Thyrogen Shortage

LBlackman
LBlackman Member Posts: 113
in Thyroid Cancer #1
I have done the LID for a week and the hospital just called and cancelled my test next week due to a thyrogen shortage. They don't have any, can't get any and don't know when they will, has anyone else had this happen?

Comments

  • diane2h81
    diane2h81 Member Posts: 41
    #2
    I haven't heard of a shorage
    I haven't heard of a shorage recently but just checked out Thyrogen's website and sure enough it's on there.
    http://www.thyrogen.com/pdfs/supplyupdate-2011.pdf
    Sorry about that, the LID diet sinks.
    But once they get it in they can keep it in the fridge for you for as long as they need to.
  • LBlackman
    LBlackman Member Posts: 113
    #3
    diane2h81 said:

    I haven't heard of a shorage
    I haven't heard of a shorage recently but just checked out Thyrogen's website and sure enough it's on there.
    http://www.thyrogen.com/pdfs/supplyupdate-2011.pdf
    Sorry about that, the LID diet sinks.
    But once they get it in they can keep it in the fridge for you for as long as they need to.

    thyrogen
    Thanks Diane! I talked to a very nice nurse on the phone from the supplier via the website you gave me, she said there is a shortage affecting some parts of the US and there will be one until mid June. I hope nobody else runs into this problem. I turned down a job to get this test done, and my trael plans had to be altered since I was going from Florida to SC for the test.....oh well, tomorrow will be a better day and I know things happen for a reason, it's just frustrating....
  • LBlackman
    LBlackman Member Posts: 113
    #4
    LBlackman said:

    thyrogen
    Thanks Diane! I talked to a very nice nurse on the phone from the supplier via the website you gave me, she said there is a shortage affecting some parts of the US and there will be one until mid June. I hope nobody else runs into this problem. I turned down a job to get this test done, and my trael plans had to be altered since I was going from Florida to SC for the test.....oh well, tomorrow will be a better day and I know things happen for a reason, it's just frustrating....

    scan
    The scan is back on....they got me scheduled with a different hospital so now the plans are still to have the scan next week, just at a different place.
  • amorriso
    amorriso Member Posts: 185
    #5
    LBlackman said:

    scan
    The scan is back on....they got me scheduled with a different hospital so now the plans are still to have the scan next week, just at a different place.

    shortage
    Glad to hear you were able to proceed with the scan. I actually went to my hospital pharmacy here to check that the thyrogen had been ordered and it was in stock. They have 12 vials - I asked them to put my name on two!

    Going for the first shot tomorrow next one sunday, then RAI on monday. Cant wait to get it over with this week.

    Cheers

    Andree
  • nasher
    nasher Member Posts: 505 Member
    #6
    amorriso said:

    shortage
    Glad to hear you were able to proceed with the scan. I actually went to my hospital pharmacy here to check that the thyrogen had been ordered and it was in stock. They have 12 vials - I asked them to put my name on two!

    Going for the first shot tomorrow next one sunday, then RAI on monday. Cant wait to get it over with this week.

    Cheers

    Andree

    mine is on track
    My Thyrogen injections are scheduled for next week the hospital confirmed i was on my LID and such and confirmed my schedule

    Hope the shortage doesn’t effect too many people.

    Craig
  • diane2h81
    diane2h81 Member Posts: 41
    #7
    LBlackman said:

    scan
    The scan is back on....they got me scheduled with a different hospital so now the plans are still to have the scan next week, just at a different place.

    YAY! Glad you are able to
    YAY! Glad you are able to continue with the scan :)
    Hope all is well and keep us updated.
  • sunnyaz
    sunnyaz Member Posts: 582
    #8
    LBlackman said:

    scan
    The scan is back on....they got me scheduled with a different hospital so now the plans are still to have the scan next week, just at a different place.

    Scan
    This is great news! Good luck, you are in my prayers.
    Julie-SunnyAZ
  • LBlackman
    LBlackman Member Posts: 113
    #9
    sunnyaz said:

    Scan
    This is great news! Good luck, you are in my prayers.
    Julie-SunnyAZ

    scan
    Today will be my first day with no synthroid and I (hopefully) get my first thyrogen injeciton tomorrow. Not that I am looking forward to it, I am too familiar with the vagel response so hopefully I can take the injections standing up and get them over with..... thanks for all the prayers and blessings, this site has really been a life saver....I wish the same for all of you....Hopefully they will find a cure for this awful disease in our lifetime so our children don't have to suffer...
    Blessings
    Lynne
  • sunnyaz
    sunnyaz Member Posts: 582
    #10
    LBlackman said:

    scan
    Today will be my first day with no synthroid and I (hopefully) get my first thyrogen injeciton tomorrow. Not that I am looking forward to it, I am too familiar with the vagel response so hopefully I can take the injections standing up and get them over with..... thanks for all the prayers and blessings, this site has really been a life saver....I wish the same for all of you....Hopefully they will find a cure for this awful disease in our lifetime so our children don't have to suffer...
    Blessings
    Lynne

