Armour & the Doctor.

[Hills]

Afternoon all,

Going to make this as short as poss, and maybe someone can tell me the truth.

Had been on Levo for 18 months and was feeling horrendous most of the time. Read a lot re thyroid on a variety papers and after discussion with a fellow suffer decided to try a different medication. She was to try one and I went to Armour. (I went to to Doctor out of country)

I have been on Armour for over a year. Blood tests by my Doctor have been fine. I have felt like me healthy and happy. My family finally got, wife, Mum, daughter back.

Today I have been to my Surgery, and asked for them to put me on Armour, well I may have asked for the moon. These are the excuse why I cannot have it,

It is not avail in the UK.

It can only be given in America

It is hard to monitor

It gives you brittle bones in old age.

Levo is much better.

She then told me I was under medicated when on it originally and she wanted me back on Levo on a higher dose. I told her I was not happy to be on it and that that I had a mass of issues when I took it.

I suspect it is all down to funding. I am totally against taking the Levo however I am short of Armour and not back in USA until Sept.

I am sure all of the above is untrue, anyone want to comment?

Feeling very frustrated.

[Clutter]

Hills, Armour and other forms of NDT have never been licensed for use in the UK and doctors aren't taught about it in med school so generally aren't aware that it is a stable prescription grade medication and have vague ideas that it is an unstable hippy dippy medicine which will make your heart burst and your bones crumble to dust.

A few GPs and endocrinologists do prescribe NDT on the NHS on a named patient basis but are not obliged to do so. Pharmacies obtain Armour from wholesale medicine importers like IDIS.

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

Most of the members using NDT buy it from online pharmacies with and without prescription.

[minus in reply to Clutter]

How on earth do you buy armour without prescription the only online pharmacy I've seen all say u have to have prescription obviously I'm looking in wrong place, any links to suggest where to buy I'd be grateful?

[marmaris in reply to Clutter]

Which one can you buy in the UK please Clutter without prescription? Could you PM please.

[helvella in reply to marmaris]

You cannot buy ANY of them without a prescription within the UK.

(There are some "glandulars" which might or might not contain some thyroid hormone. A controversial and uncertain area.)

If you could buy them without a prescription in the UK there would be no need whatsoever for anyone to use a Private Message to relay information.

Rod

[helvella in reply to Clutter]

Clutter,

I don;t think it is "never". We did have "Thyroid BP" until, if I remember correctly, sometime in the 1980s. I have always assumed that it was licensed (hence the "BP") - but it can be remarkably difficult to look up historical things like that.

Rod

[marmaris in reply to helvella]

Thanks Rod I assume that many buy abroad I have hear for example of Thyroid S from Thailand that don't ask for a prescription?

[Jonesgdi in reply to Clutter]

Have just been to see someone privately and been prescribed era from canada not. Am nervous to take this is it safe really want to go back to feeling really well again so want to give it a go but anyone had any issues with it?

Thanks

[Clutter in reply to Jonesgdi]

Jonesgdi, all brands of NDT including Erfa are pharmaceutical grade thyroid hormone replacement and are therefore as 'safe' to take as Levothyroxine (T4) and Liothyronine (T3).

Not all brands of NDT suit everyone and sometimes people do better on alternative brands. The only way to find out whether Erfa suits you is to trial it.

There have recently been issues with Erfa when it switched production to Europe although the company deny any change in formulation. Previously there have been issues when Armour reformulated and there have in the past also been issues and recalls of Levothyroxine.

[Hills]

Do not buy it from Thailand. I am back to my supplier. My understanding is Armour was banned from UK due to mad cows outbreak in 80,s but that it was now avail again.

ok so time to educate my Doctor.

Back to buying Armour again. To be fair £180 for a 6 mth supply which makes me a human being again is worth every penny.