Hi, I recently moved from the US to Edinburgh. I didn't know it would be this hard to get a prescription for WP Thyroid. I have been turned down by several GP's and given Levo, and been told I simply will not be able to find any doctor who will prescribe WP thyroid. I need to find a doctor that will prescribe me WP thyroid 2 grain.
My US based doctor sent me enough medicine for 9 months, (I'm here studying to get my masters degree.) However, I got extremely lucky and somehow, my 9 month prescription never made it here. I apparently was lost and it does't seem likely I will get it anytime soon.
I've been off my Wp thyroid 2 grain tablets for more than a month now and all my former issues that were resolved by taking WP are coming back. Extreme lethargy, inexplicable joint and muscle pain, low back pain, easily get cold (although I live in Scotland and it's winter) Mood swings, depression, sleep disturbances and constant brain fog. I'm used to being extremely active, play sports and train regularly, and I haven't felt like myself lately.
Any advice and tips wold be greatly appreciated!
Written by
trackson87
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NDT isn't licensed for UK use so it's rarely prescribed on the NHS. Most members using WP will have either a private prescription from a private doctor or endocrinologist or buy online and self medicate.
Email louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org.uk for a list of member recommended endocrinologists and private doctors. You should check with doctors' offices that they prescribe WP before confirming a booking.
It is possible that UK customs confiscated your WP Thyroid.
In the UK it is allowable to import enough prescribed meds for personal use for three months. With greater amounts than that customs may have decided you intended to sell it and confiscated it. (Who knows how official brains work? I'm just speculating.)
helvella knows a lot about how the regulations work I think.
I wonder if your US doctor would supply you with three paper prescriptions through the post. You could then use one every three months and order online. I've never bought WP Thyroid though, so have no idea where there may be sources for it. Some pharmacies online require prescriptions, some don't. You may be able to use a US prescription in a pharmacy in the UK I'm really not sure though, but even if you can the cost would probably be enormous, and online purchasing would be much cheaper.
It is legal to buy other brands of NDT. You could buy from Thailand without prescription, for example. Many people do. There are three brands available from Thailand - Thyroid-S, Thiroyd (peculiar spelling deliberate), and T.R. Man.
helvella knows nothing about how the regulations actually work!
Nine months supply - assuming 100 tablets in a pot - that's just three pots. I can't see any customs getting fussed about that.
How did the doctor send them? On the one hand, ordinary post is often much less expensive and, if things get by without going through customs clearance, can be quite fast. On the other hand, sending it by a proper tracked courier will let you see what happens but makes it more likely to be picked up by customs. But the customs involvement is most likely to ensure the recipient gets charged the VAT due rather than to confiscate.
I have no idea what happens if customs do decide to prevent delivery. Obviously if it is thought to be serious drug dealing (or any other heavy criminal issue), they could do anything. For these more technical issues, I would have expected a letter to be sent.
I'd put my money on the package having gone missing.
You have to get a prescription for levothyroxine in the meantime until the problem is resolved. You cannot do without hormones at all. You will definitely get a prescription for levo.
I'm so sorry that you've had to start your masters degree in a new country without essential medication. I hope things look up for you, and I also think it likely that your WP has gone missing. I doubt very much it has been confiscated.
I import NDT from the US for my husband, and usually what happens is that Customs pick it up and then notify Royal Mail. The postman puts a card through the door telling me that a package is waiting for me at the sorting office, but RM can't deliver it until I've paid the VAT (amount depends on value of contents) and RM handling fee (£8). I got one of these cards today, and have had to pay £18.35.
Is it not possible to get your US gp to just re-send? You can order ThyroGold online (which is otc in the US and I believe others here import it successfully for their own use) either to try instead or to tide you over until you get your usual meds.
I believe you can only use a prescription here that is written here. I had a script for an ecg written by a doctor I saw in the US that I was not able to use here.
I don't think that breaches any guidelines admin but do let me know if I'm wrong.
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Is there any reason that my GP would feel tat there is no need to tell me that I produce Thyroid antibodies>
