I recently emailed Mercury Pharm to see if I could purchase the drug from them. I have been informed that yes I can for approximately £102 I can purchase 28 T3 pills from them. Anyone else attempted to purchase from such a supplier?
Private purchase of Liothyronine : I recently... - Thyroid UK
Private purchase of Liothyronine
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saloplass
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shawsAdministrator
They are actually the only pharmaceutical company that supplies T3 to the NHS. I think they have quoted you a lesser price than the NHS pays.
There was an investigation late last year into the efficacy of the T3 but it was stated that the liothyronine was of the efficacy required. It may have been the fillers/binders that were causing a problem to some members. It appears to be o.k. again, so far. As far as I know you need a prescription to receive it.
Hi there, I've just paid £140 for 28 tablets privately. Can gp's prescribe this on nhs as I cannot afford this per month? My gp won't prescribe for me!
Thx
Tracy
I would certainly agree with you, about them being the only suppliers to our NHS. For some time a while ago the drug seemed to be difficult to get even for those of us having to take it and receiving monthly scripts for it. As far as I am aware scripts are a necessity - I have not been asked for one if I wish to buy it privately. I am simply telling the forum what I have been advised. Most people buying it privately seem to be purchasing from overseas?? At this point I would not wish to do this as I need to know about the safety of the overseas drug.
Welcome to the forum, Saloplass.
I'd be astonished if MP supply T3 without a prescription to someone in the UK.
Some members do have to resort to self medicating but T3 is available online at considerably lower prices than MP charge. Members aren't permitted to post on the forum where prescription only medications can be obtained but they may impart the information via private messages. Most will want to see some background history before helping a new member in this way though.
Hi there,
I'm taking 200mg of T4 at present & my endo has now suggested that I take T3 too. My gp will not prescribe it to me via the NHS & so I got a private perscription from my endo & it just cost me £140 for 28 tablets!!!! I can't afford this every month so want to know where I can get it cheaper!!
Thx
Tracy
Are you in Somerset? I have been told this is a Somerset CCG decision. I understand that the USA are not using the drug that much - but is the lack of it or decision not to pay for it throughout the UK or within certain CCG regions?. However I have also been told that hospitals will prescribe it. There does not seem any clear united plan at all.
I find your post encouraging as I also am salopian, I think each case is considered individually 'tho.
Helvella has a database of surgeries who prescribe T3.... trying to find it....
(my surgery does).
I live in Dorset & am really nervous about buying anything from abroad?
The USA nevertheless has at least four different makes of liothyronine - Pfizer/King Cytomel and SIGMAPHARM, Mylan and Paddock "generic" liothyronine (and several repackaged versions of these). I can't believe it is that rarely prescribed!
That is what I have been told by a friend who is in the USA and works in the industry. Why it is out of favour, she says she does not know. I do happen to know she was on this drug herself and decided to come off it, however she had been prescribed much bigger dose than is usual in the UK. And I believe her - she has no reason to fabricate information to me, she is concerned about my health.
It is because Big Pharma in the USA pay monetary rewards to doctors who use their products. As levothyroxine is the most prescribed medicaton in the USA you can see the immense profits they make and don't want to lose their market share.
False statements have been made about natural dessicated thyroid products to put doctors off prescribing them and false statements are made about it. Considering it has been in use in different forms since 1892 and it cannot be patented.
medscape.com/viewarticle/82...
I think the doctors like the little(big) extras which prescribing brings in - I have been told 'family holidays' etc.
I am simply telling you what Mercury replied in their email. They did not ask for any information from me whatsoever. I am still receiving this drug from the NHS maybe my situation is different from others. I had to fight to get the drug years ago and I was extremely ill before it was prescribed. I am not a new member. From what I understand Mercury is the only provider of this drug to the NHS How weird that the price I was quoted is so much less?
Here are the available Thyroid hormone treatments on prescription in the UK , & contact details.
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...
The named patient basis would this still be the case if the regional CCG had advised GPs they must not prescribe this due to cost and what effect would this have on consultants and the hospital pharmacy? Surely they would all sing off the same hymm sheet? Very confusing to patients dont you think? Thank you.
