Why Is Westhroid So Hard to Find? [Explained for 2026]

If you've been trying to fill a Westhroid prescription and your pharmacist keeps coming up empty, you're not alone. Thousands of thyroid patients across the country have been facing the same problem since 2020—and the situation in 2026 hasn't fully resolved. Here's a clear breakdown of what happened, why Westhroid is so hard to find, and what you can do next.

What Is Westhroid?

Westhroid is a brand of natural desiccated thyroid (NDT), a medication made from dried porcine (pig) thyroid glands. Unlike synthetic thyroid medications such as levothyroxine, Westhroid contains both T4 (levothyroxine) and T3 (liothyronine)—the two main thyroid hormones your body naturally produces.

Westhroid is manufactured by RLC Labs in Phoenix, Arizona. The same company also makes Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid. For decades, these three brands were popular with patients and integrative medicine providers who prefer the dual-hormone profile of NDT over T4-only medications like Synthroid.

Each grain (65 mg) of Westhroid contains 38 mcg of levothyroxine (T4) and 9 mcg of liothyronine (T3). It is available in five strengths: 16.25 mg, 32.5 mg, 65 mg, 97.5 mg, and 130 mg tablets.

What Caused the Westhroid Shortage?

The root cause traces back to August 2020, when RLC Labs issued a voluntary nationwide recall of all unexpired lots of Nature-Throid and WP Thyroid due to sub-potency. FDA testing found that the products contained as little as 87% of the labeled amount of T3 (liothyronine) and T4 (levothyroxine).

This was a major problem because patients taking sub-potent medication were getting less thyroid hormone than they needed—leading to the return of hypothyroid symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, and brain fog, even though they were taking their medication as prescribed.

Because Westhroid is manufactured by the same company (RLC Labs) using the same facility and processes, its availability has also been severely limited since that recall. RLC Labs has been working to update their quality control procedures, but the company has not publicly confirmed a full return to market of their product line as of 2026.

Why Can't Pharmacies Get Westhroid?

Even when a medication isn't technically on the FDA shortage list, it can be effectively unavailable if the manufacturer is not actively shipping product. That's the situation with Westhroid. The drug may technically exist, but:

RLC Labs' manufacturing capacity has been limited since the 2020 recall and quality remediation effort

Wholesalers cannot reliably get inventory from RLC Labs to distribute to pharmacies

Most major chain pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid) have not been able to stock or order Westhroid

Independent pharmacies and compounding pharmacies occasionally have access, but supply is inconsistent

Does the FDA Approve Westhroid?

This is an important nuance. Westhroid is what's sometimes called a "grandfathered" drug—it was on the market before the modern FDA drug approval process was established. The FDA has not formally found Westhroid or other desiccated thyroid products to be safe and effective under current standards, and the product labeling is not formally FDA-approved.

This doesn't mean the medication is dangerous—it means it exists in a regulatory gray zone that also makes it more vulnerable to supply disruptions when manufacturing issues arise. Insurance companies and Medicare typically do not cover desiccated thyroid products for the same reason.

What Should You Do If You Can't Find Westhroid?

If your usual pharmacy cannot fill your Westhroid prescription, here are your most practical options:

Ask your doctor about switching to Armour Thyroid or NP Thyroid — both are desiccated thyroid brands with the same active hormones (T3 + T4) that are currently available at most pharmacies

Contact a compounding pharmacy — they can prepare custom desiccated thyroid capsules using Thyroid USP powder in virtually any dose your doctor prescribes

Use medfinder to call pharmacies in your area — instead of spending hours on the phone yourself, medfinder checks pharmacies near you to find which ones can fill your prescription

Try smaller independent pharmacies — they sometimes have more flexibility in sourcing medications that chain pharmacies cannot stock

How medfinder Can Help

When a medication like Westhroid is in short supply, finding it means calling pharmacy after pharmacy—a process that can take hours. medfinder does that work for you. You provide your medication, dose, and location, and medfinder calls pharmacies in your area to find out which ones can fill your prescription. Results are sent directly to your phone.

This service covers all medications—not just shortage drugs—making it useful whether you're looking for Westhroid, an alternative like Armour Thyroid, or any other prescription.

Will Westhroid Come Back?

RLC Labs has stated their intention to return their products to market after completing quality remediation, but the company has not provided a confirmed timeline. As of 2026, availability remains very limited and unpredictable. Patients who need desiccated thyroid should work with their doctor to ensure continuity of treatment—whether that means finding a rare pharmacy with Westhroid in stock or switching to an available NDT alternative.

For the most current information on Westhroid's availability, check our Westhroid shortage update for 2026.