RLC Labs is the manufacturer of the porcine thyroid medications Nature Throid and WP Thyroid which are used to treat hypothyroidism. Both of these products contain the active ingredient Thyroid USP with varying inactive ingredients. In August 2020, RLC Labs made the decision to recall all unexpired lots of Nature Throid and WP Thyroid. The recall extended to 483 lot numbers, dating back to 2017. Currently, these products are not in production and the company does not have an expected time when production will restart – if it will restart at all. Park Compounding Pharmacy is able to make an alternative to Nature Throid and WP Thyroid using the same active ingredient in any dosage required.
Why did RLC Labs issue a recall?
Nature Throid and WP Thyroid are natural desiccated thyroid products with two main active ingredients: liothyronine and levothyroxine. These products also include naturally occurring thyroid cofactors T1, T2, calcitonin and iodine (occurring in trace amounts). The recall that occurred in August 2020 was initiated because testing found that certain lots of the two thyroid products may have been sub-potent, which means that they contained less than 90% of the labeled amount of liothyronine or levothyroxine. This was determined from an FDA inspection (opens in new window) that occurred February 2020 to March 5, 2020. When RLC Labs learned of the sub-potent thyroid products, they issued the nationwide voluntary recall of all unexpired lot numbers.
Although at the time of the recall there were no adverse events reported to RLC Labs, there was the potential for adverse reactions from patients receiving sub potent doses of the medications. Patients who receive sub potent thyroid products may experience signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) which may include, fatigue, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, dry skin, puffy face, hair loss, slow heart rate, depression, swelling of the thyroid gland and/or unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
The FDA inspection did find that there were documented complaints about potency that were being unaddressed by the quality unit at the company. In addition there were concerns about maintaining licensing and registration and CGMP (current good manufacturing practice) requirements. While RLC Labs states that they are working on getting Nature Throid and WP Thyroid back into production, it may be some time before they are available to patients again as the company works to update their quality control procedures.
Effect of Recall on Patients
Patients had been reporting that they were experiencing symptoms of taking a lower potency thyroid medication before the recall was issued. In online forums and blogs, patients reported that they were experiencing some return of hypothyroid symptoms. After the recall, the patients who were taking Nature Throid and WP Thyroid tried to refill prescriptions and were told that the product was recalled. They were then forced to find alternative thyroid medications. Since thyroid medications are usually taken for life, it is important for patients to maintain continuity in their treatment. The recent recalls and shortages of popular thyroid brands have led many patients to seek the services of a compounding pharmacy to make their thyroid medication.
What is Thyroid USP?
If you look at the ingredients for Nature Throid and WP Thyroid you may notice that the active ingredient is the same. Thyroid USP is a desiccated thyroid that is made to certain specifications as outlined in a USP (United States Pharmacopeia) monograph. This means it must meet certain requirements for its composition and potency. The other ingredients are inactive and have a variety of purposes including binding, preserving, and aiding in the manufacturing and transport of the medications.
Nature Throid contains:
Thyroid USP and:
Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Dicalcium Phosphate, Lactose Monohydrate, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Croscarmellose Sodium, Stearic Acid, Opadry II 85F19316 Clear.
See: Nature Throid package insert (opens in new window)
WP Thyroid contains:
Thyroid USP and:
Inulin, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Lactose Monohydrate
See: WP Thyroid package insert (opens in new window)
The lactose monohydrate is present in most Thyroid USP formulations as it is part of the monograph to be used as a diluent (substance used to dilute something). Because the ingredient is made according to this standard, any Thyroid USP will have the same properties. This active ingredient can be purchased and used for making thyroid medications at compounding pharmacies like Park Compounding Pharmacy. The same dosages that are provided in Nature Throid and WP Thyroid can also be compounded in capsules with only one filler.
What are Inactive Ingredients?
Inactive ingredients are found in almost all manufactured drugs. As their name suggests, these ingredients should be entirely inactive and not have an effect on a patient when they are taken with their medication. However some patients still have concerns about inactive ingredients and the research on some of them is not conclusive. Many of the processes of manufacturing and transporting medications require inactive ingredients to maintain potency, stability, uniformity and other characteristics of the medication. Since a compounding pharmacy makes each prescription to-order with a more limited shelf life for an individual patient, they can in most cases use less additives. For example, the natural desiccated thyroid capsules that Park Compounding Pharmacy compounds contain only one filler and no added ingredients.
Compounded Thyroid Alternative
A compounded thyroid medication can be made with Thyroid USP – the same active ingredient in Nature Throid and WP Thyroid. Because each prescription is made for an individual patient, a compounded thyroid medication can be made in any dosage required. Compounded NDT can be made in the following dosages to match dosages of the RLC Labs brands:
- 16.25 MG
- 32.5 MG
- 48.75 MG
- 65 MG
- 81.25 MG
- 97.5 MG
- 113.75 MG
- 130 MG
- 146.25 MG
- 162.5 MG
- 195 MG
- 260 MG
- 325 MG
RLC Labs and Manufactured Thyroid Medication
RLC Labs may restart their production of Nature Throid and WP Thyroid in the future however at this time patients have had to find other sources for thyroid medication. Due to the inconsistent availability of manufactured forms of natural desiccated thyroid, some patients are choosing to have their medication compounded. Learn more about compounded thyroid on our natural desiccated thyroid page.
2 have been forced to take acella and all my labs are off and do not feel well. We are increasing dosages after every blood test.
I NEVER had these issues on
Nature Throid!
Can’t afford compounding and synthetic doesn’t work.
Armour is also problematic for me.
PLEASE bring back Nature Throid.
