T3 prescribed by endo but no one will actually prescribe it....

[Sulkyy]

Hi long time lurker. I have an underactive thyroid and I have been on levo for years with only limited success. My endo finally prescribed me t3 20mg per day and dropped my levo to compensate.

I handed in my letter to the doctors and they said they would not prescribe it as its a red medication. My endo appears to have ceased all communication and my next appointment is still 6 months away.

So I have 2 questions. First, has anyone what suffered this nonsense and did it get resolved. I'm worried that I am now stuck in the middle of a financial argument and only I will lose.

Second, Now I don't know if I'm even allowed to ask but... I'm in Egypt and believe that I can just buy T3 much much cheaper than the UK. Does anyone have any experience and are you /they allowed to share?

Thanks.

[Clutter]

Sulkyy,

Was it a NHS endo in your local area which prescribed T3?

I've not seen anyone post that they take Eygptian T3. Why not try some to see how it suits?

[Sulkyy in reply to Clutter]

Hi, yeah it was an NHS endo.

I am seriously considering whilst they sort it out but I'm not sure if all suppliers are reliable and what sort of price I would be paying.

Hopefully learning on the back of someone else's experience. 🤞

[Clutter in reply to Sulkyy]

Sulkyy,

It looks like your practice or CCG may have redlighted Liothyronine due to cost if the recommendation is from a NHS endocrinologist. You could write to your practice and CCG appealing the decision and asking why they are not prescribing the therapy your NHS endo recommends. Do copy your MP on any correspondence. I'm not sure it will make much difference but NHS is not supposed to refuse treatment on the grounds of cost.

I don't know whether Liothyronine (T3) is available in Eygpt or how much it costs. Ask in a couple of pharmacies. 100 x 25mcg Tiromel costs €2-€3 over the counter in Turkey or around £21 via an online seller.

[humanbean in reply to Clutter]

Try showing a pharmacist a picture of a box of Tiromel

dropbox.com/s/ish88r4xv5lbt...

or a box of Uni-Pharma T3.

dropbox.com/s/eqkh4i84eqzpa...

I would have thought it was more likely to be available, if it is available at all, as Tiromel, but you never know.

It's possible Egypt gets T3 from somewhere else or makes its own.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Look up your local CCG website, search Liothyronine and see what the guidelines say.

In my CCG, the guidelines state that The British Thyroid Association concluded in 2015 combined treatment of T4/T3 was an option for those with hypothyroidism whose symptoms are not alleviated by T4. Only to be instigated after seeing NHS endo and reviewed after 3 months, only continuing if there is improvements in symptoms.

After seeing endo, I went to GP to request prescription, having printed CCG guidelines off, plus copies of the current guidelines for endo's and GP's from British Thyroid Association - highlighted relevant paragraphs

british-thyroid-association...

This got a successful application for three month trial.

Meanwhile we are all waiting to find out when new UK T3 license holder launches on to market.

As you have Hashimoto's are you gluten free and what are your recent blood test results for vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. These need to be at good levels for T4 or T3

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

[Sulkyy]

Thank you. I'm not gluten free and all my blood tests are finally built up. Vit D was low but its just off of normal range now.

I will definitely use those guidelines thanks