Armour Thyroid

When Armour Thyroid reformulated their product, I think they left out the active ingredient or most of it. My levels were so out of whack. Without digging out my results, all I can remember off the top of my head is my TSH was over 50. I got to the point where I could hardly walk, had muscle spasms in my stomach, upper & lower legs, weight gain, hair loss, sensitivity to light, etc. I found out about Erfa Thyroid from Canada & have been taking it for a couple of years. I think it's pretty much like the old Armour before they reformulated it only better IMO. I'm doing so much better. I will never go back to Armour products.

As a result of the change in my Armour Thyroid, my body temperature dropped. I started having chills that make me shake uncontrollably. I was and still am exhausted all the time. I started losing hair again, and we still do not have it regulated. What were you thinking! The change was not necessary! It is unconscionable that you would mess our health up like this! Also, Synthroid never worked well for me either. Now what? This is not responsible medicine!

I have taken Armour for years almost 25 years. It has always been the best for me. Three months ago, I started getting sick, tired all the time, what looks like scar tissue on my hands, arms, ankles, muscle and joint aches, numbness in my hands. And now I have some boney growths in one of my wrists. Severe depression with thoughts of not only harming myself but everyone in my family. Now that I think of all of this, it is like I was poisoned with steroids. I have a severe psychotic allergic reaction to steroids. I have went from a steady weight of about 160 to 199.

It just shot up fast. My face and tongue are swollen still. I reported to the company the problems. I am now off those pills and will never take them again. Had I finally not recognized that hey this has to be my thyroid related, I feel I would have either hurt myself or my family or both. I was very scared and still am. I do feel victimized and they should have to pay for the misery they have caused.

The Armour Thyroid drug was reformulated my pharmacy did not make me aware or notify me. This is not the same drug. As they are re-stocking pharmacies, people may be receiving the re-formulated and not realize it like me. My hypothyroidism is out of control in less than two months--high blood pressure, severe weight gain, and cholesterol and fertility issues. If I had not discovered the problem, it would have been life threatening. I have notified the pharmacy, the manufacture and the FDA. I hope they do something before any deaths occur.

I recently had a partial thyroidectomy in 2011 and had to start on thyroid medication to bring my labs back to normal. Synthroid did not work well for me so my doctor placed me on a low dose of Armour thyroid.

Since I have been taking the Armour thyroid, my body aches all over. So bad I feel like I have the flu. I am exhausted, continue to gain weight and have ongoing hair loss. When I researched the information provided from the manufacturer, none of these symptoms were listed. I understand the company has changed the formula and has not updated the information for the public. That is false advertisement and should be illegal. I am truly miserable now and feel worse than ever.

Until recently I had not realized that it was my medication causing all these effects. I was feeling wonderful on my Armour Thyroid up until the reformation of the formula. This is when everything went down hill. The reformation of Armour has caused devastating effects on me and apparently numerous others. The side effects are too numerous to even go into. My trust in pharmaceuticals was and is now even more non-existent. To think even after knowing how badly this reformation of Armour has affected so many individuals and the company is doing absolutely nothing about it is beyond comprehension.

After the reformulation of Armour Thyroid, I continued to become more lethargic. By midday, I could not even stay awake despite sleeping regular hours. Though not depressed or sleepy, I just flat did not want out of bed. Then I accidentally left town without my medicine and suddenly I felt better than I had in 2 years. The change in AT was making me feel drugged. My doctor advised the boosted healthy feeling would crater without some thyroid medication and it did soon after, but I no longer feel drugged and as lethargic off the AT. I couldn't believe the medicine I thought was helping me was making things so much worse.

I have been on Armour for three years and up until the reformulation it was a miracle drug. Since the reformulation, I have gained 25 pounds and am miserable. And of course my doctor tells me to eat less and that it's my fault. I have lost about half my hair in the last 12 months as well. Last but not least, my blood sugar levels are elevated now. Yep, you guessed it since the last 12 months. So now, I'm being told I am pre-diabetic. I am not-- or maybe the 25 pounds have something to do with it. I just don't know what to switch to that is comparable.

I don't have a complaint yet I've been on Synthroid for a year. Not working, have bad hypo symptoms was looking into taking Armour because I've heard good things but now I'm not so sure I have to depend on thyroid meds as I have no thyroid due to surgery. It's scary to have to depend on drugs to function. I can't believe you would change a thyroid med that worked for so many people. I'm rethinking. Just stay on Synthroid. Now, I'm scared to try Armour.

I share the dismay at Armour Thyroid being unavailable then reformulated, and I want to share my solution. My doctor wrote a prescription for the dosage of T4 and T3 I need, and I now have it filled at Madison Pharmacy in Madison, Wisconsin. It is a compounding pharmacy with excellent customer service, and I feel as well as with the former Armour Thyroid. Good luck!

I didn't know Armour Thyroid had been formulated until I read this site, but that explains a lot. It absolutely does not work as it used to for me either, not even close. Please bring back the original!

Original Armour thyroid was the only thyroid medication I have been able to tolerate. I feel awful on the reformulated version. I can't tolerate any thyroid medications. The best and the only one I could tolerate was the original Armour Thyroid (before reformulation). I feel generally awful and cannot find a medication to get enough thyroid support without side effects - different side effects for different medications. Please bring back the original medication!

I took my first dose of 90mg Armour this morning and just chewed it according to personal research. Two and a half years ago, after being diagnosed of Graves' Disease, I was given changes in dosages of Levothyroxine and Liothyronine per off the chart lab tests. It was changed to Nature-Throid but it was still not good. I was thinking every day, every hour, am I going to make it? Should I just drive to the E.R. and tell them to admit me or should I get back into my doctor's office and try something else while I'm barely still walking and talking?

I am taking lots of vitamins--monitored by my doctor--to modify my diet. I was told to stay with clean foods in original state--no processed fast foods--only in small, frequent amounts. And if I am really feeling Hypo, I would have to stick to liquids, as much as possible, in an effort to be kind to my sluggish gastrointestinal tract. I don't know what's worse--being Hyper or being Hypo. I am praying that the Armour works. I found it from the Canadian Rx site and decided to try it. I picked it up from my local Rx. I told myself that I will try it for one month. If it doesn't work, I'll look into getting the medication from Canada. Beyond that, I feel as if my medical options will be exhausted. If anyone has any other information or advice, I am definitely open.

I found out I had hypothyroidism after the birth of my son in 2007. I did not want to take synthetic hormones as it is a proven fact they cause cancer, but needed to do something as I was depressed, irritable, fatigued, had major anxiety and my marriage was failing because of it.

I found Armour from a compounding pharmacy in 2008 and it immediately changed my life. Those symptoms deteriorated and I felt normal again. I spread the word to everyone I know. Then they took it off the market. I did the compounded versions and it worked OK, but not as great, then it just recently came back.

I began taking it and almost immediately started losing my hair at alarming rate. I have memory loss and horrible mental confusion, my anxiety and depression started to surface again and my eyes feel like they're burning off, with no help from OTC eye drops. I feel panicky and irritable again.

What the hell is wrong with the FDA? So many women are suffering. I guess Armour was just too good to be true--they don't want that for the American population. Hopefully, with so many women's statements and realizations, it will get through to them to allow Armour to change the formula back. Please!

After years of being on synthetic thyroid medication and hearing the benefits of Armour being a natural thyroid hormone replacement, I switched. My labs showed me to be therapeutic, but I am very symptomatic: Fatigue, hair loss, dry itchy skin, heal fissures, moody, weight gain and moody. I was not aware of the reformulation of the medication or the current issues.

I have been researching the side effects of Armour Thyroid and came across your website. I have used it for many years and felt fine. I have been very sick for over a year with a multitude of symptoms... Pain in joints, particularly in feet and shoulder joints as well as breathing discomfort for a few months. I also have psoraisis on arms, legs and scalp for about a year. My blood pressure which has always been normal, suddenly went sky high about 8 or 9 months ago and I now take medication. I have never previously had blood pressure problems.

My hair has been steadily falling for many months and getting worse. Stomach upset with nausea has become a daily problem. About a month ago my hands started hurting and has become worse. I now realize all of this started after the re-formulation. I cannot understand why Armour is not doing anything about this situation when so many lives have been so negatively affected.

Forest Pharmaceutical changed the formulation for Armour Thyroid in 09 with devastating effects for hundreds of thousands if not millions of people who depended on it for their hypothyroidism.

What is the damage? My life is the damage. Time spent being tired, hurting in places I didn't know existed, fatigue so bad that I fall asleep at work or in the car or at the computer or watching TV. But, when it comes time to go to bed, I can't fall asleep or sleep short periods of time. I wake up only to feel so exhausted to face another day of the same thing. My hair falls out and feels like straw no matter how many moisture treatments I put on it and my skin is dry and itchy. My whole body itches all the time.

And, I have this stuff on my hands/fingers, ankles, lower legs that the doctors calls eczema that I never had before and it never gets better no matter what I treat it with. And now I get hives from the sun/heat that I never had before. When I first started on Armour in 2008 I lost 70 pounds, I looked good, now my face is round and bloated and so is my stomach and I have put back on 45 pounds. I force myself to walk between 10-15 miles a week. If I didn't I would weigh 30 pounds more but I pay for exercising. I have cramps in my legs and feet and they ache like a bone is broken. I had none of this before Armour was changed. I have palpitations & heaviness in my chest but my heart checks out okay. I barely get by now. I wonder if I will have to live like this for the rest of my life? I am really starting to wonder if this is all there is going to be for me. It's hard to face the rest of my life feeling like this. We all are mere peons in the world of big business and we have to be satisfied with complaining on a website about how bad we feel. And all anyone can say is it sucks to be you and they're right it does!

I was on the computer trying to find an answer to my heart problems that I have been having for the last 3 years, but have recently gotten so much worse. I am a healthy 39 year old woman that chases after 5 children all day. I currently take 90mg of Armour in the morning and 60mg in the afternoon. By the time the afternoon hits I feel terrible, tired wanting to do nothing more than go to bed for the night. My joints ache, my back and I just all around feel terrible. I have been suffering from a lot of insomnia but not until now do I understand why.

Why isn't someone doing something to help all the helpless people out there who have to have thyroid meds? This is terrible. What is wrong with this screwed up world? I thought the drug companies were supposed to be helping people, not hurting them.

I'm sorry I do not know who makes Armour Thyroid medication, but my husband just at to drive 20 miles to get the last 30 pills. This drug as worked wonders for me. whenever there is a shortage, I'm changed back to synthroid and I immediately (2 days) start feeling awful. Why is there a shortage again?

Since Forest Pharmaceuticals has reformulated my Armour Thyroid, I have become hypothyroid again. My fatigue, brain fog and stiff joints have reoccurred along with hair loss, depression and weight gain. I've had Hashimoto's for 12 years now, since the birth of my son. At that time, my TSH level was over 100. They had to retest me several times because they couldn't believe I was still among the living. I have since tried a compounded dessicated thyroid formula from a reliable pharmacy. I have also tried Naturethroid. Neither of them have worked. While taking each of those drugs, my throat would close up when I ate any food. I would have to excuse myself during business lunches to go throw up in the bathroom.

I would never go back on Synthroid, since we all know it doesn't work. I have gone back onto Armour taking a very high dose hoping that would help. It isn't working. I'm my wits end. I'm not sure what thyroid med to try next. Westhroid? Why would a company reformulate a medicine that is working for so many people that rely on it? To make more profit? To slowly phase the drug out of the product line? I'm appalled that a company could be so cavalier when dealing with patient's health. It appears that I'm not the only one. It seems to me that we should start a class action lawsuit against them. I believe we have enough ammunition.

I have not had any sleep, thinking that I am dying because of the care that I am giving my husband with cancer. The thyroid medicine was changed and I am trying to deal with no medicines for myself. Also, I do not have any medical care because I can't afford it. I don't want to take what I have left. Soon after taking it, my stomach ached and swelled with pain, my hands and feet have all turned orange and my throat was burning.

This year I found out that my Armour Thyroid had a recall in 2005 during my 2nd pregnancy and my baby was born premature at 32 weeks. Another issue I had is when they reformulated the Armour Thyroid in the Spring of 2009. The reformulation caused all of my hypothyroid symptoms to come back and half of my eyebrows fell out. I did not find out until March of 2010. I was paying money out of my own pocket to feel awful for almost a whole year. I think it should be mandatory for pharmacies to call and write you and the doctors that gave you the prescription when there are recalls and reformulations! I will never trust a drug company again!

After years of suffering with synthetic hormone replacement that caused more problems than it solved, I was switched to Armour Thyroid. What a difference! I had my life back again. I was only on it for less than a year when there was a terrible shortage. Not only was my dose discontinued, but I had to constantly search for any dose of it at all.

When the shortage was over there what was now available was a new formula that seriously did not work for me. This was a nightmare for me as I had terrible spikes and suffered anxiety. The TSH was all over the place and I was in misery once again. I finally found a compounding pharmacist to make up my dose with none of the fillers in Armour's "new formula". It's better, but not as good as it was before the shortage and the new formula. Please help us.

Armour Thyroid formulation was changed without telling patients or doctors. Is this legal? Reformulated Armour caused me to become very ill.

I had been using Armour Thyroid for years with no problems. It actually improved my life 100%. When they finally came back from their 'break' I immediately went back to it. Well that was the worst decision I have made. Been sick ever since and thinking I was having psychological problems. Pounding heart beats (which is not good for senior citizens), sweating, itching, panic attacks, nervousness and stomach problems are what I having been dealing with since taking Armour. Thanks to your website I found out that I was not alone in my misery. I stopped taking Armour for the last three days and am starting to feel better. Something should be done before they reformulate a product and put it back on the market. We don't need to feel worse when taking meds that are supposed to make us feel better.

I was using Armour Thyroid for years after switching from Synthroid for years. The differences that I felt and saw in my body were incomparable. Then Armour Thyroid was out of stock all over the nation for several months. This lead my doctor to have to prescribe another similar, yet not as effective formula through a compounding pharmacy. Finally, after a few months, my regular pharmacy got some of the dosages of Armour Thyroid in. I had to wait a couple more months for my dosage and finally, it came in.

I went back onto my Armour Thyroid that I previously had been on. After being back on it for 3 months, I went for a blood test and found out my TSH was at 13! I had never had it so high and I was on the exact same dose that I had always been on before the shortage and my numbers were always fine. So my doctor increased my dosage from 90mg to 120mg and I am still having all of the same symptoms. I am miserable. I now have a hand skin rash that has raw skin and fissures, a scalp rash, I am irritable, depressed, have weight gain, I am extremely fatigued all of the time, have menstrual cycle changes, muscle soreness and arm itches all of the time. I did not have any of these symptoms prior to the Armour shortage. Something has changed in their formula because I have not had any of these problems prior to the shortage.

I have also been on Armour Thyroid for several years finding it after a long and difficult search. I spent the time to convince my doctors to use only Armour Thyroid. The results were amazing. I, too, have noticed that I am experiencing deterioration and regression into my former symptoms. I have had debilitating headaches for many years, which were resolved with Armour and are now returning. Joint pain, especially my ankles, itching eyes, fatigue, etc. are returning to pre-treatment levels. I do appreciate the suggestion to chew the tablets. I am going to try that. Whatever they did to this product, it is not working! What can we do to pressure Forrest to return to the previous formula?

It appears the original formula is available, but only in Canada. My doctor (who also takes Armour) found a Canadian pharmacy that will fill prescriptions from the states. Not only that, it's cheaper than my co-pay!

I have been hypothyroid for about 12 yrs. The first doctor to diagnose me put me a 1 grain of Armour. This took a few months but before long I was feeling pretty well. My prescription ran out after 6 mo. and I needed refills. Because the doctor was not on my insurance, my husband insist I go to someone that insurance covered. I went to an endocrinologist and he told me I needed to take Synthroid instead, it would be easier to regulate. I tried this for a few years bouncing in and out of different illnesses and being told we just didn't have my levels right.

Finally, I went to a different doctor that prescribed me Armour again, at my insistence. I was on it about a year and was feeling better than I had in 10 years then they changed it. When it was pulled off the shelves, it took me about 6 mo. to find a pharmacy that would compound natural thyroid during which time I got very sick and gained all my weight back. I was so frustrated that I just wanted to die. I am sick of being on this roller coaster.

The compound was good but the doctors don't want to give me anymore than 15mg because they are "afraid" it is not accurate. Now, Armour reformulated junk is back and they refuse to prescribe the natural compound because this stuff is available. I have been on it 6 mo. and keep increasing my dose but it does not work. Please someone help all of us people so we can go back to being healthy, productive, loving people who don't want our lives to end because we are tired going through life miserable, in pain and feeling totally out of control.

Like all the others I have read on this web site, my disappointment in Forest Labs is enormous. I took Armour Thyroid beginning in 2005 and did great on it until the shortage. My doctor then switched me to a compound and that didn't work great but it was okay. When I moved to Hawaii, I didn't want to pay the extreme price for the compound, so my doctor started me on the Levox/Cytomel combo. I didn't feel great but my numbers were good. Then I found out the Armour was back available, so we switched to that. The 60 mg dosage didn't work for my numbers, so now I'm on the 90 and just feel terrible.

Like all of the others, I don't know why this has to be so hard. When something's not broken, why fix it. Please find a way to convince them to go back to the original formulation so us hypothyroid types can be healthy and contributing citizens again.

I successfully used Armour Thyroid for many years until all of my local pharmacies could no longer get it in 2009. I then used a synthetic until April 2010 when I learned I could get Armour again. Slowly my health began declining. I would have a good day now and then and think maybe I had just been coming down with some kind of flu. I had been walking daily a few miles and was in the middle of creating a new business, my dream business. In the recent weeks, I began having days where I felt like death warmed over with stiff and painful joints, weak all over and the worse symptom has been mental confusion. I saw my doctor today and had lots of tests done. Don't have the results yet. I was moved to check the internet about Armour and just about fell off my chair reading the other accounts.

I've used this product for years successfully. Now, it's unavailable. I've used a synthetic, and developed neck pains. My doctor couldn't find anything wrong. I stopped taking it, and I feel better. I took Armour Thyroid for more years than I can remember. Make it available again.

Armour Thyroid changed their formula in '09 from dextrose to microcrystalline cellulose. I had a thyroidectomy in '03 and had been doing good all these years till Armour changed their formula. This is criminal to the many people who have done good on it for over a hundred years. They need to go back to what the original formula was.

Where to begin? My thyroid was removed in 2006. After surgery, I was prescribed Synthroid. Trying to find the appropriate dosage was a nightmare! Even when my t3 levels began to improve the way I felt didn't. I began researching online and discovered Armour Thyroid. It sounded like the miracle I had been looking for. It turned out I was right. I could immediately tell a difference. To understand the rest of this story you need to know a little more about me. I am 51 years old and morbidly obese. I suffer with chronic pain/fatigue, fibromyalgia, degenerative disk disease, depression and I am currently taking hormone replacement med's after having "my last" female surgery. (By the way it was also in 2006-talk about an endocrine nightmare!)

Now back to my Armour story. The beginning of 2009 was pretty rough. I was dealing with pain medication changes and I was really out of it. Right now, I take 13 medications a day, it was the same or more then. We finally found the right pain med's but my overall condition continued to deteriorate. My depression which had been successfully controlled for years had worsened to the point that in June, I had to enter a hospital outpatient program. I was in a very dark place.

It was around this time that I began having trouble finding refills for my Armour Thyroid. I had no idea what had been going on in the "Armour world." I again reached out to the internet to find out what was going on. This is when I learned about the reformulation of Armour. As I read story after story, I found our stories were the same. I was taking so many medications that I didn't realize what Armour was doing. I was put back on Synthroid because my doctor didn't like any other options. I improved but still did not feel like I did when I first began Armour.

Fast forward to July 2010, my psychiatrist (also an Armour user) tells me that Armour is back on the shelves. I am not sure why but I thought Forest had fixed the formula while Armour was unavailable. I know now I was wrong. I have been back on Armour for about 2 months. At first, I felt so much better. My energy was good - no problems. Then, I began to notice signs my depression is worsening again. Back to the internet where this time I find this website. Symptoms I am having that I didn't see as Armour, breathing problems, eyes burning, sleep issues, the list goes on as so many of you know. I need to find a way to get off this soon.

Wish there were better alternatives out there. It really amazes me a drug company can do this to us without being concerned about the ramifications. I guess I am just being naive again! Economically, paying for additional doctor visits, outpatient hospitalization and medicines. Physically, almost devastating. Severe clinical depression, worsening of other conditions. Also, the suffering my family endured because of my condition.

I am one of thousands that have had to go on synthetics synthroid/cytomel combo while Armour Thyroid was backorder and making their reformulation. I had a total thyroidectomy back in 1999 and was on synthetics for many years until I finally found a doctor willing to prescribe the Armour for me! I finally felt 'human' once again and the best I had in years! I felt like I was actually 'dying' on the synthroid and my body was shutting down!

I have regressed over the past year while on synthetics and the armour backorder, and was so excited one the Armour became available once again! Right away I felt better just getting away from the synthetics, however, within about a month or so just started to become more and more hypothyroid. I am angry at Forest Labs for reformulating a product that was working 'so well' for many, when nothing was wrong with their product! I think something needs to be done about this as the qualities of so many lives are being affected. I have just recently received my RX from Canada Erfa Thyroid and am hoping this will make a positive difference. I've heard many positive comments that it is the closest thing out there to Armour!

Complaints have been made for over a year now about the reformulation of Armour Thyroid and yet no publication of any class action lawsuits are in progress? Why not? People are suffering and nobody seems to care. I am absolutely disgusted!

Armour was reformulated and brought many symptoms back. Thanks to the high amount of cellulose that Forest put in it. Cellulose appears to bind desiccated thyroid. Patients then figured out that if we chewed it up, it would release the desiccated thyroid from the cellulose better.

I have been taking Armour Thyroid for about 30 years with excellent results. When they all of a sudden stopped making it, I tried compounding formulations and then another thyroid med called Nature-throid. I thought that one upset my stomach so I went back to Armour on the new formulation for about two months now. I feel terrible! I am so tired all the time that I fall asleep if I just sit down, I move around like I am drugged, I walk really slowly, I feel light headed and sometimes I have what feels like a "snap" all of sudden in my head, my left foot keeps swelling for no reason, and I've gained 7 pounds really fast. My eyes are burning a lot - sometimes even wake up with it.

I am having trouble concentrating and really feel like I want to go back to bed which I often do. I thought it was depressed or something from tapering off my Lexapro which I took very little of but now I think it's the Armour. I have had two blood tests and my doctor says my thryoid levels are fine so I'm thinking it's the filler they are using. Possibly I am allergic to it since my eyes burn. I cannot function like this and will have to change to another one again. There are two alternatives.

I had been on Armour Thyroid for years. But this last year, I have been feeling a lot of fatigue, dry eyes, joint pain, and weight gain. By reading this site, I now understand why. Armour is not what it use to be. If Forest Labs and the FDA don't want to go back to the old formulation that works for thyroid patients, then yes, it is time for a class action suit. Where are the petitions? I want to feel human again. How about you?

My doctor changed me from Synthroid to Armour Thyroid. Talked to my pharmacy and they do use the new Forest Pharmaceuticals formulation. That is the new thyroid medicine that I have been taking over the past few weeks. I had some of the old Armour Thyroid, about 2 years old, that I finished and felt great. When I started taking this new formula, I developed leg cramps, muscular aches, heavy chest, difficulty breathing, weight gain, muscle weakness, heart arrythmia, hair falling out, nails brittle, dizziness, arms shaking, debilitating cramps in legs, and vertigo problems. I had to have an EKG yesterday and will have blood work tomorrow. Been in bed for over a week. Was researching my symptoms on consumeraffairs.com and found I was not the only one being treated for hypothyroidism whereby the medicine, Forest's Armour Thyroid, is actually causing and worsening my symptoms of hypothyroidism, mental confusion, etc.

My mother and I are having the same issues as described here in about Armour Thyroid. My mother is elderly and it has caused her blood pressure to sky rocket. I am an advocate for those suffering, the only way to get to the bottom of the problem is to have a toxicology lab test the meds. This must be done with an independent lab with no ties to the FDA or Forest Labs. It's not just Armour. My friends and family who take a number of medicines are having the same problems. This means something toxic is being used and I cannot imagine the pharma companies are aware of this. I spoke with an independent lab last year when I noticed a difference in Cytomel. He had said a lot of fillers are coming from other countries and there is no regulation on purity. This plays a huge role in how any medicine is absorbed into the body.

I had been taking 90 mg of Armour for years. I got a new batch (reformulated) and it ran my blood pressure sky high. I took blood pressure pills to counteract it. I don't want to do that the rest of my life so I got my doctor to prescribe a compounded. It has been working but had to be increased. I was afraid that I would have a stroke on the new formula. I am not afraid to even try it again.

Don't know where to begin my story. In 2007, I was diagnosed with an overacting thyroid and had 2 radioactive treatments back to back. My Dr then started me on Synthroid then Levoxyl and Cytomel but none of it worked. For the past 2 years, I have been living a very miserable life with pain, insomnia, vertigos, mental issues and so on. I spent the past 9 months taking all kinds of ADHD medications just to keep up with work. These things are destroying me but it's the only remedy that keeps me going. I currently experience vertigo 24/7 with and can't seem to have a solution for it.

I thought at some point, it was the Vyvanse I was taking but I stopped it for over a month and still experience vertigo. I came across Armour thyroid while doing research and really had high hope on this medication given. It seemed to have helped people who experienced the same type of trouble I am in. I insisted my Dr prescribe it to me and she put me on the 120mg. I looked into the conversation armour - synthroid and found that it equate to 200mg synthroid while my highest synthroid dose was 137. My Dr insisted the conversation isn't correct and that it was the right thing to do. I have been in the medication for 10 days now and at first I was seeing signs of improvement but them everything collapsed. I now feel warm, insomniac, pain allover, vertigo, anxiety and much more.

Many of you have complained about having the same symptoms after armour reformulation and I cannot stop to think that I may have done better would it have been on the old formulation. I called armour to see if they were addressing the problem and they told they don't have any intention of going back to the old armour. I am desperate and looking for help. I can't trust my Dr for anything, I have seen other but they are not any better. If any of you have experienced the same symptoms and were able to find a way out please share it. I don't know where else to turn, I feel like I will never get over this. Please help.

When my body began shutting down, I felt like I was going crazy. I went on anti-depressants and went to counseling. After 6 months of this, I found out it was my thyroid! I tried the synthetics, but got no relief. That is when I found Armour thyroid. It made me feel normal again. Then in 2009 when the manufacturing "glitch" came about and we could not get Armour thyroid, I was forced to go back on the synthetics. I feel like crap. 2 weeks ago my husband had to rush me into emergency because I though I was having a heart attack! Turns out I was getting too much thyroid from the synthetic form. So now it has been lowered, but I am still having all the same symptoms.

Tired, sleep for hours and when I wake up I feel drugged. I also feel dry, brittle hair that falls out, achy all over, shortness of breath and exhaustion. So I thought, well maybe Forrest fixed the Armour and I can get it again. That is when I began my research and found this site. If the new Armour is making every feel the same way I am feeling on the synthetic, then where is the relief for all of us? What exactly was wrong with the old formulation? Did the FDA have a problem with us feeling good and normal? What is it with them that they have to mess with something that works? I'm feeling miserable and discouraged. I am sorry for all of you that are also going through this, but at the same time, glad I am not alone.

I was on Armour Thyroid for several years and then my new MD would not prescribe it for me. I have been on Synthroid for more years than I can count. After having realized that the Synthroid may be making my hypertension worse, I asked my PA to prescribe Armour Thyroid as it worked very well for me. I have been doing some research and found that people were having problems with the reformulation of Armour Thyroid and getting worse. Check out this website. It discusses this very topic. I am not going to pick up my prescription for Armour Thyroid as I don't need any more health problems. I guess I will have to either find something else or deal with the hypertension.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when Armour thyroid was not available due to the FDA demanding a change in its formulation. I used a local compounding shop that compounded a substitute during this time. I saw my symptoms completely disappear, my energy return, my thinking and concentration clear and return, I began losing weight, my fingernails grew long and beautiful, my hair became softer, silkier--less dry and straw-like, my skin was not dry and flaky. I felt great and my hypothyroid symptoms disappeared.

When Armour was once again available, the compounding shop had to stop manufacturing the substitute and I had to switch to Armour. Immediately, my symptoms returned and other symptoms appeared. I am extremely fatigued, my ankles swell and make walking very uncomfortable, my muscles are weak/achy and I have trouble climbing or descending stairs. My hair is falling out at an alarming rate. I have trouble falling asleep, but once I do, I sleep 12-14 (or more) hours at a time, waking without feeling rested or feeling as though I have been drugged, and within a couple of hours I am forced to nap for several hours. Many days, I feel as though I am coming out from under anesthesia--I drift in and out of deep sleep and it takes hours before I can fully wake. Even then, I feel groggy for many hours afterward.

I had lost approximately 10-12 lbs. on the substitute, but once on Armour Thyroid, I gained 20 lbs. almost overnight with no change in my diet. I now have headaches, which concerns me because I am not--and never have been--prone to headaches. I have suddenly developed a tingling in my arms and hands, especially my left hand. I am experiencing excessive sweating.

I decided to research symptoms of Armour Thyroid and in the process found many websites with patient complaints about the new Armour Thyroid formulation. I now realize it is the medicine causing my problems. At present, I have a scheduled appointment with my physician to discuss changing my medication. Unfortunately, it is a month off.

I'm glad to know that I'm not crazy, suffering the same symptoms as others. Please tell me what I can do to make it right!

I was told by several different pharmacies in Winfield that Forest was going to quit making 1 grain armor thyroid. I currently take 2 grains a day. I am being treated with radioactive iodine due to graves disease. Please I beg you do not stop production of this medicine. I cannot take any other medicine to control my hypothyroidism. If I do, I will be on a roller coaster and my T3 does not convert to T4.

Forest Labs changed the formulation of their product Amour Thyroid and it is causing extremely severe side effects in its users. Forest Labs is aware of this, as is the FDA and they refuse to change the formulation and/or inform pharmacies of the severe side effects.

Like many of you with the complaints that I just read, I stumbled upon this site by "accident". I had been seeking help at a local health food store to feel better and more energetic. When I told the owner that I was taking Armour Thyroid, she told me that a lot of people were having problems with the "new formulation". I didn't put two and two together until just this minute. I have had all of your complaints, from heart palpitations, hair falling out, chronic fatigue, muscle pain (so much that I have gone to urgent care under the belief that I tore my calf muscle), headaches and weight gain, and the list goes on.

When my pharmacy had trouble getting Armour Thyroid last year, I had it compounded for me and now that I look back upon those 3 months, I felt much more energy and more clear headed, until my pharmacy was able to get it again (which is this new formulation) and now I feel like a blob. When my doctor gets back to his office, I am going to have him call in an order to the compounding pharmacy again and see how that goes. Forrester Labs has to be well aware of the negative effect that this formulation is having by now, just judging by this website alone, and at this point, if they continue, it becomes intentional and it is definitely class action time.

I used to take the natural form of Armour Thyroid medication years ago. My new doctor then started me on Synthyoid, which I didn't like taking because of the side effects. He was reluctant to change it, but eventually I got him to when I found the conversion on a website. But then in 2009, I was told I couldn't get it anymore. My newest doctor put me on a compound formula, but I still don't feel well. After reading some of the complaints on the web, I now know where my muscle weakness and anxiety and other issues are coming from. My doctor recently increased my dose from 90mg to 120mg, of the compounded formula. But I still think the original Armour is what I need to get me back to normal health.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 14 years ago and was on Synthroid for 9 years. Until I found Armour Thyroid, I thought feeling awful was my new "norm". After 2 weeks on Armour Thyroid, I felt like my old self. I have been taking Armour for 5 years with no problems, until now. Two weeks ago, after getting my first refill with the newly formulated version by Forest Labs, I began to have night sweats, heart palpitations, nervousness, all symptoms of being over medicated. I dropped my dosage from 4 pills to 3, but continued to have the severe symptoms.

I did an Internet search and located this site, shocked and saddened to hear everyone else's story sounded much the same as mine. I called Forest Labs and they shuffled me around to 3 different people, all of whom acted as if they had never heard the complaints. Clearly, this reformulation is affecting hundreds, if not thousands of us. I agree that a class action lawsuit is required. We need to force the issue and make them go back to the original formula. This is criminal negligence. I feel sick all the time; I can't concentrate. I am revved up one moment and crashing the next. The night is the worst. I have severe insomnia that is requiring me to take massive doses of Tamazepam just to make it through the night so I can function the next day. This critical health issue has happened in less than two weeks!

I found this website accidentally and was blown away when I read all the posts. I have had hypothyroidism for over 20 years. Two of my three daughters also have it. My mother and mother-in-law both have it. My experience is the same as everyone else who has submitted a complaint; the synthetic thyroid medications never worked for me. I was doing fine with the "old" Armour Thyroid for years and years, and I am not doing fine now.

Over the past year, I have tried synthetic thyroid medication, compounded thyroid medication and the newly formulated Armour thyroid. None of them work like the "old" Armour Thyroid. My health has deteriorated drastically. I am a lawyer in Houston. After reading the complaints on this website, I feel compelled to find a lawyer who will file a class action lawsuit for everyone adversely affected by what Forrest and the FDA have done. If I can't find a lawyer to file a class action lawsuit, then I will file one myself (even though that's not the type of legal work I normally do).

The situation is untenable! The number of people needlessly suffering is outrageous. This whole fiasco is likely due to the FDA's stupidity, the pharmaceutical industry's greed (and disregard for the health of millions of people), mainstream medicine's hubris (we know our own bodies and what works and doesn't work for us and we're not "nut cases") and/or ties to Big Pharma. Of course, it's a "David and Goliath" situation, but that's what class action lawsuits were designed for. It seems as if there are many people who would be "on board" for such a suit.

Forest Labs changed their Armour Thyroid Hormone supplement to comply with FDA shelf life requirements. It now no longer works effectively. My quality of life has deteriorated. I'm tired and fatigued all the time. It is a huge hassle to have to change medication amounts.

The synthetics do not work on me. Also, I know have energy crashes after taking the Armour where previously there were none. It would seem to have a sustained amount in my body. Now it does not.

I had the same symptoms as all the others. Just might as well say "Ditto" sleeplessness, hair loss, panic attacks, fuzzy thinking, etc. Reading these statements and personal stories just breaks my heart. It breaks my heart even more to think we have no solution to our health problems. Thank you, FDA. Corruption is rampant, welcome to the land of the free and greedy.

I have taken Armour Thyroid since January 2006. I had problems with the medication, getting hot and not working previous to 2009. I put my medications on ice pack after this occurred. I started to have problems mid-2008 with medication but did not realize the change Early 2009. I experienced the change in such a way that I thought the medication had gone stale or bad again or had I lost my mind. It didn't work at all on me repeatedly and I asked myself why, this is not as before? I became very ill, the first thing I noticed was intense chronic pain in the thyroid region. My doctor did not know why this was happening to me. The pain worsened which put me in bed at times. This caused me to miss work. Shortly after I suffered adrenal fatigue for no good reason, I experienced, severe fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and pain. I would loose a few days due to the complications.

Then, I started to have agonizing migraines with the thyroid pain, and repeated adrenal crashing. In addition to adrenal complications, while on a hydrocortisone dose for adrenal support. I developed over time 65 hypothyroid symptoms due to the change in the medication. I was so frustrated. I started up a daily journal again to keep track of the nonsense all of a sudden upon me. The entire year 2009, I was unable to take my usual dose on a daily basis and it became hit and miss. I kept calling and writing my doctor but to no avail. Many times I suffered panic attacks, and a pulse of 120 accompanied by low blood pressure fits that would last forever.

Finally, after suffering high T3 symptoms in July 2009, I had to discontinue the medication at least once for 4 mos at the end of the year for fear that the severe tachycardia and debilitating symptoms would result in a heart attack or stroke. I was so often unable to be functional and work due to the symptoms that I restructured my start time at work due to fatigue. I suffered symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism at the same time, the likes of which I had never before the change in the formulation.

My hair was coming out in handfuls, the oil glands in my eyes clogged up, I gained weight. I bloated up and my ankles were chronically swollen and my feet had the appearance of water balloons. I had shortness of breath , my hearing diminished, I was hot and sweating all the time. I discontinued the medication and I developed debilitating, chronic body aches, low back and thigh pain and spasms. I could barely stand up or walk short distances. I was a mess. I was afraid I had become mxyedemic and would die soon.

The entire year, I tried to tell my Doctor that something was not right about the medication. He didn't understand me and kept trying to lower my dose. But I told him I needed to be on more than usual because I didn't see that any dose was effective for some stupid reason. Early 2010, I saw a new doctor. After seeing her and trying again the same Armour medication at different doses because my blood work ironically indicated I was on too much medication. I did what I was told. Funny, I got worse, I didn't think I could ever feel so bad. The new Doctor did not tell me that she was aware of the issues with Armour but told me just that it was not available.

Surprise by this revelation, I did my own research and was shocked when I stumbled onto a website specifically for thyroid sufferers and found I was not imaging this at all. Others had suffered too due to the change. So what about this so-called shortage. In March of 201, after trying Armour numerous doses, Thyroid C [another-desicated]and Levoxyl my adrenals crashed big time. I was in bed again. So she started me on Synthroid and Cytomel. I was so reluctant but my surprise, all my severe symptoms like the thyroid pain and migraines, and swollen ankles went away after 10 weeks.

