The doctors, explained that the nhs do not prescribe t3?

[merissa]

I was ask to go to the surgery to discuss stage 3 renal failure and ask why my vitamin d is low again? However I ask about a trial of t3 as recommended from a private consultant, who ask my gp. I was told that t3 can not be given from her, therefore I can buy my own. Is this correct?

[shaws Administrator]

I assume your GP was inferring that the private consultant give you a private prescription. That would be very expensive to purchase T3. I think someone will reply re the cost of T3.

You could always add 10 mcg T3 to a reduced levo and that may work as one one pack of 20mcg T3 would last 36 days instead of 28 days.

[merissa in reply to shaws]

Hi shaws, any alternatives? other than t3, I am quite shocked actually that the private endo did not explain that I needed to buy it myself. X

[Southlondon]

Hi there,

My private endio prescribed me T3 as tri-iodothyronine 10mcg twice daily.

So off I trot to the local pharmacy and nearly had another heart attack! 1 months supply was £100. Yes, £100.

The drug is not licensed apparently and is VERY expensive for the NHS to give us, bearing in mind as thyroid patients in the UK, all our meds are free of charge.

I have to make a decision and not put a cost limit on my health bearing in mind I used to smoke 20 fags a day for 25 years. At today's prices that is £240 a month I would find, broke or not, to put towards killing myself - so £100 a month to make myself feel better is worth it for me. But expensive much. xx

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Southlondon]

I really don't know why the NHS purchasing policy gets such poor results. In some other EU countries, T3 costs just a few euros for a pack of 28. You'd think that the NHS would be able to get a better deal.

[Numberone1 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Under the guidance of Dr Peatfield I obtain my T3 from Mexicandrugs.com (?) and pay very little for 3 bottles of 100 in each bottle (25mcg). Probably about £50 and they last forever with my dosage.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Numberone1]

I get mine from Cyprus for about the same ... so why can't the NHS get those prices

[galathea in reply to Southlondon]

liothyrone most certainly is licensed in the uk...... to check it out, look up liothyronine in the british national formulary. this is a list of all the medications which your doctor is able to freely prescribe. suggest you print it off and show it to him.... the price for a months supply to the nhs is somewhere around the £30 mark..... but you can buy in your own meds from abroad much more cheaply than this.

[beaton]

I get my T3 from my NHS GP,no problem.

[Muffy]

My GP prescribes my T3 for me that was advised by a private consultant.

[Poppy03]

I get my T3 from my GP free on prescription. I initially had 20mcg from the idiot NHS endo but went privately to see another Dr and now I get 60mcg from my Dr per day (ie 3 tablets per day). Yes it is more expensive but my GP does not disagree with providing and I think it is good value for money as he never sees me He insists on me having a blood test that I say I do not need for his records as no matter what it says I will not be changing my dose. He is a sweetheart though, so I am not complaining about him really.

[Samqazwsx in reply to Poppy03]

Hi. Which private doctor did you see please? My GP agrees about taking T3 but I need to see a consultant to get a prescription.

[merissa]

Thanks for the replys, my gp felt that she would check with legislation. Eh hum another battle, it's took 3 years to get this far and deteriorating health. Xx

[sporty333]

....i get my T3 from my GP as well, no problem! The chemist did say a bottle costs £100 though. I should imagine its the old, drugs companies ripping off the government...ie the tax payer!

[Jackie]

Hi I have a very difficult GP,I have to take armour, which I have to buy ( allergic to levo) , my FT3 is still low. For many years since my private endo wrote to my GP I have had it on a script without a murmur! in fact, all my private consultants expect GP to give scripts for their choices, GP is in overall charge of your health, therefore meds and inter reactions, as mine keeps telling me. It could be dangerous if consultants "did their own thing" with no coordination between meds, lots of which inter react. Ones not on the recommended list do not fall into this., but are a separate issue.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[ging]

I was so lucky to have T3 prescribed by my lovely consultant before he fled abroad to work [ to escape from the NHS! ] I am so much better now and I am convinced that my cholesterol is lower because of T3. A friend of mine bought me some liquid T3 in Italy which was SO cheap. We should ALL write to Rip Off Britain to expose this problem.

[jacksprat]

Hi six years ago I was diagnosed with CKD stage three, two years later after seeing doc P I self medcated with T3 bought by myself on his advice.I wasn't called for any checks or given any advice about my CKD until last year in July when my new doctors discovered my records they had left unopened for three years. Anyhow I was sujected to several blood tests and I was honest about my T3 as I had asked previously and been refused.The upshot is I no longer have CKD as the blood tests prove and they were only too happy to give me my T3 on prescription from now on (three months ago) as that is the only thing being done differently in the last six years My diet is still the same and I am on no other medication other than T3 so it is available just costs more, which is why my doctor says they will not prescribe it unless forced.So I would definitely do what you feel is right for you after weighing up all the advice and reading up on it as much as possible.I have to say I was happier on my mexican T3 than the one my doctor has given me.

[merissa in reply to jacksprat]

Your story gives me hope, thanks for Sharing, I will order some, would you please pm me, the brand and dose to take. Xxx

[sky1hypothyroid in reply to merissa]

me as well please...

[sky1hypothyroid in reply to sky1hypothyroid]

brand & dose i mean...ta