Thyrogen?

[Liz94]

Anyone know the status of Thyrogen being available yet? Or and ideas where I can find out?

[maredan]

I agree with ya.  I've done going hypo AND the thyrogen and I would totally try to get the thyrogen.  Going hypo was the worst thing EVER and I vowed NEVER to do it again. Stella had some good points and I think you would qualify under the medically necessary.  

[stella5349]

Here Honey,

Try this.

Genzyme will have to halt production of thyrogen. The injection will be limited to patients whose doctors deem it “medically necessary.” Here is what medical necessity is based on:

1. Patients undergoing initial radioiodine ablation of thyroid tissue remnants, post-thyroidectomy, deemed to be at significantly increased risk of side-effects/complications from undergoing thyroid hormone withdrawal.

2. Follow-up testing of patients considered high risk for thyroid cancer recurrence (those with 1. macroscopic tumor invasion, 2. incomplete tumor resection, 3. distant metastases, and possibly 4. thyroglobulinemia out of proportion to what is seen on the post‑treatment scan) and who have unmeasurable basal thyroglobulin (Tg) levels and are deemed to be at significantly increased risk of side-effects/complications from undergoing thyroid hormone withdrawal.

The FDA has complete information listed here about what qualifies as increased risk of side-effects and complications. If you are concerned about obtaining thyrogen, read the linked info, print it out, take notes, and discuss it with your doctor.

Have you ever gone hypo for full body scans or radioactive iodine treatment? Have you ever used thyrogen before?


http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm213008.htm

_____________________________________

That may help while you are pitching your fit at the doctor's office  LOL - I seriously don't think there's a real shortage. I think its all driven by insurance companies and you and your doctor need to be creative in our you are coding the bill for the insurance company to pay.

[stella5349]

pitch a fit. Its available in little quanities,

[Liz94]

Well I'm looking because I'm gonna have to go hypo for my 3 year scan in January if Thyrogen isn't available. Hypohe// is not a place I want to revisit. I'll do anything to avoid going off my meds. I mean ANYTHING.

[stella5349]

This is weird. I was just on the Forest Pharm site looking to see if anything changed yet.

I see nothing.

I think the Cytomel and Synthroid or other T4's are the only option and might be for quite a while.