Mercury Phama not making Eltroxin and cannot say when they will.

[Kathy21]

Went to my local Pharmacy yesterday (8.1.2014) they didn't have any 100 Eltroxin. They rang their wholesale and they had run out and they hadn't had a delivery of Eltroxin 100 for the previous two months. My pharmacy then rang Mercury Pharma who said they were not making it at the moment. Does any one know what's going on or an alternative Thyroid treatment than M. F. Medication because since they have been making Eltroxin? I feel rubbish after 27 years on Eltroxin I know that is very different. Levothyroxin is even worse.

[ianessex]

Hi,, yes indeed..this has been going on now for some months and still no word on when it's returning.. or I'm even starting to think..if it's returning. I'm bit confused with it all but they're now called amco I believe. many of us have been on the mercury pharma generic instead now while and as always is a personal thing . However, even this has become increasingly difficult to obtain in my area and we have 6 chemists so you'll need to ask your chemist to stock it if needs be or you will be given actavis which is the most easily obtainable and commonly given one. plus it appears the majority are happy with, although we don't exactly have big choice. if you want to compare fillers etc then thyroid UK have all this info on website . it's right game isn't it ! best wishes..Ian

[Kathy21 in reply to ianessex]

Thanks Ian, do you think activist is different to Mercury Pharma? I already have been having 100Eltroxin and 25 levo as the 25 Eltroxin stopped months ago. But I get palpitations and am very up and down emotionally, very anxious. It quite scary. Our G P unfortunately isn't very sim pathetic. And the Endo I see for type 1 Diabetes said "some people try to make thyroid complicated, it isn't" so I am plodding on. I could mention Activis to our Pharmacy, see if they can get it. Best wishes Kathy

[ianessex in reply to Kathy21]

yes have chat with your pharmacist,, they'll prob have actavis in stock,, I only tried it short term do can't comment.

[ianessex in reply to Kathy21]

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

[shaws Administrator in reply to Kathy21]

I got palpitations on levo but not on Eltroxin 25mcg.

[shaws Administrator]

We are now extremely limited in choice and there have been several members saying exactly the same as you.

Even on the British Thyroid Association's site, it says Mercury (the name has been changed so often) cannot say when it will be provided, so there is something weird going on as they say their levo is Exactly the same and patients know differently.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

I'm trying to digest all the reports coming in concerning Mercury Pharma.It is as people say becoming very worrying.At present I am taking 100/75 MP on alternate days and don't feel well...just hanging in there as reported before waiting FT4/FT3 testing end of January ready for seeing my Endo 10th Feb........Actavis don't do 25mcgs which means people having to do regular pill splitting...is this very accurate?

How many are happy on Actavis? What are the alternatives?

I am pinning my hopes on needing T3 but then where do you obtain it on NHS ? Are we back to Mercury Pharma?

So many questions milling around in my mind,though I appreciate I shouldn't try crossing bridges before I get there.

Who IS trying to make thyroid issues complicated? the patients....the NHS or the Pharmaceutical Companies?

How about a large supermarket with a pharmacy being able to import reliable thyroxine in from abroad?

[Kathy21 in reply to Hidden]

Yes that sounds a good idea. I really think the Pharmacies are really fed up with because they take the flack. I am going to try Activis for a two month trial as our pharmacy say they can get that, at this moment in time anyway. Thank you for your input I will post how I get on with Activis, I am away after next week until the end of Feb. Best wishes Kathy.

[Hidden in reply to Kathy21]

I would be pleased to hear how you get on Kathy.I really want to get off Mercury Pharma but with just a few weeks to go 'til I see my Endo and get blood test results I'm hesitant about doing anything. This whole situation with medication is becoming ridiculous.I feel we have to do something .....but what?...... All best wishes for your trip .

[ianessex in reply to Hidden]

I'm getting to same place as you with mp,, how you feeling on it?

[Kathy21 in reply to ianessex]

I get palpitations, thyroid gland some times actually hurts, sleep pattern not good.feel cold, blood pressure raised, can not lose any Weight although my diet is low cals and healthy, also been 3times a week to the Gym since October. Hope you get sorted soon. Best of luck with your Endo.

[Hidden in reply to ianessex]

Hi there,

Yes,I really am worried,but cannot prove anything.My muscles are really achy( bear in mind I have been doing water aerobics for 22 years as the water supports your weight and enables you to work against the water without strain).I can't walk far as I feel out of breath and my legs feel like concrete with no spring at all,so can't go for country walks which I loved and were an inspiration for painting.I also feel that after taking my MP that it lies in my stomach not feeling right( have gone back to taking it in the mornings so that I can eat my breakfast between 30 - 60 mts.afterwards.

The strange thing is that I feel more alert mentally but less happy physically.This is making me question the fillers!

I can hardly wait to see my Endo when I have my FT4/FT3 testing ......so many questions to ask.I hope he will help. He was recommended to me and when I saw him first time before Christmas,he immediately requested these tests, putting his initials on the form to make sure they are done.

These symptoms have all worsened since I started on MP in 2012 after Eltroxin became unavailable.In June 2012 I was very fortunate to go on a trip to Norway and the Arctic Circle.( Svalbard) and remember saying to my Pharmacist" Please don't change my medication as where I'm going there aren't going to be many chemists" they were understanding and made sure I had Eltroxin.I did plenty of walking during that trip ....a fantastic experience.It was after this when my meds were changed to MP that the problems all started.I have been watching posts made by others who are talking of the same symptoms.I feel really stirred up that so many are having their quality of life restricted because of this.We have to do something.

