FDA bans thyroid med that was used for over 100 years

[Frank1946]

plus, if meat's safe enough to eat, then why should this be such a worry? after all, they don't let people eat cows with mad cow, right?

In theory

[Pehu]

What on earth has e.g. Prednisone and is side-effects to do with the matter in question? Of course it has some serious side effects. Hip replacements surgery also has some serious side effects, but it is also sometimes a very beneficial operation.
What comes to 'Armour' and other 'natural' drugs: They have the very same side effects (and then some) when compared to their synthetic counterparts.Not to mention they cost more than the synthetic drugs (without actually bringing any benefits on the table).

Your argument is that FDA probably isn't needed at all? Or what is the point? Or that prescription drugs shouldn't exist?

[old82]

one part of my argument was that given that other meds have shown to have rather severe side effects, banning a drug based on its potential side effects should be rather hard to do, especially when millions depend on that drug already and they think it safe.

futhermore, why would you ban a drug just because it's more expensive? how exactly is that even a reason?

the main point of my argument is that people should be given the choice to buy what they want to and that the fda should merely be there as one more voice of advice in a sea of many.

also, as for the fda being needed. I think what should happen is that there should be state fda's (or some system whereby there would be many fda's as i'll call them for simplicity's sake), none with the power to ban meds but all with the power to test them and give advice... competing with each other should make it harder for one to become corrupt as all the other branches, i guess that's what i'll call them, would be looking over the same things. if something was up, say a difference of opinion, whether it be based on method, viewpoint, or even corrupt officials, then we'd know, and we could use that to further inform us. it would make corruption much less profitable... and make it much harder to corrupt the officials anyway.

another option is to have privately run fda's, funded by large groups of people, to check up on the fda. or, if we had a strong enough middle class, we could have the many fda's, but run by groups of citizens instead of the government.

either way, authority should be more widely dispersed so as to keep a single entity from being so powerful. having one enitity in such a position makes it too easy and profitable to buy that entity off.


oh, and for some the synthetics do not work. that's something that should be noted as well. if you look it up you'll see the synthetics are missing some things the naturals have.

[Pehu]

oh, and for some the synthetics do not work. that's something that should be noted as well.

If this were backed by any real, scientific data (especially concerning the treatment of hypothyroidism) I might agree. As it stands: I do not.

if you look it up you'll see the synthetics are missing some things the naturals have.

Indeed: Some of the 'natural' drugs have things that aren't listed and can cause side effects that aren't listed. And another concern:Since the 'natural' drugs are way harder to standardize (no two pigs are the same, nor are their thyroid glands) they have a consistency that varies from 'pill to pill' making it very hard to actually reliably test the drug.

[old82]

aren't a lot of drugs made from natural sources?

i do agree that all ingredients should be labeled. but, is that the case here?

also, those scientific studies can be made to say whatever they want them too. that's been widely accepted by now.

ergo, that "scientific" data you speak of has little value in the face of over a century of positive reviews by people that actually use the stuff.

that brings me to something else, if this stuff is naturally occuring and can be obtained from pigs, how is it even a drug? especially one that needs regulation?

also, enforcement will become an issue with this. these people may just go to something like a compounding pharmacy (or something like that that can make meds... under the radar if need be), are you going to have these people put in jail and destroy their lives with fines for taking a thyroid med?

[tucker]

Natural drugs aren’t the only drugs the FDA either bans or takes off of the shelf for further testing. I’ve taken synthetic drugs that were banned or taken off the shelf. Take a look at the FDA web site it’s jam packed with warnings, recalls and stuff like that.

[old82]

If this were backed by any real, scientific data (especially concerning the treatment of hypothyroidism) I might agree. As it stands: I do not.



Indeed: Some of the 'natural' drugs have things that aren't listed and can cause side effects that aren't listed. And another concern:Since the 'natural' drugs are way harder to standardize (no two pigs are the same, nor are their thyroid glands) they have a consistency that varies from 'pill to pill' making it very hard to actually reliably test the drug.

it's right there on the first page

"Armour and other "whole" natural thyroid preparations (including Westhroid and Nathroid as well as Time-Cap Lab’s Thyroid) are bio-identical, complete hormone preparations, containing "T4" "T3" "T2" and "T1" in the same proportions made by the human thyroid.

The FDA approved preparations Synthroid (T4), Cytomel (T3), and Levethyroxine (T4) include bio-identical molecules, but are not complete or totally bio-identical as they do not contain "T2" or "T1". It’s no wonder so many people feel much better with the balanced natural products that have been available for generations."

[old82]

Natural drugs aren’t the only drugs the FDA either bans or takes off of the shelf for further testing. I’ve taken synthetic drugs that were banned or taken off the shelf. Take a look at the FDA web site it’s jam packed with warnings, recalls and stuff like that.

I would think so, but is it their right to take something people want, away?

[mpulliam]

The FDA approved preparations Synthroid (T4), Cytomel (T3), and Levethyroxine (T4) include bio-identical molecules, but are not complete or totally bio-identical as they do not contain "T2" or "T1". It’s no wonder so many people feel much better with the balanced natural products that have been available for generations

My wife has been fighting hyporthyroidism (sp) for long before we were together and thats going on 11 years. For her its in to see the doctor, bloodtests, prescription. Then in 100 days or so, rinse repeat. They adjust the prescription a minor amount, 100 days, rince repeat. Her condition leads her to be tired/exhausted all the time and weight gain/loss in weird, large amounts.

Last year she started on Synthroid. After 300 days and 3 adjustments, she is finally losing weight properly and "alive" again in her words.

I dont really have a point I guess, just saying, some things dont work no matter how long they have been used before. Each person is just different enough to require something else. This is one of them at least in our case.

-=M=-

[old82]

that's part of my point, though. some people react better to the natural stuff. banning either would be bad.

[tucker]

I would think so, but is it their right to take something people want, away?

I understand what you’re getting at but wouldn’t it be very risky to have no standards and/or controls on prescription and OTC drugs?

Hell we could even do away with doctors and hospitals and let everybody doctor themselves like they did in the old days when life expectancy was 50 years old or less.

[old82]

i will agree that stuff should have to have and only have what it is said to have in it. but past that it should be up to the user.

[Big B-man]

I almost had a heart attack when I saw the thread title. My wife is also on Synthroid, so I'm glad that's not banned, but still...woah.