Not sure if a concern or not, but my GP told me that there was about to be a large cloud explode around UK patients buying T3 and thyroid meds from abroad!
Of course she may just not have the correct knowledge and may just be scared because I mentioned that I would have no other choice to order some myself if she would not help me!
Has anyone else heard anything about this?
She said of course it may be beneficial to thyroid sufferers for the NHS to suddenly see how many people have their health deteriorate therefore proving that thyroid medication is necessary to include on prescription!!!! This to me almost shows her admittance to their being a necessity to supply it to patients!
I am quite riled by this, especially as I am just about to purchase some T3 and/or NDT for my own deteriorating hypo health!
jbthyro
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jbthyro
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Any such clamp down won't just affect thyroid patients it will be anybody who buys non-prescription medications that are restricted in the UK but not elsewhere from abroad.
However that will involve Customs and the Post Office going through every single package, and neither have the manpower to do that as people have been smuggling illegal drugs in and out of the country for years.
Edited to say:
Just looked and searched on the MHRA website and there is no mention of this.
I think your GP's making it up and I doubt she can substantiate it if asked to. There are currently no formal restrictions on importing thyroid medication for personal/household use.
As I see it, The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 expressly allows personal imports. In order to disallow, wouldn't this Act have to be superceded? There are alternative approaches such as changing classification - e.g. making liothyronine and desiccated thyroid controlled medicines like heroin, cocaine, etc. - which may not require such changes, but we have to be deeply concerned if individual medicines are singled out for such measures.
—(1) A person may not except in accordance with a licence (a “manufacturer’s licence”)—
(a)
manufacture, assemble or import from a state other than an EEA State any medicinal product; or
(b)
possess a medicinal product for the purpose of any activity in sub-paragraph (a).
(2)
Paragraph (1) is subject to paragraphs (3) to (5).
(3)
Paragraph (1) applies in relation to an investigational medicinal product only—
(a)
if the product has a marketing authorisation, Article 126a authorisation, certificate of registration or traditional herbal registration; and
(b)
to the extent that the manufacture or assembly of the product is in accordance with the terms and conditions of that authorisation, certificate or registration.
(4)
In paragraph (3), “marketing authorisation” means—
(a)
a marketing authorisation issued by a competent authority in accordance with the 2001 Directive; or
(b)
an EU marketing authorisation.
(5)
Paragraph (1) does not apply to a person who, in connection with the importation of a medicinal product from a state other than an EEA State—
(a)
provides facilities solely for transporting the product; or
(b)
acting as an import agent, imports the medicinal product solely to the order of another
person who holds a manufacturer’s licence authorising the importation of the product.
(6)
Paragraph (1) does not apply to a person who imports a medicinal product for administration to himself or herself or to any other person who is a member of that person’s household.
My GP suggested buying NDT online (from overseas) as the local prescribing committee wouldn't agree to it being prescribed for me. He also said that if I saw a significant improvement in my health from NDT, I will have a stronger case for it to be prescribed on a 'named patient basis'.
Started my NDT today - been feeling a bit headachy and have had a bit of fibromyalgia pain, BUT I've been busy at work with my stressful job, so it's hard to determine which is to blame!!
Just so it is clear, in purely legal terms it looks as if the exemption is for members of your household. Not for any friends and family who don't live in the same household.
[This is not meant to be censorious. Only to point it out so that you and anyone else can handle the situation in a way that doesn't cause you problems.]
They already banned all medications from abroad in Poland so it might be happening here too. One of my friends got her NDT confiscated when it reached London, but I don't know the reason.
They have to change the law in the UK first as Clutter et al pointed out.
Customs, part of HMRC, can take medication and supplements of you if they look suspicious. So it's best to leave them in their original packaging.
They also do tend to target people on flights from certain places as they know which flights are more likely to have people try and smuggle things in e.g. cigarettes, tobacco.
I watched the Dallas Buyers Club film recently and thought of us all getting our NDT and T3. Hopefully we can ride this scare out and the NHS cuts etc. and just continue to take what works for us, with or without our docotors.
The NHS would not be able to afford it - we are supplimenting them by buying our own. Let alone the fact that the hospitals would be full of really ill people because we cannot get the drugs our bodies need.
Does a huge collective crossing of fingers actually work?! After 2 years of being almost housebound, my GP gave me T3, and I started to feel well. I'm now using T3 I've bought online from Greece, and I'm almost back to normal.
Thank God for this forum helping us. My daughter had twins 6 weeks ago, and my dear Mum passed away last week. Before T3 I wouldn't have been able to cope with any of this.
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Dr Myhill on wrong UK thyroid ranges and how to determine if you have an issue - may be helpful to you
This is the voice of influential present day UK thinking in thyroidology. Read and despair.
Should I buy T3 online?
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