No Accountability by Searchlight Pharma/Apotex Canada for Selling Desiccated Thyroid Meds Causing Anaphylaxis & Paralysis
As of August 5, 2024 the Desiccated Thyroid Medication under the brand of ERFA and sold under Searchlight Pharma/Apotex Canada has become contaminated with either ingredients changes in the formulation of the medication or contamination of the pig porcine gland materials from which the medication is made. After taking 75 mg of the 30 mg 2.5 tablets of this medication there had been a severe anaphylactic reaction with throat closing up, hard time breathing and paralysis of the left side of the body for the arm and leg in one of the consumers that was on this medication. The medical events had been reported to Searchlight Pharma medical reporting system in both August 2024 and beginning of October 2024 where the pharmaceutical company had promised to do a full investigation of what was happening with the medication and notify the consumer of the results.
When nothing had been done by October 31, 2024 the consumer who was affected by the medication called Searchlight Pharma again to inquire what was going on with the ongoing investigation into the desiccated thyroid medication, the consumer was told that their reporting records of the medical events and side effects of the medication had been lost. As a result of this the consumer had to start all over again explaining the medical events of how the desiccated thyroid medication triggered the anaphylactic reactions and paralysis. Almost 2 hours had been spent talking on the phone with an agent explaining everything again. Since there was no active investigation happening into the medication the consumer also had to report a new complaint to customer services at Apotex to ask for a new investigation to be started into the medication for the formula and pig material to be checked. The consumer requested that the medication be fixed and be safely available without the severe side effects that had been caused previously.
The consumer had safely taken the desiccated thyroid medication by ERFA for 12 years and had no issues with this medication so obviously something has changed in the way that ERFA manufactures this medication. Either the formulation of the medication is different or there is contamination of the pig porcine material from which the medication itself is made of that is now triggering the allergic reactions of anaphylaxis and paralysis for the consumer. This is disturbing how a safe medical product suddenly changes without warning where the consumer has to immediately file a complaint letter on November 1, 2024 requesting that Searchlight Pharma/Apotex Canada launch an investigation and fix the medication issues. Apotex did reply back in letter form to the consumer on November 7, 2024 that they will launch an investigation into the desiccated thyroid medication and will reply back to the consumer by letter the results of the investigation and if anything is done to remedy the issues of what to do with the medication itself.
At this point the consumer is in doubt if Searchlight Pharma/Apotex Canada will actually do any type of an active investigation into the desiccated thyroid medication or if they will actually fix the issues happening with the medication. The consumer had cooperated with Apotex Canada and had provided them the lot numbers for the two batches of medication that was purchased in the Canadian pharmacy from August 2024 and October 2024 that had the contamination within the medication causing the anaphylactic and paralysis reactions. Since the consumer has these continuous doubts about the validity of Searchlight Pharma/Apotex Canada to effectively address the matter of the desiccated thyroid medication being contaminated and sold like this in Canadian pharmacies without consumers being aware of the issues happening with the medication hence why this article has been written and posted to create awareness about what is happening with this issue.
Not having access to safe desiccated thyroid medication is causing the consumer to have severe medical issues of their thyroid swelling up, hard time breathing, joint pain, etc. In the long term there could be further medical complications like their thyroid and pituitary gland shutting down, heart issues with potential heart attack, legs and limbs no longer working as well as other organs potentially shutting down. This happens because the thyroid gland no longer works correctly being hypothyroid and TSH levels being too high and as a result the rest of the body starts to malfunction causing severe medical problems due to having lack of access to safe desiccated thyroid medication that is not contaminated with something. The consumer had tried taking Synthroid in the past and had severe nausea and vomiting so they are not able to take that medication. As well they had tried taking other brands of US desiccated thyroid medications and had issues with having reactions to those medications.
It seems that in the last 11 years the quality of desiccated thyroid medications have worsened in both Canada/United States and pharmaceutical companies are not taking responsibility for fixing the issues with these medications. Consumers and patients have the right to have safe access to medications without experiencing severe side effects like anaphylaxis or paralysis. Searchlight Pharma/Apotex Canada needs to take accountability and responsibility for fixing the issue of the contamination or formula changes that have occurred in the desiccated thyroid ERFA medication so this medication is no longer a choking hazard or death sentence to Canadians. Bad medications that cannot be taken frankly ruin people's quality of life and further put their health at risk, this is no way to operate manufacturing medications neither in Canada or the United States. Pharmaceutical companies need to do better and address these disturbing and scary issues happening with the desiccated thyroid medications that they produce.
