Wockhardt Levothyroxine: I have just been told by... - Thyroid UK

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Wockhardt Levothyroxine

nightingale-56 profile image
49 Replies

I have just been told by my local Boots that Wockhardt are no longer available as they are not doing it anymore. Does anyone have any information on this please? Think I will have to contact Wockhardt direct in case it is just Boots being awkward. I hate that they took over our lovely little independent pharmacy.

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nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56
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mb008 profile image
mb008

I was just about to post a message to ask how to find out where to obtain Wockhardt locally. Do you contact their Head Office?

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to mb008

mb008 I have just spoken to Wockhardt Customer Services (tel: 01978 661 261) who have told me that there is not a problem and we think it is just Boots being awkward. I am now going to phone them and complain. Or maybe I will go into the shop and make a fuss - hopefully there will be a shopful of people. Hate Boots!

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to nightingale-56

Maybe boots are sourcing another levothyroxine and not Wockhardt.

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to shaws

What I don't understand shaws is that for the past 3 months they have been able to source it quite easily. To many fingers in pies I think, all trying for a piece. Boots obviously are not making enough money out of Wockhardt. I guess this is what comes of letting cut-throat companies take over British ones.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to nightingale-56

They may have used up the stocks they had but it is inconvenient for those who prefer one make of thyroid hormones. I say 'make' because there are no brands anymore. I think Eltroxin was the only one.

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to shaws

I did try MP Eltroxin shaws but it was like poison to me after Goldshield Eltroxin. Goodness knows what the difference is. It is high time the government owned up to the fact that the generics do not work and are making us ill.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to nightingale-56

There were lots of complaints even by some who'd taken it for years about Eltroxin so they changed something. I found of all levos that gave me the least symptoms.

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to shaws

I had been taking it for at least 5 years by 2010 and before that I had Norton,which was equally as good. Goldshield took over after Norton when I found that Actavis was not good for me, so I am sure that the generics are not good at all.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to nightingale-56

I believe so. After all they have to make the tablets cheap(er)!

lolajone profile image
lolajone in reply to nightingale-56

I asked today for wockhart for my son as I don't think the Mercury pharmacy is suiting him. They ordered it there and then and said it would be in tomorrow. This was in Boots. Will have to see if it turns up.

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56

Have just heard back from my local Boots. They will only put Wockhardt through as a special order and, rightly so I think, my GP practice are not willing to pay for this. I do not feel that Wockhardt should be on a Special Order. Hope Boots goes bankrupt!

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply to nightingale-56

j_bee,

I'm not even sure Boots can actually do that as Wockhardt is a standard NHS levo. If you have any large supermarket pharmacies within reach, I would try them as they are often more amenable to ordering in specific levo brands in my experience.

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to RedApple

Thanks for your reply RedApple . I thought the same, how can they charge for something that is not special. I have since earlier been to an independent pharmacy and after getting what I though was Wockhardt, since getting it home (I know I should have looked while at pharmacy) I have found it is Actavis. I have now rung the other two pharmacies in Witham and they cannot get it either. I really don't know what to do now as this is the only one I can take. Will have to go further afield.

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56

I have just written to Wockhardt requesting where I might be able to get this Levo and telling them what Boots have said about a special order. Hope it has put the cat among the pigeons.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to nightingale-56

Strikes me you could score some points by contacting Boots directly.

Play the innocent, ask Boots if they would be able to help as your doctor told you to get Wockhardt levothyroxine but your local pharmacy didn't have any. Let them think is was not a Boots pharmacy.

boots.com/floating-editoria...

Slightly later, and separately, use a different email address to ask their policy on dispensing the make a customer asks for, specifically Wockhardt.

If the two flatly contradict each other, you have some potentially useful material to show, or even make public. Take care to write it so that there is nothing you'd want to keep private (easy enough to take contact details off an email).

I agree with RedApple that I do not think it at all acceptable to class a non-special as a special.

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to helvella

helvella Boots is next on my list as well as my old friend the local CCG. I feel this really needs bringing out into the open now. How I wish I had opened the bag in the pharmacy. I usually do, but as I had asked for Wockhardt I thought this was what I would get. It was also on the prescription. Am sure something is going on between pharmacies and suppliers. All the pharmacies I have contacted have all blamed the suppliers

Thank you for the contact details for Boots.

dotti profile image
dotti

OHHHH Shit Wockhardt is the only brand i can tolerate the best of a bad bunch, i too get my script done at Boots, and am due to take my prescription into boots on Friday for more Levo, will see what they say and will post on forum.

It makes me so bloody furious the way they mess us about its a disgrace the way we are all treated

Dotti x

dotti profile image
dotti

Have decided i will ring up my usual boots where i get my script done in the morning and ask them about it will then post back on here instead of waiting till Friday

Dotti x

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to dotti

Look forward to what you have to say dotti.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

I have same problem getting Mercury Pharma. I pick up physical prescription from Dr's and then have to ring around. Last time I had to go 15miles to find a pharmacy with some

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to SlowDragon

SlowDragon they really don't want us to have it, do they!

SmallBlueThing profile image
SmallBlueThing

No help to you, but my non-Boots pharmacy supplies 25 mcg Wockhardt, which tastes slightly sweet. I get a mix of Actavis, Almus and Mercury. I suppose they're covering all bases ;-)

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to SmallBlueThing

I have a non-Boots Pharmacy getting me some and Wockhardt are sending out supplies to wholesalers.

dotti profile image
dotti

Out of curiosity i rang our main Asda store they have a large Pharmacy store in there, and wait for it the answer was a resounding NO when i asked if f they could obtain N.H.S Wockhardt Levo, their supplier doesnt deal with Wockhardt!

