eyes out all morning trying to decide whether or not to leave ERFA for skin eruptions and go to Nature-throid — and ended up right here back at Janie’s LOL.
After not being able to reach Nature-throid (at all) yet was able to speak to someone at Erfa (AND a staff doctor is calling me back) — and reading all your posts, I have made the decision to stay put on the erfa and find some other skin remedies.
Have a wonderful week!