I did not crash during this period. I actually now believe after this hellacious ride, this proves to me that the formulation was changed so much that it did not work as it was supposed to. It actually did not convert hormone at the tissue level at all in my body otherwise I would not have had such high levels in my blood everytime I was tested. It must have been in building in my blood? I never suffered like this before when I was treated for my condition with the "old" formula of Armour Thyroid or even Synthroid at the wrong dose for 3 years. It's a crying shame! I would like the medication removed from the market and a mass alert sent to the Pharmacies and Physicians who sample and prescribe the medication. Hopefully, others might be spared the "hell" I experienced and others who have the same story as myself. Before someone dies they really should do something.

I had taken Armour Thyroid for years until recently when my hypo symptoms reappeared and my doctor told me there was an issue with getting Armour. Since I'm allergic to other thyroid meds after being diagnosed in about 1976, I looked online to find other natural medical products. My doctor agreed to try Nature Throid. After a few refills, I went to refill as usual but was told there was "a shortage." I was told they weren't sure if they would be able to continue getting that in either - that "there's an issue with the pork in the thyroid products." I been having severe symptoms which forced me into returning to Synthroid today. While picking Synthroid up, I asked the pharmacist about Nature Throid and was told that Nature Throid had also changed its ingredients recently after people left Armour and used Nature Throid as its replacement.

Same story as many others. Eventually I was not able to find Armour Thyroid after I had been taking it for three years or so. Before finding Armour, I was in hell with a prescription for Synthroid. Synthroid and the other synthetic drugs did not work for me. It took me three years of fighting and fussing with several doctors to finally find someone who prescribed Armour. Armour turned everything around for me. I got my life back and started losing the weight that I gained. Before the Armour reformulation, I was doing fine! I felt more like the old me. The formula has changed and I'm sliding back into hypo-hell. Please bring the old formula back! Forest Labs stands to lose quite a few prescriptions for their thyroid drugs.

The medication has been reformulated and does not work

I was put on Armour by my doctor June 2009, and was told that it would work well, but soon I was feeling weak, lethargic with severe chest pains. Now after reading the many similar complaints I understand that it's due to the changes in the Armour fillers. Since my doctor didn't know about these changes, he was surprised that I was not doing well, since most people he said did very well on it. I tried Nature-throid it didn't work, now I am back on Levoxyl, and not feeling that great.

They changed the Armor Thyroid med with out telling consumers, and I refilled my meds and with in days I was very ill and my Doctor ran a TSH test and my level was 10.98 and I take my meds at the same time each day,and with in a week I was unable to fuction my thinking was fusy and I felt as if my body and brain was not working together. I could not even go to work due to not thinking clearly.I requested my sister to check to see if there might be a recall I missed on the Armor, only to find out many others had the same complant. How can a Pharmaceutical co change up this with out telling the cousmer?

I called Forest Labs requesting what changed and was told nothing had changed but was still passed to the Drug Safty dept of Forest and they kindly took my complant but said at this time they were not plaining on changing this back and did say only fillers were changed.I explained my body was not absorbing this at all it was as if I had never took it at all even after incressing it.They never admited or denied this could happen.Please everyone call and report this to them so when enough of us complain they will know how this has affected us and might start remaking the old stuff again.

I found some of the old med when my Doctor was trying me on other meds and after 3 days of taking this I was comming back around and going to a compounding pharmancy to have them make the old stuff. No one should have been put through this and feel this bad because of lack of letting people know so we could have tried to prevent this or caught it before it got to the place you could not fuction. Armour has been the only one I have been able to take and now what is out there to try? This is a life changing med I will have to take for the rest of my life and now it changed...........

I could not tolerate synthetic medication for hypothyroidism. I found relief with Armour Thyroid until they reformulated. Now I feel awful. What happened? What is going on? Please bring back the old formula! I feel awful and at this point, I don't know all the consequences.

I've taken Armour Thyroid off and on since 1967 with no adverse effects. Late November, 2009, I got the reformulated Armour. At first I didn't realize that there was a problem with my medication. I began experiencing severe chest pains. Thinking I was over medicated, I gradually cut my Armour, ultimately by 20% before the pains stopped. Then I began having arrhythmias.

Late January, 2010, I began to research the Armour shortage. In February, I found a Facebook link to the "Save Natural Thyroid" forum. This is where I learned about Forest Lab's reformulation of Armour Thyroid.

Mid-March, I began taking ERFA Thyroid from Canada. In the past 4 months, I have increased my dose back up to my pre MCC dose and am finally feeling normal again, most hypo symptoms have subsided and my weight is slowly coming down.

My 3 daughters are on thyroid medication... only one was able to tolerate the reformulated Armour. One daughter is on Compounded and the third one is on ERFA. These 2 daughters had hypo symptoms until switching medications. That's 75% of us did not respond well to new Armour.

I asked the gentlemen the best way for ppl to contact the company in regards to problems ppl are experiencing with it. If enough calls/complaints are made, this should start an investigation.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2002 thanks to my ob/gyn requesting bloodwork since it seemed I had all of the tell-tale symptoms of hypothyroidism (frequent menstruation, unexplained weight gain, dry skin/hair and unexplained exhaustion). After receiving the results, and being referred to an endocrinologist, I began my whirl wind exploration of my thyroid problem. Initially I took synthroid for a little over a year, tweaking the dosages throughout this whole time. After a year, my #'s were good, but I wasn't feeling good, hadn't lost any weight and my energy level still has not increased. My doctor then put me on Armour along w/Synthroid. This combo, once we figured out the right levels for each medication, seemed to work extremely well. I dropped 50+ pounds within 6-7 months and felt better than I had in 3+ years. I continued this protocol until I could no longer obtain Amour Thyroid.

ince I haven't been able to take Armour for my thyroid problem, I have no energy, suffer frequent headaches, gained 65 pounds, and it seems my skin is always dry. I am extremely disappointed that this medication is no longer available in it's original formula. It seems many others feel the same was as I do. Even my doctor's wife who also suffers from hypothyroidism is upset over the fact that Armour is no longer available. Will I ever feel good/normal again? Who knows.

I had been on Armour thyroid sixty four years. I was doing well. When I could no longer get the original Armour's thyroid, I tried a local medicine shop who compounded a thyroid medication for me. It did not work well and I rejoiced when I found another company was making Armour's. It did not take long to get a new rx for it but what a mistake in my taking it. My heart was skipping a beat every eleventh beat. I had other heart sensations such as fluttering and racing. I felt terrible, still do.

Please, please someone to the rescue!

I'd like to join my voice to the many other people on this website and others, complaining about the reformulated Armour Thyroid medication. I've been on Armour for a 5 years now. It was a Godsend, when I found a doctor who would prescribe it for me. Takes away many disabling symptoms. When Armour became unavailable, I was forced to switch to synthroid. My hypothyroid symtoms are all back - weight gain, life threatening depression, Wilson's syndrom (low temperature), irritable bowel, frequent diahrea, low energy doesn't even adequately describe my energy level, memory loss, confusion. I'm stumpted as to why the FDA is not approving the old formulation, yet seems to have approved the new formulation, which doesn't work. I knew immediately this was not the original Armour Thyroid, which has a strong, distinctive glandular smell.

The pharmacists don't even seem to know it's been reformulated. I guess Armour tried to sneak that by everyone. But you can't sneak by the changed smell and more importantly, that it just doesn't work. What can be done? How can the hundreds of thousands of us get back the only drug that works for us? One person did mention something that was working for them in these posts. Here's what they said, for those of you who didn't find the post yet.

"Just want to provide information to individuals who need to take dessicated thyroid but are not satisfied with the synthetic alternative. After being on Armour for 37 years I too stated to feel bad. Come to find out the product had been reformulated. My doctor prescribed Thyroid-P (P for Porcine) which is a compounded medication. My levels are perfect and I feel normal again. You do need a prescription for this. Just want to help as I know how you feel!"

I might try this, but the real solution is for the government to get out of the way of a (exceptionally low cost) drug that's working, and get it back on the market. We can guess what's going on. They're being pressured by producers of a more costly drugs, like synthroid, so that the drug companies can make even more money. I wonder whose bed is being feathered on this one? I'm completely debilitated without Armour Thyroid. Very ill all the time, have become obese, which contributes to a chronic back problem, too tired to do what I need to earn an income. This is a disaster.

I have been on Armour Thyroid for over 50 years of my 62, I am disabled with fibromyalgia and am hypothyroid very badly and have Crohn's disease and other's like that. I lost my caregiver of 13 years when he died from extreme hospital neglect and abuse and I was tying to recover from this when Armour was changed in it's formula. It no longer works!!!!!!!!!

I lost 5 months I badly badly needed to survive as a new widow and I was in hell; gained weight, cried all the time (I mean ALL the time and stopped caring if I lived or died. For days at a time I was completely isolated and could not move. Forest labs did not alert their consumers or their doctors or pharmacists and we all had to play a ghastly game of "what the hell is wrong now" in the dark!!!! I have been in hell and as a result

They stopped making the original Armour Thyroid medication. When I was 1st diagnosed with underactive thyroid several years ago, I was in a very depressed state and had gained 40lbs. within 4 months with no signs of it stopping. I had been prescribed other medications over a period of almost 6 months which failed to work for me, then a new Dr. had me try the Armour Thyriod medication and with in a week I was starting to feel like my old self again, something I was scared was never going to happen again and for years have continued to feel very good. When it started going on back order I called many different states feeling I would drive miles to refill my perscription and when I heard it had been discontinued I was really nervous and with good reason, I have been trying ever since to get myself back to feeling NORMAL like I did on the Armour but with no success. As of today I have been back for several blood tests and now (another) Dr. says my levels look good, but I do not feel good, all of the old symptoms have come back with the exception of bad depression, it is minor and hopefully not heading towards severe. I along with many thousands of people need the old Armour Thyroid medication back for our sanity and to live life normally!!!!!

I had Graves Disease when I was 13 years old and Armour Thyroid was prescribed after the radioactive iodine tx. Then, I have had several doctors try me on Synthroid and IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME! I want the old Armour thyroid back so I can feel like a normal human being without multiple health problems. I am 48 and feel like I am 80. I have other autoimmune diseases since Grave's Disease; multiple health problems like tophaceous gout, arthritis, major depression, sever fatigue, weight gain, and skin problems.

I too got the new formulated Armour. I was so depressed on it, had anxiety and all the symptoms that come with a underactive thyroid. I had been on old Armour for 17 yrs and felt great. I tried, Westroid, Natualthroid, Canadian Armour and everything else on the market, and I found out that I am allergic to the fillers in these products. so here I am on Synthroid, Cytomel and feel lousy.

I wrote to Forest Labs and told them how inferrior there new Armour was and they answered me by telling me: To meet product specifications, the amount of the binactive excipient dextrose in the tablet was reduced and the amount of the inactive excipient microcroystalline was in creased as necessary. to facilitate disintegration in the dogestive tract. There are no plans to change the currant Armour Thyrid formulation

Sandra L. B., Pharm D., Forest Pharmaceuticals So everyone write to her and tell her. THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM US!

Change in formulation in Armour thyroid without notifying patients resulted in a "crash". I'm tired and couldn't make it through a day without a nap or two. Weight gain of 15-17 pounds in two months. Loss of hair, loss of eye brows, swollen joints, swollen throat resulting in snoring, dry skin, and low body temp -95.6. I paid for med readjustments, doctor's visits, and blood tests.

My wife Ruth has been taking Armour Thyroid for more than 40 years. During this time several doctors have temporarily switched her to Sythyroid and found it ineffective. She is now desperate and is trying to get by with generics which are out-of-date. Our physician states that the FDA cancelled the permission to manufacture all drugs produced and used before the FDA existed and were "grandfathered" in. Now they are requiring that all the pre-FDA drugs go through the current certification procedure which takes months if not years and millions of dollars. Thyroid and liquid morphine and two of the drugs caught by this ruling. Since there is no substitute for liquid morphine in the care for hospice patients the doctors were able to get liquid morphine removed from the ban. Armour (desiccated) thyroid is made from pork thyroids. A shortage of raw materials? I haven't noticed a shortage of bacon or pork chops. I believe we should put the blame for this unneeded and stupid shortage right were it belongs on the stupidity of our government bureaucrats.

Why hasn't Forrest Pharmaceutical been honest about this real reason? Forrest has many new drugs in the approval pipeline with the FDA and they probably are afraid the rock the FDA' s boat. I believe they are lying when they say they are shipping thyroid to some customers. Our supplier is Medco, one of the biggest in the industry, and they have received no thyroid from Forrest. Unless Ruth gets a new supply of desiccated thyroid, she will soon be showing all the symptoms of hypothyroidism: falling hair; acute lack of energy; loss of memory; weight gain.

Symptoms that have returned are feeling tired, brain fog, cold hands and feet, numbness in toes, hair loss, dry and dull hair, brittle, ridged fingernails, dry skin, immune system not functioning as effectively (got bronchitis for 3 weeks recently when I don't remember when I was last sick), headaches, 7 lb weight gain even though I eat clean (no refined carbs), occasional heart palpitations, digestive problems. Symptoms that are new (did not have before I went on the original Armour) are mildly jiggly eyesight. rapid slowdown of menstruation, sudden onset of graying (10+ years sooner than my parents), swelling and stiff joints.

I was taking Armour Thyroid because I had a thyroidectomy. It is the only drug that worked for me. After March of 09, I started to get sick but after several test and CT scans nothing could be found. Then I was trying to find where I could get more Armour Thyroid, because of the shortage and that was when I discovered they had changed the formula without telling anyone.

I noticed on some websites, other people were getting sick from the new formula. This was almost a year after I started feeling bad. I told my doctor and went off of Armour and guess what, my symptoms went away. Because of this, I have to get my meds (Thyroid) from Canada. It is desiccated pig thyroid also, but the right formula. They should not have been allowed to change the formula without telling us. I spent a year thinking I was crazy and feeling sick all the time.

After 3 years, I was finally diagnosed/ treated for sub-clinical hypothyroidism. I was prescribed Armour thyroid from my D.O. and almost immediately felt like a new person! My healthy state lasted about 3 months but then Armour thyroid was nowhere to be found! I couldn't believe it could just disappear! I ended up having to go to the compounding pharmacy but I feel like the capsules they make for me don't work like they are a placebo or something. Nearly all my old symptoms have reappeared: exhaustion, hair loss, irregular body temperature etc. I felt so good for such a short time, now I am back to square one. How can this be allowed to happen to so many of us?

I would pay out of pocket, I may even travel to Canada, to get my medicine, to feel good again and to get my life back! I will soon try the new formulated Armour, I hope it works as well as the old formula which I've been waiting, and waiting for to return!

The discontinuance/reformulation of Armour Thyroid has had very serious consequences for me. I am allergic to synthroid. I am a thyroid cancer survivor and have had my entire thyroid removed. So for me, this is a life sustaining drug. I have now been out of my medication for nearly 2 weeks. I recently broke my elbow and gave myself a concussion (from a nasty fall I took), as well as had the flu which has morphed into strep throat, none of which is healing (because I have such low amounts of metabolic hormone left in my body.

The good news: I have found a Canadian pharmacy (Canamerica.com) which has it. In Canada, they just call it "Thyroid", so that is what you must ask for. It is made by a company in Canada called Erfa (who bought the rights to make it from Armour in Canada, many years ago). Erfa has had no reformulation so it's the "Original". It does often take 2-3 weeks to receive the drugs and it's a bit more expensive than in the US. They do not take insurance, but it's still way cheaper than synthriod.

Armour Thyroid medication was changed with no warning. They claim that they changed just the fillers but the medication does not work as before. No one would have the effect to the brain and nervous and digestive system with a change of fillers.

I was diagnosed with severe hypothyroidism 12 years ago, and until 5 years ago, I did not have normal levels. Finally, I found a doctor that was willing to prescribe me Armour Thyroid. Within a couple of weeks, I felt a drastic difference for the better, not normal ranges but a lot closer. Then they take it off the market without a replacement. Consequently, my doctor put me back on Synthroid and Cytomel, which are not working and I gained 25 pounds in 2 months. I got no energy, has severe memory loss, I can't focus and I can barely take care of my family. The doctor says, "Oh, well, there's nothing I can do about it."

I have been on Armour Thyroid for over 40 years and about a year ago, I started having problems getting my prescriptions filled. After going to three different pharmacies, each one told me the Armour is on long term back order and they didn't have any. My doctor put me on Synthroid and right away, I knew something wasn't right, I started having swelling in my feet and hands and into my third month, I felt so miserable with my legs swelling so bad I couldn't bend my knees and I felt like a blimp. I gained 17 lbs. in 2 months. I had constant headaches, stiff, painful joints and just felt awful. I told my doctor I won't take Synthroid anymore. I am on Cytonel right now but I still can't lose weight and just am not myself anymore. I have always enjoyed working part time, but now I'm thinking I may have to quit as I just am not functioning like I should. I read where people are getting Armour from Canada. I think I will check it out.

Back in 2009 my Endo. had to switch my medicine of Armour Thy. (bioidentical: T3/T4)) to a combinations of Synths (to address the loss of both T3 and T4 via one pill), because the US manufacturer ceased making it "for some reason." (I'd been a successful patient of Armour for 9 years, with very successful results (all).

However, now that I'm on the Synths, I am now experiencing heart palpitations, severe hair loss (I now have to wear a scarf), lowered body warmth: I now am forced to wear a fleece jacket in the office, all day; considerable less well being; a noticed decrease in focus and memory retention; and an overall decreased metabolic rate (heat, weight, memory, focus). Plus, because of the switch this year from a "Bio" (Armour) to the "Synths.", my immunity system has taken a tremendous hit, one that I've never experienced, in that, even though I received both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines this year, I came down with both (!) in addition to contracting a severe 8-week bout of an influenza related lung infection. Also, now that I've been switched to the "Synths." My Endo. is now required to treat me for high blood pressure. Therefore, I, too, am looking toward Canada. I want to be healthy and function normally again. (Conspiracy?)

My doctor just told me, I am not sure how accurate he is, that Armour is just reformulating. Synthyroid did this a while back, and so did a few other thyroid makers. I too have had a wonderful response to this medication (the original), as compared to synthyroid, and other generic brands. I have also noticed a change in weight, looks, energy, and lack of menstruation over the past few months with the reformulated pills. My doctor took blood, and said I will probably have to go on a higher dose.

He has been on synthyroid for years, and when they reformulated their brand, he had to go up in dosage. I advise people to go to their doctors, and tell them if they don't already know, do blood work, and tell them how you feel. By this time, I'm sure everyone has the new formula. You can tell by smelling them. The new pills really don't have much of a scent when you open the pill bottle, as compared to the old, that when you open the bottle and took a sniff, it really stank!