We understand the difficulties patients have faced with the recalls. Unfortunately our pharmacy is not the manufacturer of Nature Throid so we have no control over whether RLC Labs will start making it again. We hope patients will be able to find successful alternatives or that RLC Labs will resolve their issues so patients can use their products again.
I need my nature throid. So many of us are struggling. How can a medication just stop being manufactured. I have tried Wp thyroid, amour and the synthetic T4 nothing works. I just QUIT taking any thyroid supplement. My body will slowly ceased to exist.
We understand many patients have been affected by the recalls. Nature Throid and WP Thyroid are not in production and there is no estimated date when they will start making them again. Our pharmacy is compounding NDT in capsules to match your dosage of any brand-name NDT medication that has been recalled.
have you tried taking an iodine supplement? If you are on Facebook look up the iodine group…lots of good info there.
I only felt good on Nature Thyroid. Please let me know when it is available again.
We do not expect it to be available anytime soon. We can compound an alternative using the same active ingredient in the same dosage.
YES. PLEASE!!! the alternatives, although same dishes are speedy and cause me to experience my heart racing and irritability
I have the same issues. Been taking nature it food for 30 years. For this company to just discontinuing such an important drug is irresponsible. I have no idea what to do now since I can’t take the synthetic stuff.
Our pharmacy compounds NDT capsules in any dosage required – we use the same active ingredient that is used in Nature Throid and WP Thyroid.
Amen and ditto to all your comments!
Agreed!!!
Yes, I TOTALLY AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SITUATION. I am not a hypochondriac, I’m a Nurse Practitioner, who understands a patient’s needs. I cannot and don’t assimilate other thyroid products. I have Hashimotos Thyroid Disease and I have been diagnosed since I was 16, so I KNOW what thyroid medication Works for me. I feel great and my inflammatory issues are sequentially decreased as well while I’m taking Naturethroid. Believe me. I’ve tried every brand produced. Although it was “ sup- potent “, 90% efficacy is better than 0-30 or 50%!!! Please reconsider manufacturing Naturethroid. Please…
I agree with the Armor, I have been having a lot of issues with it and I’m allergic to it on on the fillers.. Plus I can’t do synthetic. When I was on nature’s thyroid, I actually lost weight and I felt so good.. Why can’t they bring it back.. Not every drug is for everyone. So why don’t they pull Armor, and other drugs if people are having problems with it. I and many other women don’t have a problem with the nature thyroid.
Nature thyroid helped level my hashimoto’s. Now i take NP thryoid and not the same results. Please start production again.
Because NP thyroid had several lots recalled and Armour seems to not be working well for a lot of people is there a chance that the USP Thyroid powder is the challenge?
Natural desiccated thyroid always has an inherent variability between batches because it is derived from the glands of pigs. The issue with the recalls is a variability that exceeds an acceptable range.
Please make Nature Throid again soon!! Me and dog are on it! I’m scard! I don’t know what we will take! I’ve been on it for 20 years!!! God bless!
Our pharmacy compounds an alternative with the same active ingredient as Nature Throid if you are interested. RLC Labs does not have an expected date when they will start production again.
I suspect Armour Thyroid has also lost its potency but the parent company, Activis, hasn’t got around to issuing a recall yet. I have taken Armour Thyroid for 16 years. Suddenly I realized I am having hypo symptoms and have been for some time. I used to take 120-180mg/day. Now I am taking 240-300mg and it’s not working.
We are not aware of any recalls yet for this product. Until then we would not be able to say whether there is an issue with it. We compound NDT in capsules as an alternative to manufactured thyroid products.
If I try your pharmacy, I was using Goodrx to help with the cost. Do you accept them or anything to help with the cost?
We do not have any agreement with GoodRx and are not aware of any coupons they offer for a compounded thyroid product. We do not currently have any coupons available.
Hello. I live in England UK.WP Thyroid was the best for my Hashimotos.When it was discontinued, I took NP then Armour.Neither have agreed with me , with a return of many hypo symptoms. I am really interested to read you can produce WP. I have a private Thyroid doctor who writes my prescriptions.Would you ship to the UK please? I take 1.5 grains at present and usually buy 100 tablets at a time.
Unfortunately we can not ship outside of the U.S.
For me the WPThyroid worked best in 2017 and 2018 .. butI had to change to first NP and then Armour… Nothing worked the same as with WP Thyroid..
Then 2020 I got WP again and I got to know that they had made a recall, since it was something wrong with them..
I get Armour know again and its not working at all..
So What to fdo its all s big mess ..
Please find some way to bring back Naturthroid. I’ve relied on it for 11 years when all other thyroid formulations did not agree with me. I’m on NP Thyroid now with so so results. The discontinuation of Naturthroid demonstrates a decrease in medical choice for doctors and patients. Not good.
We do not manufacture Nature Throid. RLC Labs has not stated when or if they are bringing it back into production. We are a compounding pharmacy and make a compounded alternative in the same dosage as Nature Throid.
Just to be clear, I understand you use the same active thyroid USP ingredient as NatureThroid by RLC Labs. Are you also using the same inactive ingredients? In other words, are you following the exact “recipe” as NatureThroid and have you had good feedback on the customers/patients ordering from your facility? I am convinced that Armour Thyroid uses inactive ingredients that are making my hair fall out in clumps. My skin is greasy and my nails are brittle. This never happened with NatureThroid, so I want to find the alternative. For whatever reason, compound pharmacies are controversial and one endocrinologist would not prescribe from here. Please let me know your thouhts.
Yes we use the same active ingredient as Nature Throid. No we do not use the same inactive ingredients. Our compounded product contains only one filler and no other inactive ingredients.
Its the same with me now when I am on Armour .. something strange happens now my hair is like dead and falling out
Pingback: Converting Dosages of Thyroid Medication - Desiccated, Synthetic Thyroid