📞 Webinar: Recurrent Pituitary Adenomas – What are the options?

 

Presented by

Dr. Magge, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College and an Assistant Attending Neurologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Ranakrishna, Chief of Neurological Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery at Avina and Willis Murphy at Weill Cornell Medicine

Click here to attend.

Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Time: 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Learning objectives:

–          the basic characteristics of the different types of pituitary adenomas

–          the potential predictors of recurrence and aggressiveness in pituitary adenomas

–          the surgical and radiotherapy options for recurrent pituitary adenomas

–          the potential medical interventions, including chemotherapy, for recurrent pituitary adenomas

💉 CLINICAL TRIALS | Awareness Project

Health Condition: All Conditions

Demographics: Ages 18+, United States Resident

Special Request(s): Everyone who has taken part in a clinical trial is asked to share. We are interested in learning why you decided to take part in a clinical trial and how your experience went.

Honoraria: Some respondents may be asked to participate in a clinical trial awareness network where there are paid opportunities to tell their stories.

 Apply to learn more.

📞 Webinar: Expect more from pituitary surgery: difference-makers for post-operative outcomes

 Presented by

Ahmad Sedaghat, MD, PhD – Associate Professor and Director of the Division of Rhinology, Allergy and Anterior Skull Base Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and UC Health.

Norberto Andaluz, MD, MBA, FACS – Professor of Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery – Director, Division of Skull Base Surgery University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute – UC Health

 

Click here to attend

Date: Wednesday, Sept 23, 2020

Time: 3:00 PM  Eastern Daylight Time

Learning objectives:

1.  To understand the surgical steps of endoscopic pituitary surgery
2.  To understand how the surgical steps of endoscopic pituitary surgery translate to post-operative outcomes
3.  To understand surgical factors that can modify post-operative outcomes after endoscopic pituitary surgery
4.  To understand post-operative care that can modify post-operative outcomes after endoscopic pituitary surgery

📰 WP Thyroid and Nature-Throid recall-August 2020

Dr. Friedman prescribes various thyroid hormone preparations to his patients with hypothyroidism. This includes natural desiccated thyroid (NDT) of which two preparations are WP Thyroid and Nature-Throid, both made by RLC Labs. On August 25, 2020, RLC Labs announced a voluntary, consumer-level recall of all lots of Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid tablets because somel ots contain less than the required 90% of the active ingredient as determined by the FDA. The RLC spokesperson said to Dr. Friedman that one lot of WP Thyroid and 5 lots of Nature-Throid contained between 87% and 90% of the labeled amount of levothyroxine (T4) or liothyronine (T3). The recall did not disclose which of the lots were affected and all lots are recalled, not just the affected lots. According to the recall, if a patient receives a sub-potent tablet, hypothyroid symptoms may not be controlled. To date, there have been no reports of adverse events related to this recall. Patients who have had an adverse event should contact RLC Labs.

RLC Labs advised that patients should talk to their healthcare professional before they stop taking their Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid medicine. Consumers with questions about the recall can email RLC at recall@rlclabs.com or RLC Customer Service  (877) 797-7997. Patients may return unexpired Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid tablets to their pharmacy who are legally required to refund the cost of the tablets. Currently no lots of Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid tablets are commercially available, so a replacement with the same product is not an option. It is unknown how long it will be before Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid become commercially available.

Dr. Friedman has several comments about this recall. This is the second recall of desiccated thyroid as some lots of NP thyroid were recalled in May 2020. Dr. Friedman sees this as unfortunate, but still believes desiccated thyroid is a good option for patients with hypothyroidism. Secondly, the “subpotent” Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid pills are only slightly less potent than stated in that only a few lots are between 87% and 90% of the T4 and T3 levels. For most patients, they will not have symptoms from these subpotent pills and if they are taking a lot that is subpotent, the dose can be adjusted based on laboratory levels at your next appointment with Dr. Friedman.

According to Dr. Friedman, patients taking Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid have three options: 1) they can continue taking Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid knowing they may have a subpotent lot and knowing that they may not be able to get a refill at least temporarily. 2) patients can be switched to Armour thyroid, NP thyroid or have a compounding pharmacy compound the equivalent dose using USP grade porcine powder. Please let Dr. Friedman’s office know if you would like to go on a different desiccated thyroid product (and which one) and what pharmacy you would like to use, 3) Dr. Friedman has a small supply of desiccated thyroid that is available at his clinic for those in Los Angeles on the last Tuesday night of each month. He will not be able to mail desiccated thyroid. Please contact his office about this option.

Patients do not need to contact Dr. Friedman, but if you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment with Dr. Friedman, please email us at mail@goodhormonehealth.com or schedule an appointment on his website at goodhormonehealth.com.