Speaking as a doctor (board-certified in Family Medicine x 25 years) let’s start with basics.
Thyroid hormone has a LONG serum half-life. This means if you miss your daily dose for a WEEK, you’ll still have about HALF the original amount that was circulating in your blood on carrier molecules and freely on day zero.
First: I can’t tell you the number of little old ladies and worry wart 30-somethings who crashed my office schedule BEGGING ME to write or call in an EMERGENCY prescription for their thyroid medicine as they lost theirs, dumped it in the toilet by accident, grandkid was playing with it, spilled into the dog’s water bowl, left in a hotel, on cruise ship or just NEGLECTED to get their prescription filled OR make at LEAST an annual appointment to get blood tested and a refill.
I’m a doctor, not a babysitter.
Second, I was once a pharmacy tech in the dark ages of medicine BEFORE mandatory expiration dates were applied. In the mid-70’s we were still doing biological/quantitative assays for things like tetracycline and thyroid hormone.
MOST hormones are incredibly stable molecules if kept cool, dry, in the dark, in SEALED containers. One med lab I worked at had a fifty year old bottle of cholesterol as a calibration standard for one test - chemist there said it was the same molecule then as it was half a century earlier. Part of my job was instituting the first expiration date log in our hospital (Army) pharmacy and I was amazed at the amount of meds we had in stock going back to at least the Korean War. 5 year was maximum THEN, FDA laater adjusted it, IIRC to 2 years.
Possibly at the request of PHARMA. Arbitrarily short expiration dates force consumers to buy more medicine. Opioids stored in some places have maintained their potency for over a century.
3 - There ARE other sources for thyroid hormone. “ARMOR” or its bioequivalent (a non-standardized natural product… dried/ground bovine or porcine thyroid) is still in use among the “natural” and “alternative” medical community and there are places online you can look up to find out how to use it (small doses, titrating to effect while measuring said effect by basal body temperature). In the event of a major disaster, presumably beef and pigs will still be used for food. There is NO “vegan” substitute.
4 - MOST doctors should, IMHO, write a prescription for you for a full year’s supply of your medicine once your TSH levels are reliably within the zone, your weight, energy levels, etc. stabilize. I have. I do. I’ve also in some cases ordered an entire bottle of 1,000 LT3 or LT4 tablets for reliable patients. THis is NOT considered “standard of care,” as most doctors are SO afraid of being sued fully into bankruptcy they no longer take such chances PLUS most doctors work for HMOs or other 3rd party payer -dependent practices which dictate how many visits patients can be milked for in a fiscal year.
This last part has pissed me off endlessly for almost 40 years (since I entered med school anyway), the bit about how frequently patients should come in for exams, and what tests to do.
ANNUAL EXAMS ARE A SCAM - for many, if not most, patients. IMHMO.
On the other hand, patients are rarely compliant with treatment guidelines, protocols and ultimatley don’t, won’t and the effing lawyers make it impossible fo them to take responsibility for their own diseases/conditions/treatments.
Like I said, I’m not a babysitter. I also don’t own anything (seriously, nothing is in my name, it’s ll in my wife’s or in trust). You can’t get blood out of a rock, as my grandmother used to say.
“DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH” then talk to your doctor about a prescription.
Otherwise Glen Beck advertises for JACE CASES, and there are other companieus now which WILL do what you’re asking.
It’s still - until Kamala and the communists take over - a somewhat free market.
Where can you get armor without script? A quick look showed it needs a script?
Hubby and I did these… I think maybe a better deal than Jace (but still expensive)
https://www.twc.health/products/emergency-preparedness-kit
How long is thyroid medicine shelf stable?
I keep hearing that has a very short shelf life and shouldn’t be good after more than a year out.
Is there some way of storing it that can extend it?
I’m on some at a very low dose, just borderline underactive, and for some reason, I am ending up with more than I need. I only forget to take it on occasion, but if what you say is true, then missing one day a week as a part of a planned stock up could work, although I realize YOU cannot technically recommend that.
So I’m not asking you to suggest that, but am more curious about shelf stabilbity.
Good info. Fired my last ENDO, he kept my dose to low, Military changed companies, the Blue Lake dye was a nightmare. New Primary partners with his ENDO wife. Trial periods to up dose. 200 mcg has been accurate for a year now as long as he does the 2, 100mcg yellow.
My A1C is now stable at 6. At 76 those are good readings, lost 30 lbs too changed to cleaner eating, reading labels.
Man U nailed it doc
Spot on
U can get online if you’re worried about a zombie apocalypse
I err family
Out of date meds are not really out of date
Boy they get me on Eliquis and Repatha
We as consumers pay for the worlds new meds
Somehow Vandy gets me the subsidy on those two
I better not get shot with a good nick
It’ll be fast at least
Again good show
I love when professionals pipe up here
Doc, I’m taking notes! 😆
Nice post! Thank you.
You left of “Jim.
“I’m a doctor, not a babysitter, Jim.”
Live long and prosper!
I just moved from VA to TX. I would like to make an appointment with you!
Of course my concern is that there would be a collapse that would cause a long term disruption of the levothyroxine supply chain. I would like to have a multi year stash, so I will check into the Indian supplier that daydreamer and others suggested.
I had stage four thyroid cancer (papillary) in 2013. After surgery and external radiation at Univ of KY, I am on 137 mcg of synthroid daily. My old specialist retired and I started at Ohio State medical center this year. My new doctor changed my dosage to 137 mcg per day plus an extra half dose on Sundays based on my thyroglobulin level.
Thanks for the info about Armor thyroid. And no I wouldn't be interested in "vegan thyroid". (LOL)