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after the birth of my 4th child. I spent more than two years on Synthroid and felt like I would never be normal again. No matter how much exercise I got, no matter how few calories I ingested, I continued to gain weight and felt like I was always swimming through mud.

I discovered Armour Thyroid a little over 2 years ago. Within two weeks of starting on the drug, I found myself singing while washing the dishes. I was shocked when a month later I realized I had lost 7 pounds while eating more. Within 6 months, I was back to my normal, pre-pregnancy weight and felt better than I had since my mid twenties. I always told people that for me, Armour Thyroid was a miracle. My cholesterol levels were great, my brain function was much improved and my dexterity was normal.

About two months ago, I started to feel like my symptoms were returning. At first, I brushed it off and blamed it on staying up too late or stress. Then, my hair started falling out again. My skin became very dry again, my fingers and toes started going numb, and I am always cold. I am constipated, cranky and feel like I am always in a daze. I am afraid to drive because I zone out so easily that I honestly think that I'm a danger to other drivers and pedestrians. Not only that, but my reflexes are suffering. I honestly feel that if I were to get into a simulator right now, to test my reflexes while driving, (i.e. the kind they do to show what it's like when you've been drinking) I would fail or at least the test would show that I am impaired.

I have been on Armour Thyroid for 5 years. It was as wonder drug. However, I began noticing a drastic decrease in energy in September 2009. In October 2009, my hair began falling out massively! I went to my PCP to explain to him that my thyroid was going crazy. He switched me to Synthroid which made everything worse.

I then went to the specialist who put me on Armour, and he explained to me that his practice was turned upside down after Forest changed their formulation in Spring 2009. He has since prescribed thyroid from a compounding pharmacist. I have lost 50% of my hair volume and 6 inches of length. I have had to get ingrown toenails cut several times, because low thyroid dries everything out and makes it all brittle.

Forrest Labs changed the fillers in Armour thyroid medication. I have been so ill since July 2009. I have tried several other desiccated thyroid meds since and none work as well as the original Armour that I was taking and feeling well on since 18 years. I am hanging on for my dear life but don't know how long I can.

My complaint is the reformulation and then removal of natural thyroid medication by Armour Thyroid. Like millions of others, I have not been able to get the medication I need. In the last three months alone, I have gained 10 pounds. I wake up each morning with my hands and face swollen, my eyes are beginning to bug out, and I now have brillo hair and sandpaper skin. I can't sleep. I cry all the time. I look in the mirror and do not know who that ugly old woman is. Comparing a photo of me taken at Christmas with one taken six months earlier, you can see a big difference in my face and eyes.

With all the medications on the market that list death as a side effect, why did they remove this medication? The reformulation had an awful effect on me, but I cannot live like this. If this is all there is, I do not want to wake up tomorrow.

Armour Thyroid can be purchased with a prescription from the Canadian Pharmacy. Don't complain; take action, and order from them. Price is reasonable, and the drug is available. I'm hoarding the Armour that I have, so I can continue to use it sparingly until my prescription arrives from Canada.

When the Forest Labs completely changed their thyroid formula and still called it Armor, they were cheating the country. I got really awfully ill for 4 months with two to recover when I got Naturethyroid because I could not function at all after my late husband's death. But I was getting better. When I got on the new formula I began to feel alive almost from the first day. I have been damaged financially. My driver's license jeopardized and my sanity and I am in worse financial trouble now than ever. I burst a blood vessel in my left eye and if you want, I have an entire list of worsened symptoms and I am a disabled already! There was a ton of collateral damage and I want to sue the hell out of Forest. I think you will find a huge number of people online who would love to join me!

I have been using Armour Thyroid for three years now. This is the only product that works well for me. Levothyroxine is not a good drug for me; it does not work. I was so tired of being put on higher doses of this medication. Nothing was working until I started using Armour Thyroid. This is a great drug for those who can do well on it.

I also believe that the big drug companies are trying to force out the smaller companies that are carrying these types of drugs. I have gone to Canada to get this medication. The only drawback to this is you have to pay for it out of your own pocket, but it is worth it to feel good and have good days. Days that you do feel good are great, but when you have bad days, no one knows what you go through.

For three years I took Armour Thyroid with zero side effects or any ill effects at all. This is almost impossible with any prescription medicine. I had had problems with my undiagnosed thyroid problems for about 20 years. So, to feel like I was 20 in my physicality and mental state once again, though I still had the aches and pains of a 61-year old, my life became wonderful again. And I realized I could have a long life and not die within 3 to 10 years as I had expected up until then.

At first I was shocked that Armour Thyroid wasn't made in the U.S. anymore. I tried Westhroid and Nature-throid but neither worked for me. I started to have symptoms like confusion, inability to make good decisions, inability to get warm and keep warm, poor circulation, etc., like before. I found that Armour Thyroid is still made in Canada, so I decided to obtain Armour Thyroid from Canada. There are two options: online or going to Canada to obtain Armour Thyroid.

Allow me to clear things up. This part might be review for most of you. Armour Thyroid is made up of two things: a synthetic hormone, synthroid (levothyroxine), which works on T4 in the thyroid; and a natural hormone, liothyronine, which works on T3 in the thyroid. Together, these compounds help the body absorb more of the drug without necessarily increasing the dosage. Synthroid (levothyroxine) is available, by itself, with a prescription. Liothyronine is actually made up of pig thyroid glands, which are collected from a slaughterhouse, tested for E. coli and other bacteria, dehydrated, and milled into a powder. This powder is why no one can get Armour!

The company that supplies Forest labs with this powder has been told by the FDA to limit production because of the inconsistencies found in the powder. Patients might take one pill and feel the effects. The next pill might make them feel sick. Many patients feel that Armour is a wonder drug, and to them, it is. It's wonderful that you've found something that works, because I'm still struggling! It's the FDA's job to regulate these things; if we didn't have them looking out for us, we'd all be buying snake oil from the back of a rusty pickup truck.

Forest labs, the FDA, and your local healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and their staff) are working day and night to get things straightened out. No one wants to lose patients, or their money, by denying them the best care possible. I'm sure the swine flu (H1N1) and the beef recall last year didn't help things. I'm not saying that one has to do with the other, but the FDA is really cracking down on where and how our food and drugs are processed. They examine everything from how the animals are treated to every morsel they eat because one day that food might be on your table or the insulin from that pig might end up in a diabetic's body.

I do not represent Forest labs, the FDA, or the slaughterhouses. I am just a pharmacy staffer who sees the struggle in her patients' eyes when I have to tell them, once again, that Armour Thyroid is unavailable at this time. I do not work with drug reps. Actually, patients were the ones that told me that Armour was going off the market. I personally use "long-term back order with no designated end date." I've called every pharmacy within 100 miles and they tell me the same thing. I know that this post doesn't give you an Armour pill to get you through the day, but I cannot make pills appear out of thin air. Our pharmacy keeps records, and if an off chance comes that we get some in, we call the person who has been waiting the longest.

We get one bottle at a time; usually weeks go by in between bottles. You all feel like you're being lied to or being kept in the dark. I am a firm believer in taking charge of your own health care, so those who have posted and will post in the future: Awesome! We all hope this will blow over soon, caregivers and patients alike; so the next time we tell you "long term back order with no designated end date," give us a break.

I would like someone in Washington who can get to the bottom of why Armour Thyroid was taken off the market? This has physically affected a lot of lives, including mine. Is there anyone who can help? Is there anyone to oversee and investigate this matter? Is there anyone who cares? Well, we know for sure it's not the FDA! Someone is putting money in someone's pockets. FDA or drug company making Synthroid?

I believe Armour Thyroid has been around longer than the FDA. People have been taking Armour for years and doing very well. I think I smell a rat somewhere! But like most of us, we don't have the money to fight with and that's what it boils down to. Money, money, money. The heck with our health! Someone's getting paid to push synthetic drugs. They did the same thing with insulin. The drug companies can make more money.

FDA ceases Armor Thyroid without offering a drug that works the same way that this natural drug works. They (FDA) and the company do not take into consideration the ill effects on the millions of users. This drug has been on the market for 50 plus years and many rely on it for a daily normal existence. The only other option is the synthetic form of the drug that many cannot take and only works on your T4 unlike Armor that worked on both the T4 and T3 parts of the thyroid. Crazy as it seems, let the public have the choice on whether or not to continue the drug while they investigate their supposed new findings. I would even pay out of pocket just to feel normal again!

I have suffered with a thyroid condition for 10 years. It took two and a half years to find a medication that would stay in my system without making me have a thyroid crash. I am very upset and have been out of work on and off for several months because the FDA has decided to remove Armour Thyroid from the market. It is the only medication I can use. I have been on a Natural Thyroid Medication that didn't take with my system causing me to have high blood pressure. I found Armour Thyroid, for a month took it and was back to normal weight. I was going back to normal, family being happy with me again and working with energy once again to find that going to the Pharmacy today, they do not have what I need to live a safe and happy life. Who do we have to get out of office to get our health back?

The discontinued status of Armour Thyroid is unacceptable. People need this medication to function properly. If it continues to go further in this direction, can a class-action lawsuit be brought against the company?

If people like me don't get this medication, we have to spend tons of money finding a replacement and doing more testing to get our levels straightened out again, therefore, costing healthcare companies more money than necessary and adding to the healthcare crisis. Maybe, we should have a news team do a story on this.

Another poster on Jan. 19 says it best. I did some research and discovered to my utter shock that FDA pulled it off the market because they want the companies producing natural thyroid to do a gazillion dollars worth of research to prove that it is safe before they will allow them to produce anymore. If FDA is so concerned about the so-called "safety" of the American public, why did they choose to unplug our life-supporting medication and possibly kill us to make sure we are "safe"? Many people, myself included, are now without medication that they need. Is the FDA in Synthroid's pocket? I did not do well on Synthroid and my doctor was having trouble stabilizing me. So I switched to Armour Thyroid five years ago and I am doing well. I have Hashimoto's Disease.

Forest Labs should be charged criminally (after I hit them all in the head with a big rock) after putting Armour Thyroid back on the market. I feel like I'm being tortured and forced to suffer, why? I'd gladly die tomorrow if I could feel better today. I just learned that Armour Thyroid is not FDA approved (how can the meds be on the market then?), not that is matters, because it doesn't. But that leaves people like myself with nowhere to turn with issues like this. Forest won't answer their phones.

I have been on Armour for 3+ years. Last Spring, I started having weird symptoms like dizziness, headaches, sore muscles, back pain, swollen lymph nodes in my neck, night sweats, internal tremors, joint pain. After going through many doctors and tests and paying over $3,000 out of pocket, I finally figured out about the reformulation of Armour and that my body wasn't absorbing it. I was extremely Hypo and have spent the last few months and lots of money trying to get back to normal. I'm now on Thyroid by Erfa out of Canada and it has saved my life. It's a natural T4/T3 similar to the old Armour. Universal Drugstore is fast, cheap and extremely friendly to deal with. I received my medication in 7 days.

I have taken Armour or Thyrolar since I developed problems in the 70s. When the FDA conspiracy pulled these products off the market, we put me on Synthroid. The dose was too high. I had significant hair loss, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, etc. I called a compounding pharmacy and am now getting dessicated Thyroid in the same dosage as the Armour.

I would advise people to make the phone calls to find a compounding pharmacy, get their doctors to write "OK to compound" on a prescription for Armour thyroid and pay whatever you have to pay to get the right medication. I am convinced I would have become quite ill on the Synthroid. As long as President Obama wants to fix health care, let him fix this little FDA conspiracy problem as well. It's a dangerous problem.

Armour Thyroid contains T-3 and T-4 hormones whereas other medications do not. Thus, the symptoms of low energy and that general "out of sorts feeling", low concentration and so on will continue for some even though we are on so-called thyroid medication which is synthetic. I just talked to my doctor this morning and she stated that there are new medications out that supply the T-4 hormone, but not the T-3, and that I will need to take 2 medications instead of one, both synthetic. Armour Thyroid was natural as opposed to these others that made me and so many others I talked to feel simply terrible and do not help with the low thyroid symptoms.

Doctors and pharmaceutical companies, are you listening? Lastly, can anyone tell me where to get Armour Thyroid in Canada, or natural supplements that work? Thanks.

I took Armour Thyroid for years. I am on Medicare. CMS refused to pay for this medication and I was put on synthroid and it did not work as it did not work previously. I almost died. So I paid for it myself and got better within a week. Now, it is not being produced and I can't find it. I am better off not taking any med than taking that synthroid! I will get dangerously ill.

I totally agree with all the complaints regarding arbitrarily stopping production of Armour Thyroid. My pharmacy, without telling me, switched my refill to Synthroid (which was previously ineffective). I happened to notice right away and called my doctor, who is forwarding a prescription to me so that I can obtain natural thyroid from Canada. Forest will lose a lot of money for doing something this **.

After several years on Synthroid, I still had all the usual hypothyroid symptoms, but my labs came back perfect so my complaints were ignored. I finally got tired of feeling sick so I did some research and found for my disease, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, that a natural dessicated thyroid product would work better. I finally found a doctor who would prescribe Armour Thyroid and have been taking it for three years now. All my symptoms had disappeared, my blood work came back consistently good (my last two annual labs were almost identical) and I felt confident that I was set as far as my thyroid was concerned.

Then, the day came when I went to refill my prescription and they told me it was no longer available. I managed to get some from a friend who had stopped taking it and was able to float for a couple of months, then I had to be put back on the Synthroid for lack of other. I could not afford a compounding pharmacy. One week after beginning, the Synthroid all of my hypo symptoms had returned, and a month later, I am now the walking dead. I can't live like this, with debilitating fatigue, muscle and joint pain, brain fog, insomnia, IBS--you name it, I have it.

I have no money for a compounding pharmacy, but at this point, I guess I will have to go into debt to pay for my life-saving medication. I have an order in for natural thyroid compound, but how long can I just charge this medication before my credit card is maxed out? It is just wrong that the FDA thinks only synthetic drugs are good enough for public consumption when they don't don't work at all for some conditions, like Hashimoto's. If Armour was unpredictable, why was I able to have two lab reports a year apart that were almost identical? Why did I have no symptoms on Armour and now I have all symptoms of hypothyroid while taking Synthroid?

Over the past few months, my thyroid medication from Armour has been increasingly hard to get. I had gone through three pharmacies and even with calling around, all they could say was it was on back order. I went to a compounding shop in my area (look under "pharmacy" in the Yellow Pages or online) and they said they could compound it for me. The price was 30 for $38, 60 for $48 and 90 for $72. My dosage is 1.25 grams. I then went to Walgreens and they said they have a compounding shop within one of their drugstores.

I am going to check and see if their prices are any better than the independent compounding shop. I know there are people out there who cannot take Synthroid at all, so you might wish to find a compounding shop in your area. While it is a bit more expensive, at least you have it. The woman at the Compounding Shop said that people were starting to come to them for their medicines now that Armour cannot supply it anymore. Good luck, everyone.

Thank you so much for this forum. Thanks to this forum and the post on September 28, 2009 by a Canadian pharmacist. I have seen my doctor this morning, have had a new Rx written for a prescription on the Canadian pharmacy website, have a month's worth of free Synthroid to keep me alive until the Canadian Thyroid product arrives in about 10 days, and expect to be back to "normal" soon.

My doctor was aware of the Armour issue and filled in a couple of blanks for me. He said that their Thyroid was inconsistent in strength and it was hard to keep patients stable because of that. So, I guess it was not all the fault of the FDA, although I am very upset that there are no laws prohibiting a life-saving drug to be suddenly pulled from the market like that, putting so many lives in jeopardy.

When I placed my order for Thyroid at the Canadian Pharmacy, I asked a lot of questions about Armour and the natural Thyroid they are selling. They also cannot get Armour, but the natural Thyroid they use in Canada is made by a company called Erfa, which is European made and they have a website at www.erfa.net. I was happy to see the molecular structure of their Thyroid product because I am extremely allergic to all forms of sulfur and if I see even one "S" in the molecule, I can't take it. This appears to be safe for me so I ordered it and uploaded my doctor's Rx, which I scanned to a graphic.

I also have my bio-identical Hormones compounded by Bellevue Pharmacy in St. Louis, Mo, so I wrote them and asked if they have a natural Thyroid to replace Armour and they said that they do have one they are compounding to help those who still need the hormone and cannot get Armour. So, there are two good sources to help us, and for which I am eternally grateful. I hope this helps someone else and I am so grateful to the Canadian pharmacist for posting here.

I was on synthroid since I was about twenty until about 1991. Then a doctor told me my thyroid was fine, I didn't need medication. So I stopped for 15 years and had all the symptoms but test showed I was okay.

Finally, I got a new doctor in 2003 and I was retested. It showed I was in very bad shape. The doctor said it was some of the worst numbers he's seen. So again, I was put on synthroid for a few years. It worked okay but nothing great, so I was reading how a doctor used a combo of synthetic and natural so I tried it on my own (now with doctor's approval) and have felt great until these problems with the reformulation and short supply of Armour thyroid.

I have to keep stretching and decreasing the Armour thyroid to make it last longer. I feel the difference without it within three days. I fall back to the symptoms as before. In calling the company, I really just get the run around and no help. The thyroid plays a major roll in the body's functions and other people like myself are suffering due to the lack of medication.

I have been on 60 mg of Armour Thyroid two times a day since about 2004. Walgreens, my pharmacy, has been telling me for the last couple of months that it was on back order and it has been difficult to get my prescriptions filled for the full amount. But until two days ago, I was still able to get enough so that I could take it each day. But when I went to the pharmacy to pick up my refill this time, they said that it was back ordered and they couldn't get anymore at all and didn't know when they would be able to get any. I was aghast! How could it be possible that a drug which is required for life, itself, could just suddenly be unavailable without any notice at all to find some alternatives? We live in America. How could such a thing happen here?

I did some research and discovered to my utter shock that FDA pulled it off the market because they want the companies producing natural thyroid to do a gazillion dollars worth of research to prove that it is safe before they will allow them to produce anymore. If FDA is so concerned about the so-called "safety" of the American public, why did they choose to unplug our life-supporting medication and possibly kill us to make sure we are "safe?" It makes no sense at all and smells of either the usual governmental bureaucratic incompetence or that someone is paying someone at FDA handsomely under the table to take out the competition so that a lot more money can be made--and shared with those pulling the plug.

As usual, the consumer pays the price all the way around. But to pull the plug without any notice and without putting something to replace this drug in place, first borders on narcissistic, sociopathic behavior. I suppose that those people who work at FDA already made their Canadian connections before pulling the plug so they could make sure they are continually supplied. I am furious, to say the very least.

