Re: ATDs - potency, exp dates-Simon

[Guest guest]

Hi Simon -

Your cat(s) must be smarter than mine. I've had them clamor for

week-old cooked chicken (that I was throwing out) and then turn their

noses up at a gorgeous prime rib. This was a very, very small roast

that was on super-duper sale. We are not bucks-up by ANY means. LOL!

I'm not sure about how all the different ATDs are distributed. Brand

name 5 mg Tapazole comes in 100-count bottles from the mfr. However,

there are some meds that only come in 500-count bottles--brand name

Amoxicillin capsules for example.

I'm not even sure of the laws right here in Calif about truth in

expiration dates, but after the episode over the pharmacy lying about

the exp date, I will ask to see the original container of other

prescriptions that I can only get 30 or 60 at a time. I'm sure

you could work out something if you talked to a pharmacist in charge

where you get your meds.

I went for so many years not being able to stabilize my levels no

matter what I did. Now that I've learned so much about expiration

dates, consistently using the same brand, taking the Tap 3 times a

day, and everything else, it's a whole new world for me.

I've found that having an understanding

doctor, a good lab, and an honest pharmacy that will work with me on

getting the freshest meds possible, things are looking up.

Talk over your concerns with your pharmacist and see what you can

come up with. Tell them that you want to try to keep some kind of

consistency with the meds to see if it helps to better control your

thyroid levels.

If the pills aren't coated, which Tapazole isn't, then I don't see a

problem with pre-cutting several of them ahead of time. Usually

scored (dividing line down middle) pills aren't " enteric " coated.

Chris

> >

> > Jody's reply about Armour potency problems, freshness (is that

> > a word?) after bottle has been opened, and the smell, got

> > me to thinking

>

> Yes, although Armour is reknown for having an odour, my guess is

> if your cat tries to steal it then it is fine to eat, if your

> cat turns it's nose up it is off. But this culd lead to some

> hyper cats if your not careful ;-)

>

> > I should also give a warning about ATD potency.

>

> Hmm, you've got me wondering now, I didn't sleep last night much

> and now have other hyper symptoms as well, all on the same dose

> of PTU.

>

> I know the pharmacist JUST got a new batch of PTU in, as I just

> refilled and they asked if I could come back in twenty minutes

> as they were unpacking the latest delivery, but the bottle I'm

> on could well be from the previous batch.

>

> They subdivide large bottles into smaller, and PTU is only

> prescribed on the NHS if Carbimazole is ruled out for some

> reason (which having read the research sounds a reasonable

> approach). They only date the bottle with date issued, and the

> prescription has renewal date, I have no way of checking other

> dates other than asking the pharmacy involved - hmm sealed

> bottles suddenly seem more attractive.

>

> I probably don't help matters by precutting the pills, but it is

> far more convenient when your taking 25mg doses all the time

> than lugging a pill cutter around.

>

> Presumably the waxing and waning of Graves' makes potency issues

> harder to spot than with the notorious levothyroxine....