    Injection
    Lynne,

    Have them give it to you in the hip. Usually they hurt less and you can't see the needle so it's much more comfortable mentally and physically. I always have my patients lean over the table then place their foot (the side that they are getting the injection) behind the other foot so that their hip is low and relaxed. Try to make it like "jello." Thyrogen is a watery like substance so it injects easily with a small needle. Ask the nurse to do a quick in and out. Explain that you don't want it to drag out and that you hate needles. They will be more than willing to accommodate. I have only seen the vaso vagel response from blood draws. Injections are much easier since they aren't targeting a vein just a big muscle. Hang in there. And remember here are some words of wisdom from my mom which have always proved to ring true, "nothing is ever as bad or as good as you think it is going to be."

    Blessings,
    Julie-sunnyAZ
  • Baldy
    Baldy Member Posts: 243
    #11
    LBlackman said:

    scan
    Today will be my first day with no synthroid and I (hopefully) get my first thyrogen injeciton tomorrow. Not that I am looking forward to it, I am too familiar with the vagel response so hopefully I can take the injections standing up and get them over with..... thanks for all the prayers and blessings, this site has really been a life saver....I wish the same for all of you....Hopefully they will find a cure for this awful disease in our lifetime so our children don't have to suffer...
    Blessings
    Lynne

    Vagel Response
    Having the tech talk to me about something works for me. Just a little distraction is usually enough.
  • LBlackman
    LBlackman Member Posts: 113
    #12
    Baldy said:

    Vagel Response
    Having the tech talk to me about something works for me. Just a little distraction is usually enough.

    needles
    Well, the first thyrogen injection wasn't bad, the second, the nurse gave it in the location of my kidney, much higher than my hip and that was very painful. My labs went okay today, I asked them to check my vitamin D levels and the nurse asked the Dr. and once again, that is something she wanted monitored all along and hasn't been. The tech was great today, I talked the whole time they were drawing it and was thankful for suggestions to have that checked. I have my scan tomorrow and have been good on the LID for a few days, so I am praying that things will turn out okay...Thanks for the thoughts and prayers...
    Lynne
  • nasher
    nasher Member Posts: 505 Member
    #13
    LBlackman said:

    needles
    Well, the first thyrogen injection wasn't bad, the second, the nurse gave it in the location of my kidney, much higher than my hip and that was very painful. My labs went okay today, I asked them to check my vitamin D levels and the nurse asked the Dr. and once again, that is something she wanted monitored all along and hasn't been. The tech was great today, I talked the whole time they were drawing it and was thankful for suggestions to have that checked. I have my scan tomorrow and have been good on the LID for a few days, so I am praying that things will turn out okay...Thanks for the thoughts and prayers...
    Lynne

    both my shots were in the
    both my shots were in the arm

    yes i am so glad they got enough thryogen to do me and a few others..

    It is so much better than the other option

    yea I get my Vitimin D tested every other month along with alot of other things.

    good luck everyone else on getting thyrogen

    Craig
  • amorriso
    amorriso Member Posts: 185
    #14
    nasher said:

    both my shots were in the
    both my shots were in the arm

    yes i am so glad they got enough thryogen to do me and a few others..

    It is so much better than the other option

    yea I get my Vitimin D tested every other month along with alot of other things.

    good luck everyone else on getting thyrogen

    Craig

    Getting thyrogen
    I agree with using the thyrogen - this time around I felt sooooo much better. I find it really interesting though to read about the shortages most of you are facing. I am living in Oman - a small country in the middle east, and when I asked if thyrogen was available it was no problem at all. The doctors only hesitation with using it is related to its cost.

    I mentioned the shortages in North America - they didnt seem to think that has ever been a problem here. I will find out where the thyrogen here is made or brought in from. Maybe there are more sources than we know about.

    Cheers

    Andree
  • Baldy
    Baldy Member Posts: 243
    #15
    amorriso said:

    Getting thyrogen
    I agree with using the thyrogen - this time around I felt sooooo much better. I find it really interesting though to read about the shortages most of you are facing. I am living in Oman - a small country in the middle east, and when I asked if thyrogen was available it was no problem at all. The doctors only hesitation with using it is related to its cost.