Saloplass, A couple of members have said that Somerset are considering a blanket ban on T3 but it isn't clear yet whether this means GPs will be banned from prescribing it unless recommended by a consultant or whether it includes consultants too. It is very confusing and very difficult to understand how a BNF approved medicine can be banned by a health authority. Postcode lottery springs to mind 
It seems that it has gone further than considering when patients have received letters relating to the removal of prescribing this drug from their GPs. I also understand that several hospitals within Somerset in different areas are all going to come under the same trust which is a CCG? So if those of us in Somerset the postocde lottery is widening. Unless a GP understands and carries out the correct blood tests and not simply the normal thyroid tests they do not seem aware that T3 is required for 'some' patients. If patients do not get to see a specialist it can be years and years before it is realised that T3 is needed. This is my experience. Does anyone know approximate figures for the number of patients in for example Somerset that would be taking T3? Do figures have to be produced by Somerset CCG or the Federations that would cover this area?
Figures are available. I posted my extract as a spreadsheet last year - see this post:
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
I might consider re-doing with up-to-date figures, the base data for England is available to all without making contact with anyone.
If you buy from abroad, as a lot of us do, it is much cheaper.
I would disagree with Clutter in that in providing the contact details for various suppliers of T3, I am not qualified to ask for and interpret, details from the enquirer before giving them the names and therefore would not do so. It is a straightforward question and it is entirely up to the individual to ensure that they are happy with either self-medicating or sourcing T3 from outside the UK.
I totally agree that it is entirely up to the individual - but personally I would be extremely worried. For example I recently had my asthma inhaler changed - because of cost. This new inhaler which I was told was 'almost similar' to my previous one caused my glucose to jump up 4 points. This was no good for me as I already have retinopathy damage. T3 gave me my life back, and I would be so very concerned to buy something that I could not get full details on. I thought T3 had to be controlled with frequent thyroid blood tests? Or is that a peculiarity to me? It is the not knowing that would bother me greatly.
Well, saloplass, I self-medicate because my GP stopped my T3 - with no warning. This is because, according to the nhs, I do not have hypothyroidism and have never been diagnosed as hypo. because my tsh has always been within the "normal range". I was diagnosed by a private dr., using a 24-hour urine test and have been on NDT and T3 for about 10 years. The nhs used to provide the NDT and then the T3 when I could no longer tolerate any T4.
I am aware of my responses and check my blood pressure, temperature and pulse from time-to-time. I can only assume that not only was the cost of T3 prohibitive to the nhs but also they are very wary of being pursued by the GMC for prescribing hypo., medication when according the the standard tests I am not hypothyroid.
I am happy to order from various sources abroad as these sites have been/are being used by others on this forum. Those I use have always been reliable and I have had no adverse effects from the medication. Were I not to order T3 from abroad I would, by this time, be very, very sick and I am not prepared to go back down that route. This attitude by doctors forces some of us to self-medicate or cease to live.
I totally understand and it is great you get no adverse effects - it certainly is not a route I want to go down either. I had to fight so very hard for it in the first place, when I too was very very ill. What worries me is the 'one size does not fit all'and of course that relates to drugs too. I am most concerned that my consultant would not be involved in the extensive checks he does for me now every six months. Adverse effects can include palpitations which I have had and which can be worrying to someone with heart disease such as I have. There are many ways I have to look at this matter before I decide which way I may have to jump. But my sincere thanks for your mail, very kind of you.
??? pettals I need an explanation please
Hi all - I have the DI02 gene variant so T4 helps me but not enough. I started on Nature-Throid last Sept (after a year on 100mcg T4 only) and it's been fantastic as I get the T3 I need. I get it on a private prescription (1.5 grains from Nov as started on 1 grain so body didn't shock) and it's around £30 per months supply. My T4 readings are now below norms but my TSH is in range and my T3 is mid range but the lingering symptoms (energy crisis 3-4 times per week, brain fog, memory issues, feeling so cold I think I'm going to die, hormonal migraines) have almost cleared up completely. I am now looking at my adrenals plus am attempting to lose the 4 stone that I gained because I wasn't diagnosed for 7 years but from a monetary viewpoint you might want to try the Naturally Derived Thyroid stuff if you think that T3 helps you and it is available on private prescription. (I can recommend private endo in London if anyone wants one by private message)
Hello. Glad you are having good results on T3, and wish you best of luck in getting your problems under control. I am thinking of having the Gene Test, but am working on gut issues/autoimmunity at the moment with the book by Izabella Wentz. I would welcome the info on private endo in London. Thankyou.
Yes I agree it is extortionate - they have the monopoly that is the problem. One of the many problems the NHS with procurement. However when I emailed Mercury regarding supplying me, they did not ask for a prescription. Very strange - perhaps it was simply an error on their part.
Hi, do you know if Mercury Pharma will provide without prescription? Thanks
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