RECALLS

Below you will see four recalled desiccated thyroid products. Only NP Thyroid came back.

1) (RECALLED and UNAVAILABLE) NATURETHROID by RLC Labs (formerly Western Research Labs) See Westhroid-P below.

RLC stopped production of Naturethroid and WP in 2017, stated it was due to updating their machinery. When it started to come back in 2018, numerous patients in groups stated that the “new” Naturethroid caused their symptoms to come back with a vengeance, and when labs were shown by these patients, those proved it to be a problem. Patients began to not recommend it. In 2020, a recall finally occurred due to sub-potency–the latter description fitting what a body of frustrated patients had been reporting since 2018 in groups.

2019 list of ingredients (which are the same as before): 

  • Colloidal Silicon Dioxide (from mined ore: natural desiccant to protect from moisture and humidity)
  • Dicalcium Phosphate (from mined ore, holds tablet together)
  • Lactose Monohydrate (traceable amount as part of desiccated thyroid powder USP)
  • Magnesium Stearate (from a vegetable source like palm oil; lubricating agent for tablet compress)
  • Microcrystalline Cellulose (synthetic fiber base to provide volume & bulk: also binds thyroid hormones, sadly)
  • Croscarmellose Sodium (aids in disintegration in stomach and sadly, even more cellulose!)
  • Stearic Acid (from vegetable source—typically palm oil; holds ingredients together)
  • Opadry II 85F19316 Clear
  • Porcine Thyroid Powder, U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)

One grain was 65 mg (actually 64.8) and contained .038 mg (or 38 mcg) of T4 and 9 mcg of T3, plus unmeasured amounts of T2, T1 and calcitonin. Strengths: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1 grain, 1 1/4, 1 1/2, 1 3/4, 2 grains, 2 1/4, 2 1/2, 3, 4, and 5 grains. Before Naturethroid was reformulated in early 2010, it was stated to contain all the above, but the Opadry was listed as simply Opadry White (Titanium dioxide used as whitening agent, but also contains trace amounts of PEG (polyethylene glycol), Polysorbate 80, and Hydroxypropyl Methycellulose.) It also used to contain Sodium Starch Glycolate (synthetic and aids in disintegration in stomach), Carnauba Wax (sealed tablet) and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) (clear coating)

Note: As compared to Naturethroid before the 2010 change, the typical smell of desiccated thyroid is now less intense. The tablets are now stamped with RLC on one side, and N over 1 on the other, whereas before you’d see just NT1 or a reference to the fact that Time Caps Labs (TCL) used to make Naturethroid for RLC Labs. Calcium filler has moved up from 16 mg to 17 mg. RLC states the old contained Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium (each at less than 1 mg), whereas in the new, potassium is now removed.

2) (RECALLED and UNAVAILABLE) WP Thyroid 

Also made by RLC Labs (see Naturethroid below). Stated to contain natural desiccated thyroid (porcine) plus only three fillers (they advertise that there are only two, but inserts in bottles are showing the third—Lactose): inulin (from chicory root), medium chain triglycerides aka MCT from coconut, and Lactose Monohydrate. NOTE that the latter three are miniscule. Strengths: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1 grain, 1 1/2, 2. One grain equals 65 mg total, which is composed of 38 mcg T4 and 9 mcg T3—the others (T2, T1 and calcitonin) aren’t measured, but are there. RLC states it’s gluten free. http://wpthyroid.com/

Also directly from the insert “INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: Inulin, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Lactose Monohydrate*
*Present in traceable amount as part of Thyroid USP (diluent)”

Like Naturethroid, WP became unavailable in 2018, then was reported being back in early 2019. But sadly, patients who got back on it also report it was now problematic. WP is also part of the 2020 recall due to sub-potency.

3) (RECALLED but is back) NP THYROID but is back.

4) (RECALLED and UNAVAILABLE) WESTMINSTER

This NDT was new in 2017, but had a recall in Aug/Sept 2018 due to using a Chinese manufacturer that wasn’t practicing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). No one was harmed by it. It was a precaution.

Westminster Pharmaceuticals, LLC in Florida, USA, a small pharmaceutical which was filed as an foreign LLC in 2014 and has a connection to India.  They supplied tablets as 15 mg (1/4 grain), 30 mg (1/2 grain), 60 mg (grain), 90 mg (1 1/2 grain) and 120 mg (2 grain). One grain has 38mcg of T4 and 9mcg of T3, so you can use that to figure out the different sizes. Tablets are light tan with WP on one side, not be confused with WP Thyroid by RLC Labs. As of 2018, they primarily ship to Walgreen in the US, but are trying to expand that to others. Ingredients include:

  • desiccated porcine thyroid
  • microcrystalline cellulose
  • hypromellose
  • magnesium stearate.

Like all NDT’s, you will only see mention of T4 and T3 on the label, but they are porcine desiccated thyroid tablets and do contain all five thyroid hormones. The label says “once a day” but thyroid patients know it’s better to take NDT twice a day, like morning and early afternoon, since the T3 has a short half-life.

National Drug Codes (NDC#):.  Because they consider this a generic, and since it’s fairly new, there are codes that your doctor may need to ensure you aren’t getting a generic T4 from your pharmacy, since there is no precise name for the Westminster version of NDT other than the maker name. The first number (69367) tells you that these meds are from Westminster.  The other numbers are used to designate dosages as listed below:
 
120mg = 69367-15804
 90mg = 69367- 15704
 60mg = 69367 -15604
 30mg = 69367- 15504
 15mg = 69367- 15904
 

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