Yesterday, a prescription was put in place for me for Levothyroxine .05. Three hours after taking it, I was in the emergency room with what was determined to be an "allergic reaction" as my throat closed and I felt like I was being choked and my glands in my neck were tense and engorged. It was very scary. The ER doctor didn't know what to do. I told him that I had been on Synthroid for years before I was switched to Armour. I didn't feel well on Synthroid and there was a lot of scary publicity so I wanted to be off of it. He struggled to find the right dosage and put me on .1 once a day, which I think is less than what I was taking with the Armour.

I feel like I'm half dead, can hardly stay awake, feel very hot, very foggy-thinking, and I'm scared. This is a three-day weekend and my doctor won't be in his local office for four days, so I am wondering how I am going to even function when I have to go back to work the day after tomorrow. I'm a crisis counselor and I counsel people now who are in jeopardy of losing the homes to foreclosure. I work for a non-profit and so I don't make a lot of money, and I'm over 65 so my Medicare isn't going to pay anything. They don't have to pay for medications and they usually won't pay for anything but generics.

So, I'm sure that by the time Armour is able to do the required research that FDA demands, if they can even stay in business long enough having lost all these sales to the manufacturers of Synthroid, any new produce they make will cost a gazillion dollars so they can recoup their losses and the money they had to lay out for the required research. So none of us will be able to afford the new product, if there is one, Medicare won't pay for it, and there won't be a generic for 17 years.

My thyroid gland was damaged when I quit smoking back in 1986 and suddenly gained 50 pounds. My hair fell out drastically to the point where I had to get very creative about being presentable in public. I wonder what I will do now. Yes, I think that FDA has gone way too far this time and they need to get slapped very hard for this. They have not protected the public with the unconscionable move, but has wreaked havoc on the public and may be responsible for lost lives and much illness. They need to have their eye balls sued out of their sockets and made to stand as a poster child for government run amok and against the people who they are supposed to be protecting. But who is protecting us from them?

I went for many years, gaining weight, having rashes, hair falling out, feeling weak, and being in a "fog." I went to doctors and told them I thought I had a thyroid problem, only to be diagnosed with "other" causes. I was even told I ate too much when I was barely eating and pushing myself to exercise daily. I just continued to gain weight, nearly double what I used to weigh.

Finally, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Imagine being glad! I was not really crazy! I tried synthetic thyroid, but it did not work. Armour Thyroid was the answer. It took a long time for me to begin to feel normal. Finally, I was losing weight, and my hair was no longer falling out. Even my rashes went away. Slowly, I began to not feel quite right--getting rashes again and my hair began to fall out a little.

Besides this, I was having a lot of difficulty acquiring the Armour Thyroid. I would go to get it refilled, only to be told they didn't know if they would get any more. This is the first time I have not been able to find a pharmacy to dispense the drug. The supply seems to be totally exhausted. I feel like I am slipping, and I don't like it one bit.

Why can this medication not be manufactured? They have been meeting people's needs, and now they can't? I had no idea about the reformulation of the drug, either. I wonder which health problems I have encountered that may be linked to the changes in this medication? Why is no one stopping this? Please get this mess straightened out before any more people suffer.

For the past year it has been a nightmare to get Armour Thyroid and I am really ** about it. This is a medicine that is required by many to continue living! I had such a severe case of Grave's back in 1994 that the endocrinologist could not even consider operating, he had to ** my thyroid (3 times the normal amount of radiation) in order to kill my thyroid. It was to the point of kill it or it would kill me. I was down to 72 lbs. at the time and looked totally anorexic except that I ate constantly. Anyway, he killed the thyroid and put me on Synthroid. What a mistake that was. I got to the point that I could barely remember my name. I was in such a fog. I went from having a photographic memory to having to write myself sticky notes (stuck to the back of my hand to find my truck in the parking lot).

Then about 3 years into that nightmare, the endo that I was seeing decided that I was going hyper again and took me off of the Synthroid totally and she left. I started feeling better immediately and thought maybe my thyroid wasn't dead after all. In the meantime, she left town for good and I was left without an endo. I was getting very lethargic a few months later and so I went to my regular doctor, who set up a blood test and told me I may have to go back on the Synthroid, to which I told him no! I had been reading up on the subject and had found that Armour Thyroid was a much better product (according to the patients, who gain nothing by touting it).

When this "shortage" came up I told my doctor I would go without before I go back on that horrible Synthroid, and I meant it. For the moment I am taking Cytomel and Thyroid Glandular, which I got from an herbalist. I went for a while without anything (before the last Armour Thyroid my numbers were pretty good). After a couple of weeks without the Armour, though, I was a wreck. I couldn't sleep. I'm agitated and anxious all the time and I gained 10 lbs. in a week! Something I really did not need.

However, after my first dose of the Cytomel and Thyroid Glandular I felt a lot better, so I will take it for a month, have a blood test and see where I am. Then I will get rid of the Cytomel for a month and see how I do on the TG along because the Cytomel does have some synthetics in it. In the meantime, I am trying to find a compounding pharmacy just in case the above does not work. I find it very disturbing that the FDA and whoever else might be behind this can orchestrate the shutting off of such a vital medicine. This stuff is not just to make us feel better, it is so we can live! And though I am not ready to give up I will not ever go back on Synthroid again. I also find it not conscientious that Synthroid, although there was a huge lawsuit against the makers, is still pushed on those of us with this condition!

I am totally fed up with the entire thing. At the beginning of this fiasco, when I first suspected that I had Grave's disease, I was told by 6 doctors that it was all in my head that I had Grave's. Then when I finally got a doctor who would test me for it, I was so far gone that the endo he sent me to had no recourse but to kill my thyroid. Then I was put on Synthroid and suffered for three years before being taken off of it. Now I am not able to get the medicine that I need and every time I say something about it I get blank stares or am told I will just have to go back on the Synthroid.

Reformulation of Armour Thyroid medication without notification to consumers, physicians, and pharmacies. I have read the complaints before me and feel the desperation in each one. I also have taken Armour Thyroid for over 10 years and the reformulation has had a devastating affect on the quality of my life. My health has declined drastically. I am not the same person. I don't think Forest labs realized the traumatic affect that the new formula would have on so many people. It is life threatening to those of us who cannot live without this medication. All we are asking is for the old formula to be brought back. I'd be glad to pay more to get it back. My life depends on this medication. Are we really being heard? How does this website really help consumers?

Synthroid does not work! For some reason Armour was suddenly "unavailable" and I have been put back on Synthroid. This is not a good thing. I am experiencing terrible hair loss, weight gain, cold, exhaustion again , symptoms that had disappeared once Synthroid was replaced with Armour. There must be some help out there somewhere!

I was told by my pharmacist and physician that there was a shortage of Armour Thyroid but never that it would not be brought back. I have been temporarily put on a compound version of thyroid medication and I have noticed a definite difference from Armour to this. Can someone please explain what is causing the shortage? It took years to find a medication that actually worked for me only to have it taken away after two years of being put on it. I cannot take Synthroid or Levoxyl as my body does not respond to either so Armour was my only solution.

I have been off of Armour for three months now and the changes for me have been extremely dry skin, blurred vision, fatigue, mood swings and other symptoms related to my hypothyroidism, i.e. weight gain, constipation and other lovely things as a result of constipation. Not to mention now I have to pay twice the amount for the new prescription that I was paying for Armour. It has to be mailed to me or I have to drive an hour from my house to get my RX as there aren't any pharmacies with compounders in my area.

To complicate matters even more, every time I re-order my prescription, there is a problem with my insurance company covering a compounded RX so I end up not taking my medication for a week while the pharmacy and insurance company try to figure out the billing problem. I would greatly appreciate it if someone would let us know when we will be able to get Armour Thyroid back.

The shortage and discontinued supply of Armour Thyroid is more serious than one would think. I had my thyroid removed unwillingly b/c of severe grave disease and was on synthetic meds for 5 years. I am 40 yrs old and suffered for all of those 5 years with insomnia, chronic fatigue and a true thyroid storm. I went from hypo to hyper to hypo for 5 years.

Armour Thyroid is the only medication that worked for me and gave me NORMAL lab results. I cannot function with the Levoxyl and Cytomel. I had no choice but to take that and now I am confused, and have insomnia. I can hardly function at my job. This is an outrage that no warnings were given or valid explanation to the public.

Sign me up for any class action lawsuit if anyone knows of one. Since changing back to Synthetic thyroid medication, my skin is flaky, I cannot sleep. I try to concentrate and cannot and I am now suffering anxiety and depression. Armour Thyroid should not have been discontinued the way it was without warnings or substitute for its users.

I have been switched to synthetic thyroid medication, and my hair is starting to fall out again. I used to have a thick ponytail, and now, it is 1/2 the thickness it used to be. The switch in medication was due to unavailability, according to my endocrinologist. And I'm furious as my hair continues to fall out. This happened before when I was switched, but I kept demanding that I be put back on Armour.

What is the problem? Why is Forest unable to meet demands at the cost to my well-being and health? I have to pay extra for this prescription versus the generic brand, but it is well worth the little extra money spent. I am also fed up if it is a giant pharmaceuticals that might be possibly interfering and lining the pockets of doctors to get them to switch patients to their less-than-desirable medications.

Why is the supply of Armour Thyroid decreasing? I need this medication, and I can't get it. Is the government the lab, or what? My health is in grave danger, if I can't obtain this medicine.

This is more a complaint about the FDA than Armour Thyroid. People have been using dessicated thyroid for over 100 years before synthetic came out. It has helped an untold amount of hypothyroid patients and now the FDA is pulling this crap?! I'm so sure they are doing this to "protect" the American people, *cough* their pockets by bribes more likely *cough*. 5 years ago, I had to fight to get Armour thyroid prescribed and I had to go through 4 doctors to get it and a couple more to get a high enough dosage to do any good (3 grains)! This is making me so angry!

I've been taking Armour Thyroid since I'm 17 years old. I'm now 68. I was born in 1941. Imagine my joy at finding out I must now take synthroid because my pharmacist can't get the Armour Thyroid. I want someone to give me a good reason. I just started taking it. In the past, I've been warned not to change this medication. I have regular blood work.

Where is Armour Thyroid and why can't I get it anywhere? This is a very frustrating situation for the many people suffering from hypothyroidism and hashimoto disease. What are we to do? Synthroid does not alleviate the symptoms to the point that I can work. I am a teacher and falling asleep on the job is not an option. Please help!

Forest Labs has been unable to manufacture Armour Thyroid for quite some time now. Word on the street says this is because of the Government's attempt to force consumers to switch from something natural to a synthetically manufactured medication. If this is the case, it is very unfair, as well as reducing the quality of life for a lot of people, including myself.

I have been on Armour Thyroid for 3 years. It took so long for me to find a Dr. who would prescribe it, because I live in a city where medicine is big business, and is run by a corrupted "medical mafia" who has ties to our legislature. Synthroid, the synthetic alternative to Armour, is more expensive to prescribe, so most Dr.s are tempted to pull out that pad and write an RX, so they will get one of the many perks (bribes) handed to them by the reps (hookers) of the drug manufacturers. Many Dr.s have long since stopped listening to their patients about how they actually feel. After about 2 months on Armour Thyroid, I felt like a new person. After work, I was able to go workout at the gym on a daily basis, something I had been unable to do for many years. So many unwanted symptoms of hypothyroidism disappeared with Armour, such as weight gain, depression, tiredness, hair loss, all went away.

Switching to Synthroid caused all my symptoms to return, and I find myself back where I started, barely able to drag myself home after work each day. Dr.s have clout with the FDA and drug companies, and they could easily put pressure on them to allow Armour back on the market. I think it is time for them to take a good look at their patients and ask themselves what is best for the patient, what works for that individual. I remember a time when patients looked up to their Dr.s, and considered them to be almost "God like". Now, unfortunately, many of us see Dr.s as part of the drug company corruption. They are no longer on our side. I am begging physicians, please stand up to the temptation to ignore a patient's well being for monetary kickbacks. Your patients would like to respect and look up to you again.

Regarding Armour Thyroid Medication Unavailability

unbelieveable. It must be addressed immediately.

As a result of the reformulation of Armour Thyroid (which I have take for 35 years)and the current supply problems I have had numerous problems in the past several months, fluctuating TSh, the need for more that 6 tests to determine my Tsh, weight gain, then weight loss, hair falling out, general feeling of malaise. When it became impossible to obtain even the altered formula, I was prescribed Synthroid and Cytomel...terrible mistake. Incessant itching, inability to function normally, blah, blah, blah. It would seem I have very little choice in obtaining a dessicated natural drug (as they seem to be non-existent)I really am very frustrated and feeling terrible. Why did the FDA require reformulation for a drug that has worked well for so many years. Is this an effort by the large pharmaceuticals to dictate to you what you must take?

In December of 2007, I began to bleed extremely heavy with during my cycle. A few months later, my breast were swollen in addition to the extremely heavy bleeding. This was the beginning of my doctor's visits. I had a bile movement and it looked like someone had poured blood in the toilet. Then my body began to swell. I remember trying to suck in my belly and it wouldn't move. I thought I was just gaining weight. In March, when my sister and I would go on our 4 mile walk, the next morning, I could barely stand on my feet because they hurt so bad. By June, I began to have hives on my skin from my head to the top of my thigh. I visited the doctor and we chalked it up to stress because I had been on Armour Thyroid for approximately 8 years.

At this point, my blood pressure was up and I was put on high blood pressure medicine. I would wake up some mornings and run into the wall unable to gain my composure. My ears were burning down the ear canal and nothing would stop it. My nose was so clogged that I had to ask for a stronger decongestant but it still did not work. It was almost like the pores in my nose were sealed off. I had to go back to the doctor because my right side of my throat stopped working. Another trip to the doctor was because my jaw felt like it was hanging on a string. It felt like my head was ripping on both sides about an inch above each of my ears. Now, when I get stressed, I feel pressure in these spots above my ears. The dermatologist took a biopsy which said that it was an allergic reaction to a medication. I became suspicious of the Armour Thyroid when they did not have my dosage available at the pharmacy.

I called Forest Laboratories to ask if there was a problem with the medicine. The agent said that it was not and that it was ok to continue taking it. He said that they were doing a quality adjustment. I continued to take it and continued to break out in hives that began to look like burns. I asked the doctor to change me to the 60/60 dosage rather than the 120. I stopped breaking out in hives, although I still had a sickly feeling. At this point the damage was done. I had to go back to the doctor because I was having trouble breathing. While my doctor is great, I saw his partner this time and he suggested that I stop taking Armour Thyroid because he had another case that the person was breaking out while taking Armour Thyroid. He said that when that person discontinued the Armour Thyroid, that the symptoms went away. The sickly feeling went away when I discontinued Armour Thyroid all together.

Unfortunately, the pain that was in my feet eventually went to many more joints in my body. The toes in my right foot shifted. I was eventually diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA). The doctor advised me that people have a predisposition to RA but something traumatic has to happen to your body to induce the onset of RA. He also said that my RA was not typical. He said that it should be in the same joint(s), not one here or there. It is also active RA which means that I have to live a sedentary lifestyle or risk being in pain and needing a dose of steroids. I too had the problem of my thumbs not bending and had to have a cortisone shot to bend it. I also have a mammogram, before this situation, one from during this situation and another that I took recently. The one that I took last year had spots all over my breast from the swelling. This year, most of the spots were gone from the mammogram. I also have spots all over my torso from the hives from last year.

The medicine also had a horrible smell to it. It smelled rotten.

mental anxiety (great). almost completely unable to do daily chores or even take care of myself (baths, brushing teeth, cooking) was almost non existent. no energy, desire and had a lump in throat, sore throat, listless, no desire to go on. I can not take synthyroid. synthyroid gives me almost the same symptoms described.

I have no thyroid and must take a replacement. I was taking armour thyroid. In july of 09 I was hospitalized for pancreatitous. No cause could be found. I was then sent to a specialist. Following many tests where biopsies were taken. all of my internal organs were inflamed and swollen. Also present were ulcers in my small intestines. The specialist could not locate a cause for my constant nausea and the inflammation. All through this length of time I was unable to obtain the correct dosage of my armour. I was to take 90 mg a day. At one point I was taking 3-30's. Then when the pharmacy could not get those I was breaking in half 180's.

My sickness continued to worsen. 3 weeks ago I could not get armour at all. My doctor put me on a synthetic thyroid medication and after the second week my nausea has started subsiding and my insides are less painful. I started to investigate myself and seen this site and all the people that have been having trouble with the drug armour thyroid. Basically I was shocked that this could be allowed to happen. I must take this medication to live or I die point blank.

I must trust the makers of these medications and I can see that my trust and life is held in the hands of people that make changes that could also cause my death.

Forest reformulated their Armour Thyroid without telling the doctors, pharmacies or patients. I had been taking 90mg of Armour for a long time but started noticing symptoms of thyroid disease. I thought it was something else, though, because I had continued taking the 90mg of Armour. Well, it's December, 2009, and I've been to a cardiologist for a prescription for heart palpitations, have been to my primary care physician, and to an endocrinologist. My TSH levels are up to 12 now and I feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck. Horrible body aches, brain fog, heart palpitations, gritty dry eyes, hair falling out. Thyroid disease is no joke and can kill you. Forest should be made legally and morally responsible for decieving their customers.

Forrest Pharmaceuticals reformulated Armour thyroid without notifying patients. I have taken thyroid medication since 1980. Armour thyroid works the best for me without side effects. This past summer I began to take a down turn. I had severe painful swelling of joints, I could no longer wear my wedding rings. My hair stylist kept noticing my hair was different. I now could easily see my scalp where I couldn't before. I have gained 13+ lbs over the last 3 months. I had a hoarse voice, and trouble swollowing my food,plus reflux and was unable to sleep on my right side. I was extremely tired and had to nap every day.

Things I enjoyed became a chore to get done. Example - I mixed up cookies but didn't have the energy to bake them. Besides my joints hurting everywhere, my muscles ached and my skin hurt when someone touched me. My husband recognized the symptoms but I insisted I hadn't changed anything about my thyroid medication. It was then I wondered if I had perhaps been given some expired Armour by accident. I went on line to see what the shelf life was and saw that they had reformulated it. I then made an appt with my Dr. Yes, my levels were totally in the opposite direction of where they should be. As of tomorrow, I begin to take synthroid .150 . I now have another six weeks before I will feel better and hope my hair comes back!

I have found a place to order Armour Thyroid. It's in Canada. Great relief that the Real Armour Thyroid is still available!

I have had Hashimoto Hypothyroid for 15 years. For 13 years I took only Synthroid and never felt good tired, depressed, achy. Two years ago I started using Armour Thyroid and have never in my life felt so good. I had so much energy I was so happy and easy going and I didn't ache all over. This past summer started using reformulated Armour and have been sick again Extreme fatigue, weight gain, swollen face, legs, hands stomach, severely depressed. I am so angry that a drug company can get away with this my life is gone.