I have been told "There are people much worse off than you" which you can imagine made me feel awful,because I know that and have sympathy ....but is that any answer?

Sorry this a long reply,but what can we do to help ourselves?

[ianessex in reply to Hidden]

you've hit nail on the head,, I've been unable to even exercise at home for while now,, whereas I was going to gym twice a week before on eltroxin, my legs feel like lead weights and I get out of breath easy now . some days I feel really hyper in morning but shattered few hours later, others I don't even feel like I've taken it. stomach issues, etc. When I was on eltroxin we had nice holiday booked . now I don't have the confidence to book a day ahead, have to take it as it comes on the day. some days I feel really giddy too. I've kept with it perhaps thinking it might just be me after all having been repeatedly told they're the same but with so many others now complaining, I'm more confident it's the product. it's now become like gold dust in my area too so have to change now or soon.

[Hidden in reply to ianessex]

Me again....I am so sorry to hear you have the same problems but am sure you understand I'm also happy to have things confirmed by someone else...so thank you for that.I also have the lack of confidence that you speak of that makes social occasions no longer enjoyable ....just hurdles to get by.Isn't it awful to feel this way ....life could be so much more enjoyable for not only me but also my lovely husband who misses out.I left my art society because of this and I too am resisting booking any holidays far afield until I'm sorted .I get embarrassed because we are talking of the finer side of life which is more available now in later life than it was when struggling to raise a family,however,I'm beginning to feel like I'm ten years older rather than enjoying retirement and being the active person that I was.Does that sound selfish? I don't mean to be.

I'm curious....do you hail from Essex? Don't answer that if you don't wish to,but I live in Essex.

[ianessex in reply to Hidden]

hi yes I'm Essex born and bred,

[Kathy21 in reply to ianessex]

Hi Ian, I found the link,ha ha simple I didn't click on the blue line. Very useful thanks there is one ingredient that Actavis doesn't contain and the company who make them are independent of MP, hooray. Just fingers crossed they suit me. I will either be really well or dyeing when I get back from my travels lol. I go away on 19th if I get an immediate improvement I'll post an update. Hope I'm not being too presumptuous. Thanks again I'll keep you updated. X

[Kathy21 in reply to Hidden]

I have yellow carded Mercury Pharma Eltroxin and Levo. You get to say what your symptoms are when they started and if you have told a doctor about your symptoms. Surely it's getting to the point where something must be done.

[Hidden in reply to Kathy21]

I have a card too .....just waiting until I see my Endo before using it. Perhaps you would like to read my long reply I just made minutes ago.X

[veronicahoward]

I have been on Eltroxin for 40 years and like you I have had a running battle with pharmacists, my doctor, the distributing wholesalers, PharmaMercury and the manufacturers, Customs in Sussex.

My doctor could only supply the levothyroxine and I have taken it for 2 weeks. In forty years I have had no adverse reaction to the Eltroxin but I can already feel the adverse effects of levothyroxine.

I contacted the manufacturer who said that they are still making Eltroxin and the problem lies with PharmaMercury. I sent an e mail to Pharma Mercury quoting the Trading in Medicines Regulations and threatening legal action if I did not get definitive answers to why they had stopped selling it. Because I am a retired lawyer the Chief Medicines Officer in Customer Services, Miss Patel rang me and said that she would investigate. She also told me that there were slight differences between Eltroxin and Levothyroxine. Something which my doctor neglected to tell me. Our local MP.has been told about this about 4 months ago and I am very cross with him for the delay.

You can verify that Customs in Sussex are still manufacturing Eltroxin and then complain to Pharma Mercury/Ms Patel. The more people that do this the more likely we are to get it reinstated.

Through this site, however, I have learnt that a purer natural form of thyroxine can be obtained and I will, after I have finished the prescription I have now, send for some and bill my doctor. If he cannot give me what I want, shunts me onto a cheaper, generic version and misinforms me, then I am legally entitled tofind my own solution. No one knows your own body like you do yourself and on reading this site I am astonished with what people are having to endure. One of the adverse features of taking the substitute is extreme fatigue. Nontheless I will not less this go, so watch this space!

[Kathy21 in reply to veronicahoward]

Hello, I like you have been taking Eltroxin for about 30 years and have noticed I didn't feel so good. Also our local pharmacy had problems getting it. Off and on for 2+ years they have had problems particulary the 25s. I take 100s and on alternate days I take 125.

For the last few months they managed to get Eltroxin 100s but I had to have Mercury Pharma Levo. 25s. I have felt terrible and have had lots of symptoms coming back that I hav'nt had for years.

Last week I went down to get a holiday script (2 months supply) and there wasn't any Eltoxin, the assistant rang their wholesale, they said Mercury Pharma had not sent them any for two months, she then rang MP and they told her they are not making Eltroxin at the moment and could not say when they would.

What we don't know is now MP are making it is it now generic as is Levo. Because they say they are the same?

I have had my script changed to Activis Levo to trial for two months, they are a totally different company, it is still generic but apparently not so many toxins. I will post in two months. Hope you get sorted, it is all very frustrating. I'm sure my doctor thinks I have made my symptoms up lol.

Regards Kathy x