The consumer had also tried the compounded version of the desiccated thyroid manufactured by Medisca in Canada and unfortunately had the same reaction of anaphylaxis and paralysis. These medical side effects were also reported to Medisca and it leads the consumer to the possible conclusion that there is something seriously wrong with what the pigs are being fed, injected with or how the desiccated thyroid materials from the pigs are being processed at the manufacturing plants of the pharmaceutical companies. Both companies of Searchlight Pharma/Apotex Canada and Medisca should conduct thorough investigations into the desiccated thyroid medication production, formulations, pig product materials, etc. having better quality control mechanisms for testing these medications to make sure they are safe as medical products for consumers to take on a regular basis without unknowingly being exposed to or poisoned by contaminants in these medications. Anaphylaxis is a serious medical condition where someone can choke to death, have severe neurological issues, etc. if they do not get medical attention and treatment in time to stop the anaphylactic reactions. Right now the current state in which the desiccated thyroid medication that is being sold under the brand of ERFA being distributed by Searchlight Pharma/Apotex Canada and the compounded version of the desiccated thyroid being sold under Medisca makes these medications a dangerous hazard to physically ingest and take on a long term basis. This should be fixed and addressed immediately by these pharmaceutical companies to make it safer for consumers to be able to take these medications without the severe medical side effects or complications to their health.
How can desiccated thyroid medication cause an anaphylactic reaction?
Desiccated thyroid medication, which is derived from the thyroid glands of animals (typically pigs), contains thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) that are used to treat hypothyroidism. While it is generally safe for most people, it can, in rare cases, trigger an allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis.
Here are some potential ways this could occur:
Allergic reaction to animal-derived proteins: The thyroid hormone in desiccated thyroid medication contains proteins which come from animal sources. The immune system of some individuals may mistakenly recognize these animal proteins as foreign and harmful, triggering an allergic response or reaction. If the reaction is severe, this could escalate and result in anaphylaxis, especially in people with sensitivities to animal-derived products.
Allergic reaction or sensitivity to additives or excipients: In addition to the thyroid hormones, desiccated thyroid medications in the form of pills or compounded powder may contain inactive ingredients such as (additives, binders, fillers, or preservatives) that some individuals could be allergic to these substances. These ingredients could provoke an allergic reaction, which, in rare cases, could escalate to anaphylaxis.
Contamination of the pig porcine material: Desiccated thyroid medication is made from the pig porcine gland material into tablets. If the pigs have been exposed to contamination chemicals, feed at the farm is different and has cross contaminants, or the pigs are injected with hormones or other substances that was not present before in the pig material it can change the quality of the medication itself and cause allergic reactions in people when exposed to unknown substances that had not been present before in the pig material. As well there could be changes in the manufacturer's plant facilities for how the pig material is being processed and treated which can change the quality of the medication if there are substances in the medication that should not be present there.
Cross-reactivity: Some individuals with allergies to certain animal proteins (like e.g., pork, beef and in other animal products) may be at a higher risk of developing an allergic reaction to desiccated thyroid medication and experience cross-reactivity with the desiccated thyroid, as the individual’s immune system may recognize the thyroid protein as similar to the allergenic proteins they are already sensitive to. For example, someone allergic to cow’s milk or pork could potentially react to the thyroid hormone derived from pigs, though this is uncommon.
Rare Immunologic responses or reactions: In rare cases, the body may have an inappropriate immunologic response to the thyroid hormone itself, leading to an allergic or anaphylactic reaction. Although extremely uncommon, an individual's immune system might respond abnormally to the thyroid hormones themselves, especially if they have a history of autoimmune conditions or other sensitivities, which could lead to severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis or paralysis.
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction, and symptoms can include difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, tongue or face, rapid heartbeat or pulse, and a drop in blood pressure. If someone experiences such symptoms after taking desiccated thyroid medication, they should seek immediate emergency medical treatment and attention for these symptoms.
Information By: Consumer
Further background information on Contamination of Desiccated Thyroid Medication in Canada:
Desiccated Thyroid By ERFA & MEDISCA Causes Anaphylactic Reaction & Paralysis - Canada