I have tried all over Baltimore metro area to get this medication, it has also been impossible to get it when I was in my home in Chatham, MA. Were it not for the pharmacist in MA in July, I would not have made it through summer.

Now I'm running out, got 7 tablets from my pharmacist at Target, no one has any. Not sure what I can do. Suffering hair loss and dry eyes from the reformulated medication I have apparently been taking. Why is this allowed to happen without patients being notified. I cannot say how desperate I am for this medication to return to patients who depend on it for life-sustenance.

I have rummaged all over town for this medication, taking 5 pills here and seven there. The stress is unbelievable. Would be willing to join with others to activate for a change in this situation.

The problem is current unavailability of Armour Thyroid.

I contacted Forest labs at 800-678-1605 ext 66297 and was told that the root cause of the problem is that the active ingredient manufacturer (unknown to me) Forest labs contracts with has not been able to produce a sufficient quantity of the active ingredient to meet market demand. I was also told that Forest labs recently was able to obtain a small supply of the active ingredient sufficient to do a limited production run of 1 grain tablets, their most popular strength. Because of the limited quantity available, Forest has been dolling out 30 day supplies of the 1 grain tablet when they receive a request directly from a local pharmacy. Forest labs states that they continue to work with the active ingredient manufacturer to resolve the supply problem, but they would not state when they expect this problem would be solved. That sort of leaves those of us who function well on the product sort of "hung out to dry", at least for the time being.

Forest labs representative I spoke with stated that the product reformulation implemented earlier in 2009 did not affect the content of the active ingredients - 38 mcg levothyroxine (T4) and 9 mcg liothyronine (T3) per grain of thyroid. What the new formulation does was to alter components of the fillers - decrease the dextrose and increase the microcrystalline cellulose. Intuitively, and as an engineer not a health care professional, I cant see how a change in the filler constituent ratios would affect efficacy of the product unless the microcrystalline cellulose, an insoluble fiber, somehow binds with the T4 and/or T3 thus affecting absorbability.

I did find a good website with an article written by an MD affiliated with Orlando Regional Medical Center here:
endocrineweb.com/tests.html.

The interaction of pituitary gland and hypothalamus in regulating the amount of TSH, T4, and T3 is complicated and nuanced, but the article is written in "Layman-ese" and quite easy to understand. In my case, in order to achieve the proper balance of T4/T3, my PCP has prescribed a "slow release" form of liothyrnine (T3) which I take daily in addition to 1 grain of Armour thyroid. This slow release form of T3 must be obtained from a compounding pharmacy which specializes in bio-identical hormone replacement as the liothyronine commonly available from regular pharmacies is neither natural, nor time released.

I am suffering from taking the new armour. I see a doctor about it and will see if he can do anything. I am in constant pain with my throat and have lots of other problems from new armour. My life is at stake. How can the company just change medication without explaing anything to anyone! I am so miserable and can't get back to the way I was. Thank you for any help that you can give me.

After 18 years of taking Armour Thyroid without having any side efects I started getting very ill in June of 09. I was tested for lyme and Erlichia but it turned out that my thyroid level was very low. Than I red about the reformulation of Armour Thyroid and it became clear that that was the cause of my problems. I have tried other natural thyroid meds since but dont seam to be able to get back to my normal state of well being. I feel like I am dying. Skinrashes, chestpains, depression, boils, not able to think, hair loss, neuropathy, jointpains are the symtoms I expirienced since the reformulation.

I am a thyroid cancer survivor of 15 years. It took me many years to find a doctor that would give me armour thyroid and now I can't get it through a pharmacy. I have not talked to anyone directly with forest Labratories yet but really do not feel good on the synthetic form of thyroid. why can't they manufacture it I know they where having trouble making the doses. You just don't understand how crappy you can feel I went for years on the synthetic I have gained 150 lbs since I have had my cancer I can not get it off. I have had doctors tell me if I did not just eat like a pig I could lose weight, but I eat as much as I did when I was only 128 lbs. I am vary discouraged I have to go back on the synthetic now. I will be tired have chest pains and feel like a zombie. thanks please fix the Armour thyroid so I can go back to it PLEASE

I take Armour Thyroid and have been having trouble finding it. I found a large stock of the old formula of Armour Thyroid. I first sent them an email to find out if they had any. In addition, I ordered some from Canada. My doctor helped me get what I needed! So, I'm set for the next 6 months.

The re-formulation DOES NOT WORK and has brought on all of the Hypothyroid symproms that have been gone for over 20 years. My hair is falling out in hand fulls and I am broken out all over my face and I have gained 40 lbs in four months. I cant get out of bed and am in a coma like state. I can not work or function due to the new formula. WHAT HAPPENED?

For the last year, I have had difficulty getting my Armour Thyroid prescription filled. I investigated further, to see if the situation would be remedied anytime soon. In the interim, my doctor has prescribed a synthetic alternative to Armour Thyroid. After years of being regulated on Armour Thyroid, I now have symptoms of hypothyroidism again. For my health and welfare, I need to be able to obtain Armour Thyroid. I am concerned about the shortage.

In an attempt to locate a supply of Armour Thyroid I spoke with the FDA regarding availability. Obviously, it was the wrong place to ask. However, they did tell me that Armour Thryoid IS NOT FDA APPROVED! Since when? As all of those who have written in regarding the splendid results of this product, I am at a loss to understand what has happened. After 60 years of Synthroid and all the other generics, nothing has worked as well as Armour.

Same complaint I'm sure you've heard. Forest Labs first changed the formula of Amour Thyroid, or changed the manufacturing process. Many people complained that it did not work as well. Now we can't even get that. Why did the change it in the first place. I accidently overdosed on the 60mg tabs I was given because I had been taking 30mg tabs for three years. I forgot I had 60mg tabs and overdosed for several days before I realized it. That was not directly the fault of the lab, but it wouldn't have happened had the 30mg tabs been available. Now I am struggling again with fatigue as my body adjusts to yet another change in medication.

Prior to 6 weeks ago, I was finally feeling GREAT!! Prior to this, I was on synthetic throid meds for 12yrs and never in all that time did I ever feel completely good. 6 weeks ago, I was forced to be put back on synthetic thyroid with an addition of cytomel. Weight gain is starting again, restless sleep, slugish, no energy or sex drive, mixing up my words again, dry skin and eyes, and hot flashes AGAIN. I don't really understand what has happened with obtaining Armour and I'm not sure if you all can really help......but this really needs to be obtainable again. Can you help? I have an appointment with my endocrinologist today, but after reading the other patient comments, I feel I'm going to come away not getting the medication that the Dr. and myself know is what works the best for my body.

Thank you

This isn't a complaint! This is to let everybody know that I need this hard to obtain medicine. I have lived on Synthroid for 5 years. Miserable, tired and gaining weight constantly. I was becoming depressed and honestly thinking of starting to smoke again just in an attempt to help stop the weight gain. But..I begged my Doctor to let me try Armour even though we were admist the biggest backlog of the century. I was able to get a 3 months supply of the 60 mg and I was feeling amazing by day three! I feel so much better and I actually have started to lose weight! I have lost 17 lbs in almost 3 1/2 weeks. That is amazing! I have done nothing but gain in the past 5 years no matter what I did! I have did nothing different except take this medicine. Please help!!! Please help us that need this medicine to live a full, normal life. To raise our children without feeling so exhausted that life really isn't worth living. Please...Please..Please. Help us.

Thanks for your article regarding synthetic thyroid medicaiton vs. Armour thyroid medication and the shortage. I just wanted to write to say that I, too, had an experience where I was on the highest dosage of synthroid for years and had numerous health problems uknowingly related to the hypothyroidism but never put two and two together because I was under treatment or so I thought. I tried natural thyroid (Armour thyroid) this past year and was astonished at how much better I felt immediately (within a week I felt 19 again!) and many symptoms I'd never related to hypothyroidism started to disappear such as allergies (runny/itchy eyes - dark cirles), depression, insomnia, weight gain issues, etc. The changes in me on the natural thyroid (Armour) medication vs. the synthetic thyroid (Synthroid) medication was night and day. I'm only taking 2 grains of the natural thyroid versus the highest dosage of the synthetic version, too.

So, there is validity to health crisis the shortage of the natural thyroid medication is causing. I found it interesting that it wasn't even mentioned in your article that the FDA committee (who have board members that have a conflict of interest since they also work for pharm. co's that produce synthetic thyroid) is making this natural drug that's been around for hundreds of years go through a re-application process and that this is also causing many natural thyroid companies out of business. In any case, just wanted to state how much this consumer product has improved my life and to say thanks for addressing the shortage!

They quit making the Armour Thyroid medication I've taken for years for my thyroid Hormone Replacement. My thyroid gland was removed back in 1975 due to a cancerous tumor. My quality of Life has diminished to the point that I no longer even want to live. I am so tired, depressed, etc....

I went to the forest lab site and this is the disclosure on Armour:

"Updated Statement from Forest Laboratories Re: Availability of Armour Thyroid:

Forest Laboratories understands how frustrating the back order situation of Armour Thyroid has been for patients, and we apologize for the supply interruption.

A supply of powdered Thyroid gland, the active ingredient of Armour Thyroid, has been made available to Forest by its supplier. Forest has produced and shipped a limited supply of 1 grain, also known as 60 mg.

We understand that this limited distribution will not meet the current anticipated demand for the product, and we continue to work diligently to meet demand.

Although Forest is addressing the backlog of Armour Thyroid as quickly as possible, we are not prepared at this time to give a definitive date by which the product will be fully restocked. Please check for future updates on the availability of Armour Thyroid through the Forest product availability toll-free hotline at (866) 927-3260.

In the meantime, we encourage patients to speak with their physician regarding appropriate treatment for their condition."

I am concerned that the drug Armour Thyroid is not going to be made any longer. I know as a fact that there is NOTHING else on the market that can replace this and I truly do not understand why people are being forced to take a synthetic drug which does not even remotely do what Armour does. Armour Thyroid has been used for a hundred years and people have a choice as to what they prefer to take - synthroid or Armour. You have millions of people who prefer Armour.

Synthroid is a horrible alternative for thyroid replacement. I don't understand why such an inferior product would be forced upon people - we already have a hormone problem to address and then are told to take something which leaves you feeling horrible, and I do mean horrible. Death is what will happen if I decide not to take a replacement - so the FDA is giving me no choice.

You just hope that they could experience a day in your body to see what this is all about - to them it is just about money, to me it is about quality of lives for millions of people who deserve better. Do not take ARMOUR THYROID away from us!

The other day I was checking online to see if there was any way to refill my armour prescription. I came across this site and was astounded to see these emails. I have put on so much weight and have felt absolutely horrible for the better part of this year. I kept finding armour any way I could and my doctor kept increasing my dose because my TSH was so high, all the time trusting the creepy Forest laboratories, because I guess I still felt that my welfare was something important.

I guess I'd better get a clue, what with all that is going on, nobody cares about us! Now I'm doing something I never thought I would do in my life. I'm getting my thyroid meds from Canada. Yes, instead of going to my neighborhood pharmacy, I'm going to wait until the 17th to get the medication that I need to live because I live in the US.

Take a look around folks, this is not a pretty picture. I cannot believe a pharmaceutical company can change a formula without notifying their users. Creepy!

In September 2009 my pharmacy informed me that I would no longer be able to get my Amour Thyroid as the company no longer made that product. They told me that they had informed all doctors to switch their patients to Synthroid instead. I told them I had tried Synthroid and was allergic to it. It made my stomach burn real bad and had a lot of indigestion from it.

The one pharmacist then gave me the last 30, 30mg tablets he had left and said to take 3 a day as my perscribtion was for 90 mg's a day. He said that he would put my name back on the computer of people who still wanted the Armour Thyroid and put in an order again to the company they get it from as he had heard that the manufacturer might start making the product again and could be available on Sept. 17th.

I did not think much more about it until the time was past and asked my doctor what to do. He said that some of his patients had ordered from Cananda so I did that. In the meantime, I did not take anything waiting for my pills to arrive from outside of the US. In the mean time I did an internet search about Armour Thyroid and found out that Forester Labs had begun reformulating the Armour Thyroid formula in April of 2009 without notifying the doctors, pharmacies, or patients.

In June of 2009 I went to Europe for a month and was sick for 3 out of the 4 weeks with a horrible flu and bronchitis. I have never had the flu for more than 5 days in my life. I was worried it was that H1N1 flu but when I got home and was still sick I went to the doctor and he said it was not the H1N1, just the flu and bronchitis. I could not figure out why I was sick for so long though. Then in August, I got a bad bladdler/kidney infection that would not clear up like it usually does with cranberry juice and pills so went to the doctor and got an antibiotic.

After 7 days of taking the antibiotic the infection finally cleared up, but a week later I woke up with my neck and shoulder hurting and could not swallow without great pain. It felt like a choke chain around my neck and my whole trechea area hurt so bad. I was worried because I thought it might be a goider and that my thyroid was getting worse. I went to the doctor and he said I had an ear and throat infection and put me for 10 days on another antibiotic. The antibotics left me with oral thrush and I had to have the doctor order Nyistatin for me to clear that up. The doctor had become very concerned that my blood pressure, cholestrol, and blood sugar had gone up so high on the last 2 visits even though I had been living healthier than I had ever done before.

October 17, 2009 I finally got my order of Armour Thyroid from Canada in and started taking it again. After reading about the problems others were having I called Forester Labs and talked to a woman named Jill who was the safety drug expert person about when the new formulation had started and the health problems I had been having since June. She told me that only the new formulation would be available from now on to doctors and pharmacies and that my pharmacy should be able to get it now.

I called my pharmacy and told a pharmacist there that I had called Forester labs about the Armour Thyroid. This pharmacist told me that this reformulation Armour Thyroid had new fillers which causes the Armour hormone not to relase to the thyroid so that this product would not do me any good. This made me realize that the Armour thyroid medication I had been taking since May of 09 may not have been giving my thyroid the needed hormones my thyroid required and was why I might have been getting sick so often with flu's infections, and having such high blood pressure and cholestrol problems my doctor has become so concerned about.

Going a month with out my Thyroid medication now is bad enough, but if my old meds have not been working correctly since May of 09, then it would explain why my body is so messed up since June. I also have Lupus that flares up from time to time, especially when I have not been on the correct amount of thyroid medication. This is very frightening for me and I am so tired of being sick so often besides constant fatigue.

I have read that Thyroid problems can cause one to have heart related diseases, and get frequent infections. Since I already have a compromised immune system, not having the orginal formula of Amour Thyroid is very serious for me. I plan to write my senators and congressman about this and hopefully get the old formula back.

I had been taking armoutr thyroid for over ten years with no ill side effects whatsoever. Then Forrest labs reformulated their product without telling their customers. I began having major hypo symptoms again , out of the blue. I was not yet aware that Forrest had changed the formula so I had no idea why all my hypo symptoms were coming back.

My hair is falling out in clumps, Im only 36 years old and Im going to be bald within the next few months. I have aches and pains that keep me in bed some days. Im constantly exhausted, no matter how easy the task or how much rest I've already gotten. All of this is causing depression. I dont have time for these symptoms!

Im a mother of 3 who ownes and runs a small business, I barely have time to match my own clothes everyday! We need the old ARMOUR BACK! Doesnt the FDA realize, people can have congestive heart failure from not getting their thyrouid meds, on top of the myriad of other horrible debilitating symptoms!

The ingredience for Armour Thyroid was changed without the company telling their patients. I have gained over 20 lbs within 2 months and have terrible headaches, aches and pains. This shouldn't be about MONEY! The FDA should be ashamed for what they are doing including Forrest Labs. Weight gain, headaches, joint pains, breathing difficulty, exhaustion.

Forest, makers of Armour thyroid, a natural product used since the early 1900s, randomly decided to reformulate their product. Neither doctors nor patients were informed and it wasn't until many, including myself, started experiencing horrible symptoms that this reformulation came to light.

Inquiries to the company fall on deaf ears and no quality communication has come from their offices.

Life has become miserable because the replacement didn't work for me. Luckily, I found a months doses of Armour thyroid that had been misplaced so I have been okay for a month but within a week it's going to be bad again. Why did the FDA stop making something that helped people so much for over 50 years. I have read of people who took it for 50 years with no side affects or ill affects at all!

The reformulation of their drug Armour thyroid has made me very ill. I have become physically ill. I do not have any energy. I have become extreamely constipated with impaction/and or gas pains in my abdomen that effects me almost every night requiring that I take a huge amount of laxatives or I would need a colostomy. I have extreame muscle pain in my legs requiring many pain killers which do not work well. My blood pressure has increased and I have had to raise the amount of blood pressure medicine that I am on. I have become hypo thyroid and hyper thyroid at the same time which my blood work reflects. I am unable to work and care for my family. The armour thyroid that I received did not work and I have become depressed that I can't even think about going on.

I am frustrated with the fact that I am no longer able to have access to Armour Thyroid in the U.S. Thankfully, I have been able to purchase it from Canada with free shipping. We need Armour back in it's original formula.

this shortage of armour thyroid is killing me. What is the fda doing to us that cannot take sythetic thyroid? I will die without this. The reformulation of this is killing me and the fact that we cannot get any of it because of the money factor from the pharmacutical companies greed is WRONG! We need to sue the FDA for sticking their nose into this formula that has been working for people like me for over 50 years.

When Armour went on National backorder, my doctor switched me to another "synthetic" thyroid medication. I didn't realize at first why strange things started happening to me. For example, within a couple of days of starting the new med; I had not one but Two grand mal seizures within a few hours and the 2nd one landed me in the Emergency Room.

Also, my blood pressure which is usually 120/80 was Thru the Roof; my depression came back and I feel like I could cry at the drop of a hat; I started gaining weight again, and pounding headaches became a daily occurrence. Thankfully, I complained to my doctor, he suggested a "Compounding Pharmacy". I was told that this type of pharmacy can make Armour for you. I was fortunate that I contacted a compounding pharmacy and they actually had Armour in stock & I have started back on Armour as of today.

I found out last week the FDA disallowed distribution of natural desiccated thyroid so Forest Lab reformulated their Armour Thyroid. I've been taking it for over 40 yrs. Why all of a sudden is this becoming an issue? If anything they should go after the synthetic versions of this medication. Throughout the years I've tried three different times to switch and it made me feel so bad I'd rather go without anything than to use it and I take 180 mg/day. My heart raced and my pounded, I had trouble swallowing and felt shakey to the point my hands would visibly shake and I couldn't concentrate. My hair was falling out to the point the shower drain would get clogged.

In order for my doctor to get my blood levels normal he had to increase it even more which also increased the symptoms. The first two times I tried synthetics I only lasted a few weeks before I had to quit it. About 5-6 years ago I was determined to give it a better try. Now I am taking several other medications for hypertension and cholesteral so sythetics are OUT OF THE QUESTION (I am the only one on both sides of my family that has these problems).

