T3- helpful GP

[Quokka]

I had the summons I was dreading today to discuss my liothyronine prescription with my GP. I’ve been on a T4/T3 combination for 15 years- I feel well and my results are stable. I was dreading going back to that feeling of exhaustion and depression I had on T4 alone. In fact, the lovely GP wrote the prescription for liothyronine, and agreed the issue was financial, not clinical. He was amazed that I’d been able to buy 28 tablets in the south of France for just over 3 EUR, rather than the £250+ the same thing costs here. I’m still going to write to my MP again to ask why the NHS can’t buy T3 from a cheaper source- surely they can change the rules. Jeremy Hunt’s standard reply ‘answered’ a lot of other questions but not that one. Thanks to everyone for their helpful info!

[shaws Administrator]

There is another T3 but as it isn't 'licenced' the GP has to prescribe on a named-patient basis. Many will not do so.

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

[pixiewixie]

Dear Quokka I found your post very interesting. I think I am currently the T4 only person that you were! Sorry if I have confused you Pixiewixie

[Clutter]

Quokka,

It amazes me that GPs are being instructed to 'deprescribe' Liothyronine because of the cost instead of telling them they can write prescriptions for cheaper European Liothyronine on a named patient basis.

Please complete the NHS England Survey to say why T3 should continue to be prescribed healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Quokka in reply to Clutter]

My experience of doctors is that they're open to T3. They don't seem to know that it can be bought cheaper elsewhere.

[Clutter in reply to Quokka]

Quokka,

You are fortunate. Many members are having T3 withdrawn by their doctors after using it successfully for years due to the expense and NHS England would like to take it away from all of us.

[Quokka in reply to Clutter]

Yes, it's terrible. It could still happen to me, so I'm still hassling my MP and will definitely complete the NHS England survey.

[heathermr]

As I take T3 only I have been extremely worried that the NHS would stop my prescriptions of T3 after 6 years of taking it. However I am now on Cytomel instead after working on my Gp to use another better T3. Yes it is unlicesned here but is one of the main T3 medications used widely throughout the rest of the world and it is available under the named patient scheme. I had to find a specialist importer to bring the T3 in from Canada (thanks to TUK for the info and help!) and a small pharamcist willing to work both with me and the importer to persuade the GP that the Cytomel is good T3. The icing on the cake was to find out that the Cytomel costs the NHS just £220 per 100 tablets. Why is the NHS not buying this T3 and using its money more effectively? Incidentally Cytomel is proving to be a far more effective medication and I have been able to reduce my dose slightly since I swapped medication. My Gp is happy to continue to prescribe on the named patient basis and is astonished that not only do I feel better but am actually taking less medication.

Heather

[Quokka in reply to heathermr]

Very interesting and helpful, thanks- that will be the next step to try if my GP has to stop my T3. I've jut written to my MP to ask why the NHS doesn't buy T3 more cheaply. If they can ban it ltogether, surely they have the power to change their own rules, and approach other pharmaceutical companes, instead of waiting to be approached!

[Hidden]

Just reading your very interesting posts about the T3 dilemma in the UK. You told your GP you were able to by it cheaply in France, were you able to just buy it over the counter from a Pharmacy or did you need to take a prescription from your GP?

Thanks for all the advice and sharing, I'll look at the petitions

[Quokka in reply to Hidden]

I showed the French pharmacist my NHS pot of T3 with my name on it and he sold me a couple of packs of 28 tablets. Others have written to this forum to say they can't buy it in France. I think I was lucky. I now buy it online from Germany with a free private presciption from my GP. versandapo.de/en/0/7498960/...