Where can I buy levothyroxine?

[marram]

Do you have a prescription? If not please remember that putting information on how to obtain uk prescription-only medicines without prescription contravenes the guidelines. (See 'Posting Guidelines' in the right hand column)

Obviously private messages cannot be seen by anybody else.

[Moggie]

Why do you want to buy it and why is your GP not prescribing it for you?

Moggie x

[Hidden]

doctor willnot give me anymore tsh than 125mcg apparently normally it takes two years to get to this dose and i was only diagnosed last year. my numbers when from 4.6 down to 3.6 so no increase still dont feel too good and appears I am feeling worse have to wait 3 months for another tsh test before she will decide if I cant increase my dose. Thought I would buy some extra and top up a little to see if I feel any better before the next test. I have to do something or I am going to loose my job. Cant be having time off for migraines and tiredness all the time.

[LouiseRoberts in reply to Hidden]

Some people try increasing themselves from the levo they already have and then report back to their GP.

L

x

[Hidden in reply to LouiseRoberts]

Yes I did this the last time... she was not impressed but the tsh came back raised and she let me keep the 125mcg. However this time no joy and I will have to buy some if I am going to do it as she has told me she will not give me any more that 125mcg.

[LouiseRoberts in reply to Hidden]

Has she said WHY?

Can you see a different GP or change surgery?

Have you shown her the Pulse article which says that some people do not feel well until they have a low TSH and a high FT4?

Email me for it - [e-mail]

L

x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I've never heard of there being an annual progression to a ceiling dose of T4! What an odd idea.

How do you come to be needing Levo? ie how is your thyroid malfunctioning? We sound like a nosy lot, I'm sure - but it all helps us to form a picture and offer suggestions.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I have been diagnosed since April with auto imune. Tsh has been steadily getting lower now down to 3.6. with no futher increase as in the normal range. back end of last year thought I was going to loose my job as the tsh was rising i knew it was but had to wait 3 months until high enough to up dose. I felt fab for 3 months and was surprise when my tsh was 3.6 again. Starting to feel rough but have to wait another 3 months for a rise. Its a joke, my work mates think I'm stupid and should complain they do not understand that the doctors hands are tied too. Even with doctor tofts article i get a shrug and labelled a trouble maker, because i use the internet to help myself. So no more off to start my basal temp testing this week and sod the nhs im going to treat myself.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

You are less likely to be able to obtain the standard UK products without prescription. We tend to see "foreign" makes such as Synthroid, Aspen's Eltroxin, GSK's Eltroxin, Aliud, Henning, etc.

This could result in you taking a cocktail of three (or more) different products - not ideal because so many people feel that each make has different effects.

Certainly I agree that a TSH of 3.6 while on treatment would often imply inadequate dosing. I have every sympathy but be careful.

In the meantime, do you make sure you take your levothyroxine well away from anything else (food, drink other than water, etc.). And you might consider taking it at bed-time. The effects of changing regime can be similar to a small dose increase.

Rod

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

I switched from nighttime to am when I went up to 125mcg as I was having nightmares. Now I take early am with no problems. Just getting tired.... would I be better ordering complete dose from abroad then?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

I really don't know - but wanted to make sure you thought it through. If feasible, it might be as well to make sure that is a possibility (e.g. buy enough 50 mcg tablets that you can achieve any dose with only one split).

People vary so much - with one person being OK on mixed makes while another person has problems.