WP Thyroid on NHS prescription

[josie-n]

Just a little note that may help someone. This is official...your GP CAN supply NDT on a green NHS Prescription, my new GP has done this for me and I am over the moon! Anyway for those of you brave enough to ask your GP here is a little information that may help your cause, UL Medicines Ltd (01923 204333) have given this price for WP Thyroid: £55.18 per 100 (1 grain) this is to your chosen chemist as they do not deal with the public, the prescription must state that this is for Hypothyroidism. So if your GP says its too expensive you can give him/her these details! Good luck - and don't give up!

[shaws Administrator]

If doctors are willing to prescribe these are also details. Very few NHS doctors will do so but Private doctors probably: All details are on Thyroiduk.org.uk

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

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

I've requested a couple of times but the doctors woulnd't as if it is on a 'named-patient' basis and the patient has a bad reaction it falls to the doctor alone.

[UrsaP in reply to shaws]

shaws perhaps we should go to GP's with printed out disclaimers willing to take risk for ourselves!

[shaws Administrator in reply to UrsaP]

They wont take up our invitations!

[josie-n]

I think it is appalling that a GP can make that sort of decision as he wishes with no regard for how the patient is suffering, those who say no don't give a damn do they?

[shaws Administrator in reply to josie-n]

The assumption is that levothyroxine is 'perfect' and NDT is not is spread by rumours and untruthful statements and not by patients whose lives can be changed immensley. Considering it has been used since 1892 in different forms it is 'grandfathered':-

Excerpt:

As thyroid extract use predated this cutoff, only thyroid hormone products introduced subsequently were subject to this higher level of regulation.[39] Thyroid hormone extracts continued to be marketed as unapproved drugs without new drug application (NDA) approvals as they were only subject to previously established enforcement priorities.[39] Manufacturers of extract products consider these formulations to be "grandfathered" drugs as they were distributed prior to 1938 and there have been no significant changes to the formulation, dosage form, potency, administration route, indications, or intended patient population since 1938.[39] The FDA has never formally recognized any drug as being grandfathered, but the agency recognizes that some patients firmly believe that extracts are an effective form of therapy for them. It has been speculated that as yet unidentified nonthyroid hormone-related components in thyroid extracts may account for this preference.

medscape.com/viewarticle/85...

Those of us who don't and cannot get well or even improve on levo might find that a product from an animal's gland may solve the problems but aren't allowed a trial . Sometimes we may even have to try a few NDTs to find one that suits. We are all different.

Levothyroxine a synthetic replacement of T4 only which might suit many but there should be exceptions. We are mainly women and have enough to contend with without being restricted in regard to a product which can revitilise our health in ways it would seem the professionals don't care about and that our jobs/relationships can be in danger: many are prescribed 'extras' (more expense) which doesn't solve anything.

A sentence from second para:

The FDA has never formally recognized any drug as being grandfathered, but the agency recognizes that some patients firmly believe that extracts are an effective form of therapy for them. It has been speculated that as yet unidentified nonthyroid hormone-related components in thyroid extracts may account for this preference.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to shaws]

In the USA, even levothyroxine was not approved until 2000.

The link below is to a formal FDA paper that starts well, but ends up blowing their own trumpets - in my view, without adequate justification.

fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/Dru...

[shaws Administrator in reply to helvella]

Thanks. So the BTA are two-faced in fact.

[shaws Administrator]

Just in case as the BTA and RCoP have made untrue statements about NDT. The following is the 'truth - the whole truth and - nothing but the truth

thyroidscience.com/Criticis...

[lucylocks]

Hi

I am taking W.P. Thyroid which I get from the U.S. and pay for.

Is a green prescription , a private one, if so, do I just ask my G.P. to write a private one then pay the price of what the W.P. costs.

Thank you.

[josie-n in reply to lucylocks]

No a green prescription is an NHS standard one, your Doctor CAN issue one...but of course he can refuse if he doesn't 'want' to write one! Good luck!

[lucylocks in reply to josie-n]

Of course it is, don't know what I was thinking.

Thanks for letting me know.

[josie-n]

No probs - good luck! x

[earlybirdsarah]

GP’s will not prescribe NDT where I live. ☹️

[Clairelkj in reply to earlybirdsarah]

Same here. They believe it doesn't work without even lookingat the evidence! Boils my blood!