Dear Dr.
 
I am unhappy that the synthetic thyroid replacement hormone (T4) that you have prescribed for me is not returning me to normal health as most of my symptoms still remain and I am still unwell. Would you please consider giving me a trial with an alternative thyroid hormone replacement of natural desiccated porcine thyroid (Armour Thyroid)?

I am aware that there appears to be concern by many medical practitioners who express doubt about the stability of liothyronine and levothyroxine in natural desiccated porcine thyroid extract. I am enclosing a document which has been made up from extracts from the Monograph on Armour Thyroid showing that batch to batch consistency and stability of T4 and T3 in this product is well within the USP reference ranges and this remains consistent.

I am attaching a copy of a letter from Graham Matthews (Pharmaceutical Assessor, Defective Medicines Report Centre) Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This letter confirms that Armour thyroid has been authorised by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) as medicine, and is standardised to the specification of the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP). I am also enclosing a copy of a letter sent to all UK endocrinologists from the UK Thyroid Patient Advocacy Group

My local Primary Care Trust has agreed that they will fund this medicine should you feel that a trial of Armour Thyroid could be beneficial for me and I enclose a copy of their letter of agreement. An article and correspondence in the Thyroid UK Newsletter for April 2004 stated that in a discussion between MHRA and Idis, the onus is on Idis, as importer and supplier, to prove that Armour thyroid is being supplied for the permitted indication, and a spokesperson for Idis has agreed that doctors now only need to write on the prescription ‘required to treat hypothyroidism’. If there are any problems concerning this, please contact the MHRA or Idis World Medicines direct.

Could you please arrange a meeting with your Partners to discuss this and write to me (sae included) to let me know your decision as soon as possible?
I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely