Levothroxine...thailand

[Beckyoswin]

I have under active thyroid since baby and now i have been in thailand for four years , the doctors won't give me any tablets as they need a blood test which i can understand ..so instead i brought some from the pharmacy in thailand .. But even though i am taking them daily i still feel very tired and depressed for no actual reason ... So i have a feeling these tablets are not working.. Do u think that is possible ?? Or do u have any advice

[PinkNinja]

How long were you without medication? It could be that your t4 hasn't come back up to its normal level.

Another possibility is that the brand you are buying in Thailand is not absorbed as easily. Some people on thyroxine find they do better on particular brands. You may need to slightly increase your dose.

I'm sure you have already checked this but, if the language on the packet is not English, are you confident that you purchased thyroxine rather than another thyroid drug?

I'm not quite understanding why they are suddenly stopping your thyroxine after being in Thailand for four years. they should really keep you on your current dose, get the blood results and then make any changes to your dose if necessary. I'm a little confused.

Anyway, I hope you get your thyroxine soon so you can start to feel better.

Carolyn x

[Beckyoswin in reply to PinkNinja]

Thanks .. The package says the same as it does on the English package .. Thats why it's hard to know .. Maybe i am taking under or over .. I will have to send blood results to the UK to get my right dose or correct medicine . I haven't been with out them at all bought some straight away as i noticed i was running out . Never felt like this before so must be something wrong , thanks for the advise

[Clutter]

Beckyoswin, Fatigue and depression can be caused by over and under medication. You need blood tests to guide dosing. Ask for TSH, FT4 and FT3 and post the results with the lab ref ranges (the figures in brackets after your results) in a new question and members will advise whether you are optimally medicated.

Low ferritin, vitaminD, B12 and folate can also cause fatigue and low mood so it is worth having them tested. If you post the results with the lab ref ranges in a new question members will advise whether you need to supplement.

[Beckyoswin in reply to Clutter]

Yes i will test them Thankyou .. I will send my blood test results to UK and carry on getting the regular brand . I think the doctor have to give me as I am still a British citizen and they know i need this medication for my whole life .. Thanks again for your advise , will follow that

[Clutter in reply to Beckyoswin]

Beckyoswin, NHS don't have any obligation to treat you if you are living outside of the UK for more than 3 months. It's not your citizenship that entitles you to NHS treatment but your UK residency and National Insurance Contributions.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Clutter]

If you are not in the UK, have you made any arrangements for medical care? For example, do you have any health insurance?

Even if your UK doctor breaks the rules and continues to write prescriptions for levothyroxine, you cannot expect other treatment. For example, an appendicitis, any injuries, and so on. Without a suitable insurance policy, you will also not be repatriated to the UK should that ever become necessary. That can be unbelievably expensive.

[Pink_Bear]

I don't really understand your problem Becky. I spend a lot of time in Thailand and when I'm there I take advantage of the wonderful hospitals to get blood tests done that my GP in the UK refuses to do - e.g. I always get my vitamin D and antibodies checked. Getting TSH, FT3 and FT4 is very cheap and easy. Can you go and get this done and then post back your results? Buying good quality levothyroxine at a reliable pharmacy is then very cheap and easy.