Right now I am waiting for my doctor to get back in town so I can get a written prescription that can be filled in Canada. Why anyone should HAVE to take either the reformulated or synthetic thyroids makes me feel as though we are living in a third-world nation. The other conditions these medications are causing is only going to exacerbate various insurance problems. Please give us back the natural desiccated thyroid!

Forest Labs changed their formula on Armour Thyroid. I only learned about that through the blogs once I began having side effects from a drug that never before had any negative effect on me. I have been taking the medication since the late 90's.

This is a drug that has been around, I believe, since the turn of the last century. People take it because it provides needed compounds that the synthetics do not include. This new formula is a real disappointment because for many people the synthetics are much worse than even this bad formula.

Rumor has it that the FDA had an issue with a lot from the older formula which prompted Forest Labs to change the formula. I don't know the real truth of the situation.

Also many people are saying that this should be treated like a vitamin because the active ingredient comes from pig's thyroids and is not made up in the laboratory.

All I know is that if Forest Labs doesn't go back to their old formula, I have to find something else. I hope that I can. This drug literally keeps me alive.

Lately I have found that I am not able to get my Armour Thyroid medication. Thyroid medication is essential for those of us who have lost all or part of the gland. We will die without it. I have been watching others die slowly on Synthroid and do not wish to experience the health issues, weight gain, cancer, and job loss that those women have dealt with. After my thryroid surgery I came close to losing my job until I started taking Armour. The extreme tiredness that thyroid problems cause isn't the same as tiredness from lack of sleep. It feels as though concrete blocks are tied to your feet, your mind feels foggy, your limbs stiff, and the hair falls out. The hair fills up the car and falls into your food while you eat. Combing inside the house is not a good idea. Try wearing a wig in 100+ degrees in FL and see how you feel. Experience the stress of being a young single woman who has to wear a wig to cover the baldness and date at the same time. Then there are the rashes, blood pressure spikes, swelling, depression, and of course infertility. Working out at the gym 7 days a week or eating lots of salad won't fix thyroid problems. Proper hormone panels with attention to all hormones (not just TSH) is essential. The free T3 needs to be in the upper range. Armour has all the hormones that we need! T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and calcitonin are all needed! Synthroid only contains a non-natural version of T4. Organs such as the brain rely on T3. Synthroid assumes we can all simply convert T4 to T3 ... WRONG! Some organs can convert but others cannot and they become starved ... and start to die. Thyroid removal + Synthroid = Slow Death. Please bring back Armour and save the lives of many women.

Switching from Armour to levothroxine has been a night mare. Talk about an emotional wreck...the dose of Levothroxine was to high. They put me on a dose that I was on before switching over to Armour, and on Armour I didnt need as much, and it worked wonders. The Dr.s told me they could put me on an anti-anxiety pill to take the edge off the attacks I was having...I just wanted the dose to be lowered, they frowned saying it was not the dose. I have felt like a basket case for weeks now and would really like to return to a normal again soon. MY Dr's are saying that armour has been something of the past for years and a synthetic has replaced the natural now for years...so I may as well get used to the synthetic...It has been such a tough journey, I am tired of feeling shakey and jittery, foggy in the head and not sleeping. My heart races, hands shake, followed with cant concentrate, feeling like I want to cry and headaches. This is not something people should have to go through or be cut off from...armour does not work for everyone but ones who have been on it and it works well for...Please bring it BACK..synthetic is not working!

My pharmacy contacted the manufacturer during the summer, and we were told that it would be back by late September 2009. Obviously, this isn't the case because it's October 5, and it's still not available anywhere. I'm not looking forward to changing medications against my will to something that might not work or that could even leave me ill. Synthroid is NOT the same thing. I'm currently out of medication and out of state to boot, so I'm scrambling to get a prescription for *something* called in from my doctor.

We all need to repeatedly contact and complain to our Senators and Congressmen until they reverse this action and stop the FDA from taking away our freedom of choice. This is about one thing and one thing only...Money. Freedom of choice in healthcare in this country is under constant attack from the Fraud and Drug Administration and the Congressmen and Senators who represent the drug lobbyists, not Americans. This is just the latest example. I will find a way to get a natural remedy if need be, with the help of my physician who feels the same way. I will not take their synthetic drugs.

Adelaine Saria, B.Sc. (Pharm)

Here is a link to the pricing for the 60mg strength: www.canamericaglobal.com/products/Thyroid/60/

I too feel like I've been sucker punched by the sudden unavailability of Armour Thyroid. I also think what should be looked into is what ingredients are in the swine flu vaccine because it's awful suspect that suddenly there's no active ingredient of dessicated pig hormone yet all these swine flu vaccines are now available. I am so frustrated that I have to now go back to synthroid.

The web search title reads "Consumer Complaints about Armour Thyroid" This is WRONG. This is about people who are getting ill WITHOUT Armour Thyroid as like me, they have been on it for years and do so much better. But now, like me, they are being told they can no longer get it. I have been to the Forest Pharmaceuticals site, and they say they are trying to get it and I hope they do.

Here is my experience from 4 years ago when my "mail in" RX decided to send me Synthroid instead of my Armour Thyroid. They said my MD wrote "May Substitute", my MD states she did not. Anyway, within days I began getting ill, within two weeks we were looking at hospitalization then I happened to look at my little white thyroid pill and I freaked as it was Sythroid. It took almost a month to recuperate from their life threatening decision. Let me state this Emphatically!!!! YOU do NOT mess with any hormone medication. Some people do well with Synthroid, I have never been one of them. I agree with others, contact your government officials and contact Forest Pharmaceuticals giving them your support. BUT this is NOT a complaint against Armour and the title should be relabeled.

Forcing Forest Labs & their suppliers to change the formulation of Armour Thyroid. A healthy thyroid produces ~ five hormones. Armour Thyroid is the only drug on the market that provides trace amounts of all five. Synthroid provides T4, which is not bioavailable to patients like me, who lack the necessary conversion of T4 in our cells. T3 is the generally accepted bioavailable form of the thyroid hormone T4. Unfortunately for most patients, the average doctor only tests your entire panel (all of it added together)which to me is the useless TSH test. The good specialists test Free T4 and Free T3 (six years, probably 20 doctors, finally paid for the best specialist on the East Coast to have this done). No one tests for Free T1, Free T2 and Free T5. I can find no information about what they do.

I can tell you that without the trace amounts provided in Armour, and with supplementation of Cytomel for the Free T3 I need, my bouts of extreme black depression, rage, sadness, lack of vitality, lack of energy, mental exhaustion, and the equivalent of PMDD (an original misdiagnosis) return. It is negligent of the FDA to not protect the formulation of Armour Thyroid, to involve themselves in changing the formulation or annoying the suppliers, and to hinder the acquisition of this necessary medication by thousands of patients who are lining up to complain about this. I am aware that the so-called & self-proclaimed "expert" on Quackwatch regards anyone who prescribes Armour as a Quack. I'd like to suggest that someone who makes these pronouncements with the ability to influence prevailing medical opinion, public opinion, and/or the AMA, and does so without an endocrinology degree and experience treating endocrinology patients, is also negligent.

My new doctor prescribed Armour Thyroid and I have never felt as normal and back to feeling great again. I am depressed to find out I can no longer buy Armour Thyroid. I would really like to know the reason. It's a shame that synthetic medication should be the preferred by doctors and whoever eles. Give me back my freedom to purchase Armour Thyroid. My body was so out of balance from the synthroid that my cells are now hairwired with cancer cells.

I, too, am on Armor Thyroid and it works for me. I'm calling pharmacies to see who has it in stock. I know Forest Labs has had continual problems getting the thyroid gland active ingredient for the medication for some time now. It's not government that's taking away Armor Thyroid, it is a lack of the active ingredient. An interesting fact is that the active ingredient comes from pigs and you have to wonder what the swine flu is doing to all this.

The product Armour Thyroid was reformulated without the knowledge of the pharmacists or the patients taking the medication. Then without any warning there is no more natural thyroid medication available anywhere--not even the reformulated armour thyroid!

I found out yesterday I can no longer get Armour Thyroid, which I have been taking for 9 or 10 years. I was given no warning! Went to fill my prescription and told by pharmacist at Rite Aid that this is no longer available. I don't know what to do! I need this medicine, I am terrified that I will develop all of the hypothyroid symptoms I had before, I felt horrible!

Today, I found out about the shortage of Armour Thyroid. I have taken this drug for 17 years. After surgery to remove my Thyroid, I was given Synthroid. My blood pressure spiked. I now also take blood pressure medication and when I tried to switch between Armour Thyroid and Synthroid , my blood pressure went up again on the Synthroid. I have maintained good health over the years with Armour Thyroid. This drug has a better track record than some of the more recent FDA "approved" drugs. I am frightened the government is harming the good health I have worked so hard to maintain. Where can I go to ask the drug companies to continue this vital medication?

I think everyone that has been denied the Armour Thyroid should complain to their Congressmen and their Representatives, and even the President himself, especially right now during "negotiations" on healthcare. Someone has to stop the FDA. They don't care about us, they just care about the dollars earned by the pharmaceutical companies. Natural has always been better than chemically created drugs. I've only been on Armour Thyroid about 3 months but the difference in the way I feel has been nothing short of amazing. When are our lives going to matter? I think it's time for a people's revolution! Refuse to buy and take the fake thyroid, eventually the doctors themselves will be forced to strike out at the FDA and the pharmaceutical companies.

I am one of legions of people who are left wondering how I am going to live a normal life without Armour Thyroid. The synthetics are more expensive and less effective. Add to this that I may soon lose my job and my health insurance, and I really, really need my one essential medication to be inexpensive and readily available.

I was in a panic and I notice that there are many people in the same boat I was. We cannot buy Armour Thyroid any place, we need this to live. The company gave no notice that it would not be available. I have found and would like people to know that if they can find a pharmacy that has a compounding lab that it can be made for them. Luckily we have one right here in Ocala.

I just read Neesha from Grand Rapids complaint on your site and almost feel off my chair. I have had this unexplained rash on my face for 7 months that has gone undiagnosed by numerous dermatologists. I have been on armour thryoid for many many years but have never had an issue. After reading Neesha's complaint this all makes sense to me. How can a company get away with something like this I am absolutely outraged. How do I found out what they changed in the formulation of armour thyroid to address this issue? Is this why my pharmacy doesn't have any in stock because the product was contaminated in some way?

Armour Thyroid. Since the beginning of the year, I have been losing my hair at an alarming rate and I , developed an unexplained rash in my mouth that doctors do not know what it is and that has not gone away after more than 6 months which may be due to the reformulation of Armour. My physcian increased my dose to 1.5 grams and now I cannot get it refilled. Symthetic thyroid did not work for me.

How DARE the FDA take away natural thyroid! After over 30 years of being listles,, tired, and in a brain fog with the synthetic stuff, I decided to try a natural solution. I had to try a couple of different products before I found a good match and now that I am finally back to my old self they're taking it away? The only ones that are going to benefit from this are the pharmaceutical companies, who we all know run the FDA now anyway. We re so screwed.

Someone please explain that to my children !

My mother and I both take Armour Thyroid. All was well until our pharmacy ran out a few weeks ago and then told us it was on backorder. My mother (80 years old) has been without it for 2 weeks and is now gaining weight. I will run out soon. I will get very tired and run down without it. Synthroid did not work for us. I will be forced to try another brand of natural thryroid, either Westhroid or Naturethroid. I hope they work as well as Armour did.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 2 years ago. I had been feeling depressed, lethargic, unfocused, miserable, for more than six months prior to my diagnosis, and was relieved when I was told all of my symptoms could be tied to one treatable illness. A blood test confirmed the doctor's theory, and I was prescribed Synthorid.

After one dose of the medication, it became difficult to breathe or think and I ended up in the emergency room. I was given Armor Thyroid instead, and after a few months, I was able to function again. I was happy, focused, and it would be no exaggeration to say I could live again.

Now, I can't get Armor Thyroid - or any of its generics - due to a strange shortage of the dissected thyroid extract, presumably from new FDA regulations (new, despite the fact that Armor Thyroid has been used to treat conditions similar to mine for over 100 years). Now, I'm being effectively forced to take a medication that I've had a severe allergic reaction to because there's no longer any alternative available to me.

Is this what health care is supposed to be? Am I being condemned to a slow and agonizing descent into the same misery I experienced before my diagnosis? I understand that the drug companies want to make money, and honestly - to feel better, normal again - I have no problem putting a few dollars in their pockets. But when the only medication they make available makes me sick?

How is this fair? I can't control my sickness just as a diabetic can't control their insulin levels. So why can't I get my "insulin" anymore?

Suddenly it is impossible to refill the Armour Thyroid prescription...for thousands of people! I was literally FORCED to take Synthroid for 28 years and it nearly killed me. My life has certainly been shortened by the damage to my organs, and I gained weight every day on Synthroid - to an ultimate gain of over 200 pounds!

Since finally returning to natural animal thyroid in 1998 I have lost nearly 100 pounds with no diet nor exercise! I'll never be really right, but am getting better each day. IF I CANNOT GET THE ARMOUR THYROID (THE ONLY NATURAL ANIMAL THYROID LEFT THAT I KNOW OF - OTHERS RUN OUT OF BSNS) THEN I WILL SURELY DIE. This is insane. Synthroid has NEVER passed the normal tests required by the FDA but they continue to sell their poison! Who is going to save us?

I'm going to die if I can't get this prescription refilled. My own thyroid was removed in 1961 and I've been on meds ever since: 10 years on natural animal thyroid with good results, and 28 years of pain and suffering and destruction of organs on Synthroid. Only thing worse than stripping us of our 401K monies is killing us with [bad] medicine! Can anyone stop this?

I think the FDA needs to stop hassling Forest Labs about the natural ingredients. I cannot take Synthyroid - the most widely prescribed medication which has the most side effects but our doctors continue to push this medication on unsuspecting patients.

I was just informed by my pharmacist that he is unable to get Armour Thyroid for me and another pharmacist in the county where I live has only 30 tablets left, which he will hold for me. That is fine for this month, but after that he doesn't seem to have any idea where I can obtain the Armour Thyroid I have been on for over 35 years. I asked him what advice he has given his other customers who use Armour Thyroid. He said he has advised them to go back to their doctors and see about being put on Synthroid.

That may be a solution for some of them, but I have been put on Synthroid and it did not work for me at all. I had awful side affects and had to switch back to the Armour Thyroid, so Synthroid is NOT an option for me. Also was interested to see accounts on the reformulation. Evidently some of the ingredients had been changed without notifying anyone. I too have experienced dry skin and a general lack of energy bordering on fatigue.

After being on it for so many years and then feeling somewhat like I did before I went on it, puzzled me. Maybe this has something to do with the reformulation, which nobody had brought to my attention. I need to know if they are going to continue manufacturing Armour Thyroid in the near future. Also need to know if anyone can suggest a generic for Armour Thyroid. I know that they had it in another state I lived in, but I don't know the name of it. Does anyone know if it is available in Virginia and what it is called.

I CANNOT function normally without the Armour Thyroid. It made my energy level and my life normal. I am very distressed to find that after taking it for over 35 years....almost overnight it seems to be unavailable. Why were we not notified in advance that it was going to be scarce so we would have time to find another medication that would work? I also want to know why the reformulation was not brought to our attention.

Does anyone know when the changed formulation of Armour Thyroid started shipping this year? I also experienced a wonderful return to normal functioning after beginning Armour Thyroid some 9 or 10 years ago. I cannot get my prescription refilled anywhere around the Washington DC area. I am very concerned about switching to any other kind and frustrated that there may be nothing I can do about it.

I have been on Armour thyroid for several years, having switched from synthroid because synthroid was not taking care of my hypothyroid symptoms. Now, Forest Lab's or Forest Pharmaceuticals has reformulated Armour thyroid. My doctor was not told about the reformulation, neither was I as a Armour thyroid user. Because of the reformulation I tried to switch to Nature-throid. There is a back log of orders for Nature-throid. I cannot get my prescription filled for Nature-throid or for Armour.

Added to this the FDA started shutting down companies that make natural desiccated thyroid. They state in some emails they have sent to different people that: the company has shut themselves down because they need to do an NDA (new drug application) process; in other emails the FDA states that natural desiccated is unapproved; and in other emails they state the approved thyroid drug is Snythroid along with the generic versions; and in other emails the FDA is stating that natural desiccated thyroid is harming people. Natural desiccated thyroid has been used successfully by patients since the early 1900's, way before the FDA was even instituted.

The reformulation of Armour does not work as well as the old formula. Many of my hypo symptoms are returning. I am not sure what I am going to do when my bottle of Armour is used up. I do not want to switch back to synthroid - that will be contrary to my health. Please look into the natural desiccated thyroid being pulled off the market. Thank you.

An effective drug I've used for 25 years is no longer available. No notification was given to my doctor. No recourse to obtain the drug because it is no longer produced. Seems like the FDA has some play in this, but I'm not sure what the reality is here. I've heard conflicting reports from my pharmacist, the company's website as well as other websites. Please help all of us whose lives have been redeemed by this drug. Many of us can not function without it.

After many attempts to obtain Armour Thryoid, my pharmasist informed me he could longer supply the drug. He switched me to a generic form. Within four days of the switch, I reverted to the non-functioning state of pre-Thryroid treatment. Although not as severe, my depression, fatique returned with a vengence. I know my symptoms will continue to worsen, as they have in the last few days and within a short time I will return to living on the couch unable to work,unable to think clearly and unable to find a reason to exist. Armour thryoid has literally saved my life and has allowed me to live a life that serves my family and community. I'm very afraid of what may happen to me if it does not become available soon.

Why can we not get Armour thyroid. I have been on it for many years and depend on it. I cannot take the synthetics which make me sick with gastrointestinal problems and made me weak and crazy. All the doctors try to force us on the synthetics. i guess makes more money on those. My husband is 100% VA disabled and cannot get it thru the VA .We need a lawsuit!

I smell "LAW SUIT"! What is up with Forest not manufacturing medication we all depend on. Our Doctors should have been notified and then as a courtesy, contacted their patients to advise of these changes, AND given options as to what to do now that armour is not available in its original formula. Don't we have say about this? Will someone else make this magic formula so we can go on with our lives! Should'nt the FDA take THAT into consideration. WE NEED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY IN ORDER TO LIVE SUCCESSFUL FULL LIVES! Were can I sign up to protest this!

I don't ever want to go back taking synthroid otherwise I will kill myself. I don't want to live like a dead person again. Why is there a shortage when so many people depend on it. Is FDA trying to stop the manufacturing this product. I am going to call Oprah. We should all get together and fight for our right to live and force the government to get involved.