    I mentioned the shortages in North America - they didnt seem to think that has ever been a problem here. I will find out where the thyrogen here is made or brought in from. Maybe there are more sources than we know about.

    Cheers

    Andree

    Thyrogen
    Andree,

    I believe all the Thyrogen used in the US is made in the US.

    It's illegal to import most prescription drugs into the US. According to the news release, this law was passed to protect the US consumer from substandard foreign drugs. Of course, the synical view would be the law is designed to protect the US drug industry from foreign competition.

    Alan
  • nasher
    nasher Member Posts: 505 Member
    #16
    amorriso said:

    Getting thyrogen
    I agree with using the thyrogen - this time around I felt sooooo much better. I find it really interesting though to read about the shortages most of you are facing. I am living in Oman - a small country in the middle east, and when I asked if thyrogen was available it was no problem at all. The doctors only hesitation with using it is related to its cost.

    I mentioned the shortages in North America - they didnt seem to think that has ever been a problem here. I will find out where the thyrogen here is made or brought in from. Maybe there are more sources than we know about.

    Cheers

    Andree

    problem with medicine and single company manufacture
    One of the problems with the world today

    a lot of medicines are name brand only and because of that only have 1 manufacturer

    Such is the case for Thyrogen it is produced by the Genzyme Corporation in the US.

    cut and paste time
    ----
    "Genzyme Corporation is reporting that global supply of Thyrogen will fluctuate through July, 2011 causing temporary shortages in certain countries. Genzyme anticipates a shortage in the United States beginning in mid-April and extending through mid-June and is notifying health care providers of the supply interruption so that they may schedule individual patient treatments appropriately during this time. Ex-US supply communications are being managed by Genzyme affiliates at the regional level.
    Regional disparities in supply are expected to continue to occur due to the logistical complexities of managing global demand with limited inventory.

    Genzyme continues to work toward obtaining regulatory approvals worldwide for the fill/finish transfer to a third party contract manufacturing facility.

    Genzyme remains focused on restoring normal supply of Thyrogen globally as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Genzyme Medical Information at 800-745-4447 (option 2) or by e-mail at medinfo@genzyme.com."

    ----------
    so there you have it the main problem with single manufactures is when they run into a problem then it causes shortages worldwide varying from country to country do to a variety of logistical reasons.

    @ Andree - I visited Oman in 1996 it is a beautiful country.

    Craig
  • amorriso
    amorriso Member Posts: 185
    #17
    Baldy said:

    Thyrogen
    Andree,

    I believe all the Thyrogen used in the US is made in the US.

    It's illegal to import most prescription drugs into the US. According to the news release, this law was passed to protect the US consumer from substandard foreign drugs. Of course, the synical view would be the law is designed to protect the US drug industry from foreign competition.

    Alan

    Agree
    Oh I figured it would be illegal to import from overseas. I do often wonder though if the law is to protect the US drug companies.

    Cheers
  • nasher
    nasher Member Posts: 505 Member
    #18
    amorriso said:

    Agree
    Oh I figured it would be illegal to import from overseas. I do often wonder though if the law is to protect the US drug companies.

    Cheers

    only 1 company worldwide
    actualy there is only 1 company worldwide that makes the thyrogen
  • Baldy
    Baldy Member Posts: 243
    #19
    nasher said:

    only 1 company worldwide
    actualy there is only 1 company worldwide that makes the thyrogen

    Thyrotropin
    Yes, as Thyrogen, but Thyrogen is a trade name. If you look for thyrotropin or recombinant human TSH you'll find other manufacturers.
  • gt
    gt Member Posts: 1
    #20
    LBlackman said:

    needles
    Well, the first thyrogen injection wasn't bad, the second, the nurse gave it in the location of my kidney, much higher than my hip and that was very painful. My labs went okay today, I asked them to check my vitamin D levels and the nurse asked the Dr. and once again, that is something she wanted monitored all along and hasn't been. The tech was great today, I talked the whole time they were drawing it and was thankful for suggestions to have that checked. I have my scan tomorrow and have been good on the LID for a few days, so I am praying that things will turn out okay...Thanks for the thoughts and prayers...
    Lynne

    getting ready for scan
    Hi, It's more than a year since you had your scan and I'm not sure if you'll see this. Did everything go ok?
    Can you tell me why you got your vitamin d levels checked when you were checking your labs? I'm getting ready for my scan...there's a shortage still a year later. My Dr. said we can wait and see until the end of the summer and after that I have to do it the old fashioned way. thank you

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