Dotti x

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to dotti

I think it is all down to the suppliers dotti. Obviously not making enough money with Wockhardt and there is only the one dose - 25 mcg. So I am going to have to take four tablets instead of the one I had hoped would be the case.

mb008 profile image
mb008

Won't an online pharmacy supply it?

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to mb008

Looked into this before for something else and I did not find it straightforward. Would prefer not to anyway.

romy55 profile image
romy55

I'm in Scotland my thyroxine isnt by wockhardt its mercury pharma but realised new prescription is Teva. It says new formulation. I'm new to this never appreciated there might be brands that affect me differently. I hope you get it sorted

Zephyrbear profile image
Zephyrbear

Wockhardt are the only Levothyroxine I can tolerate too. I break out in horrid hives with all the others, so I would have to give it up altogether. My GP surgery has its own pharmacy so specifying the brand has always been pretty easy and they know now to get it in for me. Occasionally, they get it wrong, so I or my husband or daughter who usually pick it up for me if I can't, will always check before they leave the surgery and they've always swapped it there and then it's it was wrong. I only take 25mcg/day alongside my 45mcg T3, so it's not a huge dose, but I would certainly notice pretty quickly it if it wasn't Wockhardt!

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to Zephyrbear

Zephyrbear I know I should have checked, and usually do, but because I had asked if they did Wockhardt and it was on the prescription, I just did not think to. Anyway this pharmacy (not Boots, as I'll never willingly use that pharmacy again) are very kindly getting me in some of the 25 mcg tablets.

dotti profile image
dotti

I have just rang my local boots and they are contacting the supplier to see if they can still get it.

Dotti

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to dotti

Wockhardt did say this morning that they are sending out supplies to wholesalers.

DJR1 profile image
DJR1

Some years ago in the NW the independent pharmacy used to supply a different brands all the time. I was not happy with this and asked why. I was told that it is price dependent and the decision was with their central office.

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to DJR1

DJR1 I think we all know that this is all to do with price. No care for the patient at all.

Phoenix605 profile image
Phoenix605

Try Tesco pharmacy, they gave me Wockhardt 25's on 29th March which was a change as they normally give me Mercury P. The 100's they gave me a month later (im out of sync) were Teva though so they may not do all sizes.

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to Phoenix605

Phoenix605 Tesco were to be my last hope this morning,but as mentioned above I think it is now sorted. Temporarily at least.

dotti profile image
dotti

Just got a call back from my local boots store and they said yes they can still supply me with wockhardt!!

Dotti x

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to dotti

Glad to hear it dotti.

dotti profile image
dotti

Glad that you got sorted it is a worry when these things happen

Dotti x

Bluecat101 profile image
Bluecat101

l will only say Boots are mega problem. They have taken over every Pharmacy in this small town(4) and kicked out the lovely older helpful Pharmacists. l only go to the Independent a few miles away between towns - and with own parking. They are incredibly helpful too. Boots had a new Italian CEO couple years back and this is when trouble started, and they took over Allied and upset all their staff so the nice ladies all left. Government are not helping either

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to Bluecat101

Bluecat101 Even before Boots were taken over by Walgreens I never liked them. We still have two independent small pharmacies and I am now using one of them. They have been most helpful this morning and done all the necessary changing of prescription wording with the Gp surgery, whereas last time problems occurred Boots made me do all the running around. I agree that the Government are not helping patients at all and only making our lives more stressful. Have just heard today that Boots are another company not paying taxes. I do wish our Government would not allow our assets to be sold to overseas countries, and not allow big companies to have the monopoly. This country is known to be a nation of small shopkeepers, but is drastically changing for the worse.

SYLVIE15 profile image
SYLVIE15

Hi

I got my doctor to specify wockhardt and have to have it In 25 mg. so take 5 a day. Weldricks chemist got them in and boots said they could special order them But your doctor has to specify brand and in 25 mg. it took a bit of messing about but I got them. Hope this helps. What brand are you getting and what is wrong

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to SYLVIE15

I have just managed to get my GP to do this and am awaiting a call from the Pharmacist to say they are in stock. Wockhardt are not exactly good, but they are the best of a bad bunch for me.

SYLVIE15 profile image
SYLVIE15

i got the doctor to specify and now have to go through the same hoop as they did not update the online prescription but hopefully i will tet wockhardt again as i seem to beallergic to tevo

Hurtlocker profile image
Hurtlocker

Get mine from Tesco pharmacy..they get it in specially for me...had to come off it though due to side effects!!! Now back on Teva.

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to Hurtlocker

Hurtlocker I have now changed to NDT and am much better with good blood test results for all my bloods. Hope I never have to go back to T4 alone. HopeTeva suits you.

Hurtlocker profile image
Hurtlocker

Thanks for replying..Teva doesnt suit me at all but wockhardt had same syptoms but with a few extra added including bad aches and pains and sore throat and mouth ulcers.know its levo induced because i dont take anything else!!!waiting for next bloods and asking doctor for capsules or alternatives!!let you know what happens!!!regards...

nightingale-56 profile image
nightingale-56 in reply to Hurtlocker

That sounds horrendous Hurtlocker . Yes I had a burning feeling, especially my face on waking, with Wockhardt and could not bear to go back to it. NDT is much better and I think it should be made available to all who would like to try it, even if we have to pay something towards it. Keep us informed of how you get on. xx

Hurtlocker profile image
Hurtlocker

Have blood tests next week and see whats recommended..will ask for capsules or NDT..lets see!!!let you know..doc is usually lovely guy.so let us hope!!i just want to be Meeee with no side effects..

Regards

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