T3 prescibing

[lidoplace]

How many more trusts have issued this information detailing why they have stopped Patients access to T3 ?

bsuh.nhs.uk/wp-content/uplo...

[shaws Administrator]

It is only down to the prohibitive cost the suppliers want for supplying T3 and an excellent excuse to remove the Active hormone that many require to have a worthwhile, pain-free, and normal life.

We cannot blame the BTA for that. Unfortunately, many patients on this forum do not improve on levothyroxine and Associations have ignored several Research Trials which prove that T3/T4 combination gives superior results for those who do not get better on levothyroxine alone. They are also incapable of knowing any clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism which doctors pre TSH blood tests knew and Dr Skinner (RIP) stated himself that the Guidelines put many sufferers in a very parlous situation i.e. remain undiagnosed due to TSH alone.

The fact that they also, years ago, made False Statements about NDT - the original replacement in place of synthetic hormone and deny patients even trialling NDT and also withdrew this from being prescribed. They have swallowed the pharma companies promotions hook, line and sinker.

I think Lorraine Cleaver would have something to say about their statement and people on the point of suicide denied a decent hormone which suits them and removes disabling symptoms and permits them to have a healthy fulfilling life.

They appear not to be aware of the physiology of T3 and state:-

"T3 is much shorter-acting than T4, so levels vary widely during the day,even in patients on multiple daily doses. It is difficult to replicate the natural balance of T4/T3 in the circulation using T4/T3 combination therapy, risking side-effects from slight over-treatment in the long term.

These side-effects include atrial fibrillation (an erratic heart beat which increases the risk of stroke) and loss of bone strength (increasing therisk of osteoporosis and fractures)."

This statement is untrue - why when I was on levothyroxine in and out of A&E due to severe palps and having investigations, Fruitless and completely due to levothyroxine.

Once I switched to T3, all disabling symptoms resolved. It is true that it is absorbed quickly but they are unaware that it goes directly into the receptor cells and the effect lasts for between one to three days and I know mine lasts two days. I haven't wanted to experiment to see how long one dose actually lasts but all my clinical symptoms resolved.

There is no mention of some who are Resistant to Thyroid Hormones and cannot recover at all on levothyroxine and have a clinical need for T3.

The hike in price was perfect excuse to prohibit prescribing as quite a few were being prescribed T3 added to T4.

They would rather people remain unwell and the insistence that T4 only and the cost for the 'extra' prescriptions for the disabling symptoms do add up to a nice sum, not including lost wages for patients unable to work and shows how ignorant they are about the function of the thyroid gland and as it is mainly women who develop hypo they probably consider us unstable/hormonal that they easily dismiss our symptoms as 'due to other causes, i.e. unstable' - 'all in the mind'.

[shaws Administrator]

They were always looking for a reason to try to prevent giving T3 to patients and now the perfect excuse has arisen - cost.

The fact that many patients improved with the addition of T3 only or T3 added to T4 appears to be of no interest to them at all.

Never mind that most Endos are men who are less likely to get a dysfunction of their thyroid gland and the utter disregard of suffering which T3 helped to alleviate. Some of our members' Consultations with them left a lot to be desired (sympathy lacking) as the Endos think it is a fallacy that T3 relieves symptoms, and just proves to patients that they have no understanding at all about the function of the thyroid gland. Ignorant isn't too strong a word.

[levelslass]

Had letter from GP saying T3 on blacklist. Spoke to Medicines Manager at local CCG. She sent me two leaflets with clinical trials, one on Armour and the other on T3. British Thyroid Association are very clear. They do not support the RCP view that patients on combination therapy should be taken off and put on levothyroxine only. They say it's dangerous to do that but no-one is listening to them because it's all about the moneeeey. So what are we going to do girls? Not great with computer so if someone can tell me how to post email attachment on this site will send you the leaflets. Has everyone complained to the Competition and Markets Authority? I hope so.