I was diagnosed with hypothryoidism 3 years ago. I researched it and learned about Armour Thyroid. After begging 3 doctors(who refused) and trying 5 synthetics (that produced bad side effects) I finally (thanks to CVS) went to a doctor who prescribed it. 'AT' made me feel well again. I told everyone I knew about it. It was like a miracle. Yesterday I learned about the manufacturing situation when I tried to get a refill. Our government, it seems, is preventing this company from manufacturing a medication that is natural and effective. Why? Is it about money and control. This situation is disgusting and frightening. I found this website and learned about the changes in the ingredients. I have had an itchy/scabby scalp for months along with sores in my mouth and I did not know why. The manufacturer, once they get the primary ingredient, must go back to their original formula. The US Government/FDA needs to back off! Seems they can never protect consumers, just big business. We should flood the White House with complaints. This is not change "we can believe in" it is change that is making us sick! I intend on notifying FOX news. We must be heard!

why change armour thyroid's formula when it was working great. my cholestral level has gone up. old symptoms are coming back.

I was told the maker of ARMOUR was being forced by the FDA to re-apply for the FDA test studies since the drug was grandfather in since the inception of the FDA. ARMOUR has been around for a very long time. I smell government intrusion being the real culprit here. Considering what is happening in our federal government today. I am very suspicious.

I have switched from synthtic thyroid to ARMOUR. I feel so much better. The Levathroxine that I was taking made my hair fall out and it did not improve my symptoms. The ARMOUR is best for me. I have no complaints except the product is in short supply. I have a feeling the good ole FDA is involved here some way or another. I just wish I knew. I think I am going to contact my Senator.

I am in complete agreement with everyone who takes Armour Thyroid. All my symptoms have returned and I want them to go back to the old formula. I had my thyroid removed and only felt "normal" on Armour Thyroid (not synthetic).

Recently I began to feel horrible with all my symptoms returning. Now I know why. They changed something that WAS working. I get the same feedback from everyonelse I know who NEEDS this product in it's former state. PLEASE, PLEASE, hear us! Bring back the old Armour!

I feel like I am dying again and that is what WILL happen with this new formula...no hope for the future. The pain & misery this is causing for so many people is inexcusable.

As an update. I just got off the phone from speaking with many people at Forest Labs which makes Armour. They were all very nice and are taking complaints by phone. (201) 427-8000 is their research department and I was transferred to a person to take my complaint, then a nurse to go over the ingredients and take another complaint and then when I asked exactly what was changed, they transferred me to a pharmacist/Jason who was very helpful. He said that some people are not affected, some find the new formulation gives them too much and some have symptoms returning. But the dessicated thyroid has not changed, just the fillers. He asked my strength (30 mg. 1/2 grain 2 times a day) and said he would be able to tell me exactly what has changed in my size tablet. I find this most interesting.

I know that most people take much more than I do, so consider the changes in your strength to be much higher. A 30 mg. 1/2 grain tablet used to have 43.7 mg. of dextrose in it. It now has 5 mg. And they changed from corn to potato in a bit of it. The other filler is cellulose. It used to have 7.7 mg in a 30 mg.1/2 grain tablet and now has 45 mg. That is a huge change! He said all the ingredients are manufactured in Ohio, there is no "cornstarch" and that nothing comes from out of the USA. So, that should answer some of the comments about cornstarch and China. I am guessing that the major increase of cellulose is causing the issue. Hope this is helpful to some of you. I will be researching cellulose.

I have had all my hypothyroid symptoms return and have been feeling ill, headaches (which I never have), hair loss, weight gain even though I eat organic and exercise constantly, and I had my physical which showed a sharp incline in my TSH into being hypothyroid after years of being in the right happy place. Then I researched after not being able to get a refill on my armour to find out that the formulation has changed and everyone I have read about is having the same issues. I went to my compounding pharmacy yesterday and she has been receiving many calls from doctors and nurse practitioners who are asking what is happening as their patients on Armour Rx are all having their symptoms return.

There is something wrong with a company that changes a formulation and doesn't notify doctors/patients/pharmacies and then does nothing to go back to what worked when they get all these complaints. I'm going to call my doctor (more expense) and have her call my compounding pharmacy and have them mix me up a Rx that will work. But it sure will cost me about 5 times what Armour costs. This is unreal. If anyone knows what we can do other than fend our ourselves, please advise. For those of you in an outlying area (like me), try to find a compounding pharmacy that is local or else one that will do mail orders and have your doctor work with them. That's what I'm going to do, but it's sure going to require more experimentation, and major expense.

I just spoke to the FDA. Well..... she told me that Forest HAS the active ingredient and all they are changing is the binding ingredient. The FDA won't do anything since there is a synthetic alternative and it is not a life threatening situation. I asked if a life debilitating change, not being able to work due to fatigue, fog, being on the toilet "at any given moment" etc. etc. counted and she said NO!!! She informed me that 120mg are available and I informed her that it is not (at least in my area - and Next rx) She said to write my Congressman!!!!!! She was very nice but said the FDA would do nothing.

After 15 years of fighting to be heard I finally got a young DR to prescribe armour (which he had to research, knowing nothing about it) and it was like a vail was lifted - this is so serious and after calling Forest and the FDA it "appears" no one cares. Though my hair began falling out and sleeplessness returned I was still better off on the new formulation. If I have to go back on synthroid I won't be able to function, physically or emotionally.

This company wasted months of my life, jeophardized my financial safety and I have been already traumatized by a recent widowhood where thyroid was a central player in the drama that killed my husband- he was denied treatment after radiation! Armor should never have been changed and never with out telling the patients!

I'm writing about the new formulation of Armour Thyroid medication. Since they changed the formula, I've been getting the worst cramping and soreness in my right leg and hip to the point of almost going to the emergency room three times. I've got severe lower back pack on the right side, too.

I'm literally being crippled from this drug. I haven't been able to function for the past six weeks from the pain, soreness and stiffness. My doctor just gave me Flexeril to try and help, but as soon as it wears off, I get the severe pain right back. My hair has also started to fall out on this drug. And my hair has become greasy from it. And I'm always freezing cold now. And fatigued.

There is something terrible in the new Armour Thyroid formulation. Absolutely nothing is worth being crippled over. I cannot take this drug any longer. I also cannot take Synthroid, so I don't know what I'm supposed to do now. My doctor is sending me to an Endo. In the meantime, I'm suffering terribly from the effects of the new Armour formulation.

Last year I had 1/2 of my thyroid removed and went through numerous Docs to find one which would prescrible Armour thyroid to me. I felt fine & have been in recovery mode. Lately I have noticed extreme hair loss (my head is bald in areas and I am now wearing a wig). I developed itchy rashes on my hands/head. In the afternoons I developed extreme tiredness (energy is important in keeping my job). I gain weight even though I spend 2 hrs a night at the gym (I am talking about 50 lbs a month ... not something caused by too many M&Ms!). My endo. started me on diabetes meds. In one year, cysts starting growing on my ovaries and in my breasts (common hypo symptom). I started feeling depression and my Doc put me on anti-depressants. I knew something recently changed in my medication when Wal-Mart stopped carrying it for a period of time. None of my endochrinologists or doctors were notified that Armour changed the recipe. It is incomprehensible how a company which provides a medication which is necessary for survival can simply change the formula without notifying anybody. I am most disappointed because peoples' lives depend on Armour.

The formulation of Armour Thyroid tablets 60 mg that I take 2-3 times daily was changed without notification of the public or healthcare professionals. After remaining stable on the former Armour thyroid for 2 years, my doctor and I were unable to determine why it was no longer working effectively.

Forest Pharmaceuticles - FRX

Advantage packaging did package erroronious quantity for unit dose to medical facilities and this has been recalled.

My symptoms started early this year- dry eyes, joint pain, DIFFUSE HAIR LOSS, constipation, dry skin, basal cell skin cancers, hoarse throat, fatigue, dizzy, general malaise. I have been on Armour Thyroid for nearly 20 years. I have hypothyroidism - goiter - Hashimotos. Synthroid is not effective - only Armour 1.5gm - 90mg has worked for me. My blood tests [second time around] now show Positive ANA - anti neuclear AB = 16.2 [normal =

I was taking Armour Thyroid and did not know that the formula had been changed. I had taken this medication for 6 years with no problems. Then I started to have hypothyroid symptoms and got lab tested and found out that I had hypothyroid lab levels. I am furious with Forest Pharm for displaying extreme negligence to their consumers, pharmacist and doctors and failing to inform the public of this vital change to the medication. I have filed a formal complaint with Forest Pharm and with the FDA regarding this devastating change. I am unable to take Synthroid. Armour was the only medication that worked for me. I encourage anyone reading this that has experienced similar circumstances to contact Forest and file a formal complaint.

I have been on the medicine Armour Thyroid for about 3 years. I was told by my Pharmacy (CVS) that the maker of this medicine (Fisher Pharmaceutical) could not supply the dose I take. I called Fisher's customer information line and it said that only the doses under 120mg were available. My doctor prescribed me 120mg. I call my pharmacy back and spoke to the pharmacist. I told him that Fisher's has my dosage available.

The Pharmacist told me that the problem was with his distributor, Cardinal Health. He went on to tell me that he would not call them and that I was welcome to do so. He gave me the number for Cardinal, but then added that they would not speak to me, they only speak to customers. He was correct. When I called Cardinal Health, they would not talk to me at all. I then decided to call Fisher Pharmaceutical. I spoke to Melanie who told me that Cardinal had been notified yesterday and today that 120 mg and higher of Armour Thyroid was available. After I told her about what happen when I spoke to my pharmacist and to Cardinal, she did not care. She refused to contact Cardinal again. Since I need this medication everyday, I contacted the customer service line for CVS.

They claim that they are going to try and get my medicine for me, but I guess I will just have to wait and see. This situation upsets me because there is no reason why I should been treated this way. Thankfully I still have a few pills left and I do have a call in with another pharmacy. The Pharmacist there, who doesn't use Cardinal, is going to try and order Armour Thyroid for me. I'll find out Monday if he can.

I am complaining about the changes in the formula and dosage availability for Armour Thyroid medication. I noticed the change in the formula when I got my new three month RX somewhere about the end of April to the beginning of May, 2009. I called Medco Pharmacy immediately and was told by the pharmacist that the formula had changed, but that the active ingredient was the same Not so!

Since then I have noticed many hypothyroid symptoms returning: swollen throat, hoarse throat, burning oesophagus, chipping nails, headaches, lack of energy. What is even more frightening is that I did not get my next shipment from Medco in a timely manner. When I called this month, (August) I was told that I would get a double dose that I had to break in two. What if I had not called?

As I pointed out to the pharmacist, what if I had just taken the double dose without reading the dosage and finding out that it had been changed? The response was simply that I needed to read my RX! It seems that Forest Lab has had no consideration for the health and safety of its patients. I need to known what is going on and what I can do about this situation. This is my health, and I have been placed at risk by a careless company.

I have been Armour thyroid since I was 28. I am now 75 and certainly can not stop now. When I take a synthoid I become extremely ill. How does a reliable company have the right to just stop making a medicine, plus stop the dosage. I have always been on 90 mg, now I have been told they do not make this amount anymore. What am I suppose to do? Was not even aware they stopped nor changed meds.

Armor Thyroid-I can not get it from the Pharm. I use. They said that the Lab is not sending any shipments out. This has put a great stress on me because I can't just stop taking it. I have been very ill in the last month and the pills have not smelled the same is their a problem with this company and if so please tell the people that need the armour to make it day to day. No Armour to take. Mood swings. Hair is falling out been without it. Sick to my stomach. Cant eat lost alot of weight in a short period of time. Joint pain, dry eyes etc.

I put it a call to Forest Labs.

If we all pull together we may get some answers and results.

I will let you know when they contact me any answers they come up with.

Results: misscarage, hair loss, rashes, fatigue, muscle aches, depression.

I have been walking around for the last few weeks wondering what is wrong with me! I just found out about the Armour Thyroid reformulation and it all makes sense now. I am devestated! How can you mess with someone's daily medication and not inform them directly that there have been changes? If you change a drug, how can you not tell people that they may have reactions and/or the drug may work differently?

I developed Hashimoto's 5 years ago. It took me 3 1/2 years of seeing doctors, going through blood testing and waiting for results to find something that actually worked for me and made me feel better - like normal. Armour Thyroid was working for me and making me feel like a normal human being again.

Recently, it's stopped working and most of my symptoms are back. I need to take thyroid medication for the rest of my life. It terrifies me that this can happen. That drugs can be changed without the knowledge of the consumers. I am extremely fatigued, my joints are aching again and it's hard to get myself out of bed in the morning. I honestly don't know what to do. They have taken away the only thing that was working for my thyroid symptoms and now I have to start all over again! Medical bills, blood testing, bigger clothes. It's all money and time I don't have.

I have been using Armour Thyroid for the past 4 years.

On my last months refill (June), I was informed by the druggest, that he and other Pharmacies were "out" of 90mg Armour,and all other millgrams of Armour. They had called my Doctor, who had "okayed" a fill of Synthroid 75mg, and I was to take 5 tab. a day. I refused to take the medicine.

I do not think my Doctor (or Clinical Assistant) recalled at the call, that I had totally crashed on Synthroid, Levoxyl, and some other medicine, which was the reason, after years of taking that junk, I finally felt human when taking the Armour..

I personally ran all over the town in which I live, to find a bottle (100 tabs) of 30mg Armour at K-Mart Pharmacy. They were gracious enough to let me have the whole bottle. As of today, I am out of Armour totally. I called Forest Pharmaceuticals today and they stated 90mg Armour will be shipped out the week of July 27th(this week, sometime).(Hopefully ..my comment)

In the meantime I read this blog about the change in the compound of Armour..

It is WELL KNOWN FACT, the sterile gloves which were impregnated with cornstarch, were known to cause caustic reaction to the skin, causing sever rashes, loss of fingernails, and rashes to any part of the body that came in contact with the gloves. These gloves were being used in Surgery and on every Medical floor and clinic setting of the Veterans Hospital in which I worked,(now retired, 2002). Those gloves were completely eradicated from the hospital(s), when it was shown, the cornstarch was the cause of the problems. This was a tremendous cost to the VA System in which I worked.

I DO know the problems cornstarch can cause. If it can cause caustic reaction on the skin, what can it do to the internal organs of our body?

I must in all fairness state, the Cornstarched Gloves, had been ordered through our Acquisition and Supply as is all VA Hospitals. These boxes were labeled "made in China"...

My question now is...
Is the compound of cornstarched Armour being made in China?? Is that the reason all Pharmacies have run out of their supply of Armour? As of this date Forest Pharm. says, some of the milligrams have an "unknown" shipment date. How can this be if the Pharmacy is making the product in the US??? How could they completely run out of the product they are making. Where is the quality control of the manufacturer? Wouldn't THEY have known production was limited and would have stepped up production to eliminate a shortage, if it was being made in the good ol'

U S of A???

The reformulation of Armour thyroid has caused great distress to me and my daughters. We were all stable on it. The addition of cornstarch may be the culprit. It's most likely GM. Thyroid people are usually sensitive to what goes in their mouths - bodies react differently.

Without any warning whatsoever, they reformulated a drug; Armor thryroid.

I had finally got my thyroid levels to within the range; I filled a new 3-month RX in April 2009. Within a few weeks, I was extremely fatigued, depressed and then my hair started falling in alarming amounts. I just found out that the formula was changed in the Spring of 2009. This is unconscienable and should NOT be allowed to happen. Millions of people take Armor thryroid and in fact, it's the only thyroid supplement that has worked for us.

I now feel like I am going backwards with my search for the correct drug that will eliminate my Hypothyroid symptoms. I have done alot of research and alot of people take Armour and do well on it. My health is suffering from this decision to change the formula as I was feeling better than I have in years only to go down hill since the beginning of June.

I've been taking Armour Thyroid medication for approx 3 yrs and my symptom of hair falling out stopped.

I read the following on a website regarding thyroid problems and believe this could be the reason for my hair falling out again.

"During the spring of 2009, the natural desiccated thyroid drug, Armour Thyroid, apparently underwent a reformulation of fillers,including a decrease in the amount of dextrose, increase in cellulose, and the addition of cornstarch to the tablets. Since that time, some patients have been reporting a variety of problems with this new Armour formula."

I happen to be one of those patients.

Forest Labs changed the makeup of a drug I take for hypothyroid, called armour thyroid. As a result, I have become hypothyroid, after enjoying years of a well controlled thyroid condition. I also developed adrenal fatigue as a result of being hypothyroid. I have been very ill since May. I finally went to the doctor last week, who told me Forest Labs reformulated Armour Thyroid, and as a result, it's not working as well and making many patients, myself included, hypothyroid.

I am a triathlete, and I've been unable to train since May, because of repeated infections, fatigue weakness, and dizziness. I have been barely able to function. I have gained weight, and my fitness has suffered immeasurably. I have spent most of the last eight weeks at home, with my husband having to do most of the grocery shopping, as I've been too weak and dizzy to go out. I am normally a healthy, energetic, athletic person. The reformulation of this drug has made me extremely ill. This company should be held accountable!

I soon found out that Armour thyroid no longer works the same either. I have been feeling very ill with a lot of my symptoms of hypothyroidism since taking this new formula. I do not understand why Forest Labs did not warn people of the change and why they felt it necessary to make the change in the first place. I am very angry, frustrated and disappointed to have paid for medicine that is basically worthless to me. I now have to find an alternative and pray it works. Armour thyroid was a good medicine and made my life so much better. Please find out why they decided to screw up people's health like this.

the reformulation of armour thyroid must not have any product in it. after 4 heart attacks from untreated or incorrectly treated thyroid I was beginning to feel better than I had in 30 yrs. This is an obvious attempt by the drug companies to sell their ridiculous synthetic drugs that don't work. Some people may die from this. Heart palpatations, fatigue, general malaise.

Due to their reformulation of armour thyroid I have experienced all the initial symptoms of hypothyroidism such as extreme fatigue, muscle pain, joint, pain, sensitivity to heat and cold, hair loss, depression, full feeling in throat, hoarse voice at night and many more. They have been extremely negligent and unethical making these changes in armour thyroid, which previously has helped many people until they foolishly and God only knows WHY they changed something that worked well to something that is making hundreds or not more people very sick. Something has to be done immediatlely about this. Forest Labs has to be held accountable for this serious mistake.

FOREST PHARMACY HAS REFORMULATED THEIR ARMOUR THYRIOID WITHOUT TELLING EVEN THE DOCTOR - SINCE TAKING THE REFORMULATED MEDS ALL OF MY HYPOTHYROID SYMPTOMS HAVE RETURNED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE . IT HAS TOTALLY AFFECTED THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE

This company changed the filler ingredients in their thyroid replacement drug, Armour Thyroid, early 2009 and didn't make it know to the many patients taking the medication, who depend on it to live a quality life. I personally was very negatively affected by the change and called the company to complain, to no avail. Consequently, the change to this medication has caused many health problems for several patients taking this medication.