July 9, 2001 Statement by the 60 Plus Association on Availability of the Drug Synthroid

The 60 Plus Association represents half a million senior citizens nation wide. We have been concerned over efforts to remove the drug Synthroid, a thyroid medication from the market. We strongly oppose these efforts and urge keeping Synthroid on the market.

Synthroid has been used for over 40 years. This drug has a long and safe use. Millions of patients rely on it to treat thyroid cancer, hypothyroidism, and other thyroid conditions. The manufacturer of the drug has consistently followed and met the evolving standards of safety and efficacy over the years. Many senior citizens rely on Synthroid.

The 60 Plus Association fears that the withdrawal of this drug without any sound reason from the market will be harmful to senior citizens. The result would be a financial and physical burden on both senior citizen patients and doctors. Seniors would have to visit physicians for alternative medication, and might suffer severe stress over confusing and alarming rumors that the drug might not be safe. They might also suffer health problem from interruption in treatment by this drug.

Synthroid is safe. This drug is the third most commonly prescribed drug in the United States and the manufacturers of Synthroid have a long history of responding immediately to any questions about the potency and/or stability of this drug. We urge a protection of the rights of senior citizens by the Food and Drug Administration through uninterrupted availability of Synthroid.

We are pleased to join with such respected groups at The American Thyroid Association and The Endocrine Society in urging this course of action.

James L. Martin

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60 Plus is a nine-year-old non-profit, nonpartisan group with a less government, less taxes approach to seniors’ issues. 60 Plus is supported by voluntary donations from its 500,000 citizen lobbyists to print and mail millions of letters, petitions and voting indexes. 60 Plus publishes a newsletter, SENIOR VOICE, and a SCORECARD, bestowing a GUARDIAN OF SENIORS’ RIGHTS award on lawmakers in both parties who vote “pro-senior.” 60 Plus has been called “an increasingly influential lobbying group for the elderly…”