Generic Nature-Throid

Although several generic medications contain the same active ingredients as Nature-Throid (thyroid USP), they are not actually considered generic Nature-Throid products. Since Nature-Throid and other thyroid USP medicines have not been approved by the FDA, it is difficult to determine if these products are equivalent. Many people are more comfortable staying with brand-name Nature-Throid, especially since it is a fairly inexpensive medication.

 

Generic Nature-Throid: An Overview

Nature-Throid™ (thyroid USP) is a prescription thyroid medication made from the thyroid glands of pigs, which makes it a "natural" thyroid product. It is used to treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), as well as a few other thyroid problems.
 
Nature-Throid is manufactured by Western Research Laboratories. Although there are generic medications and other brand-name products that contain the same active ingredients as Nature-Throid, it is difficult to know if these products are equivalent to Nature-Throid.
 

The Problem With Generic Nature-Throid

Many people are unaware that many prescription medications (usually older medications) have never been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Almost always, these medications were already around before many of the laws and regulations were established. Nature-Throid, as well as all other thyroid USP medications, has never been approved by the FDA, despite what you may read on the Internet. Because they were not approved by the FDA, there is no way to know if any of these products are equivalent, since the FDA decides which medications are equivalent.
 
Some states have laws that permit generic substitution only if the FDA determines that the generic version is equivalent to the brand-name drug. In these states, generic thyroid USP products cannot be automatically dispensed in place of Nature-Throid, unless a new prescription is obtained. Other states leave this up to the discretion of your pharmacist. Either way, many people are more comfortable staying with brand-name Nature-Throid, especially since it is already a fairly inexpensive medication.
 
(Generic Nature-Throid Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;