Just seen this

[Fruitandnutcase]

Not sure if any of us use this brand but it's interesting anyway

expatica.com/fr/news/France...

[helvella Administrator]

Police raid French HQ of pharma giant Merck

... wonder where it will lead?

[Rapunzel]

... wonder where it will lead?

youtube.com/watch?v=64yianf...(Not working as expected?)

Thanks for posting x

[greygoose in reply to Rapunzel]

I laugh, but they're not all like that. lol

[Scazzoh]

I wonder what the '62 legal complaints over the drug, which were filed with the high court charged with public health matters' were? Indivduals or health authorities?

[Clutter in reply to Scazzoh]

Scazzoh,

It's related to this thelocal.fr/20170824/france... Last time I saw it the petition complaining about it had more than 250,000 signatures.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Clutter]

That is really interesting Clutter, I hadn't seen it before. Surely all this has to be good for highlighting the problems thyroid patients have with thyroid medicines in general and the fact no one seems to want to listen to us. Pity it wouldn't escalate into the availability of T3.

[Clutter in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

F&N,

Teva introduced Lactose-free here last October and a lot of members are having trouble with that. Unfortunately, too many pharmacists, endos and GPs are inclined to shrug their shoulders and deny that Levothyroxine or the new formulations can have those effects.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Because of quality issues in the past with generic meds from Teva I refuse to accept meds from this drug co. I've spoken to my pharmacist and have posted about this. It is now on my pharmacy notes not to fill any of my meds with TEVA company drugs. Apparently they have had other complaints and were very understanding re my request. I'm in the US and the pharmaceutical company used for refills isprinted on the prescription bottle so I double-check they are not from TEVA before leaving the counter. irina1975

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

Irina1975,

All 4 Levothyroxine and 3 Liothyronine makes are generic in the UK.

[Scazzoh]

At least there is an acknowledgement that the new formula might affect absorption. Being told it is a temporary effect does not help if you are feeling really ill, does it? Let's hope it doesn't happen here.

[Clutter in reply to Scazzoh]

Scazzoh

But it does happen here all the time when patients are switched to alternative makes to the make they usually take because it suits the pharmacist or distributor to source different makes. That's why members are advised to stick with makes which suit them and reject alternative makes where they can.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Absolutely agree. It is our right not to accept meds from possible substandard pharmaceutical companies we've had past problems with. In the US when you suddenly get a refill from a different company it usually means the pharmacy has negotiated better financial terms with that company not that we are getting a better product. irina1975

[greygoose]

Typically French! They do love to go in mob-handed. I wonder what they expected to find? lol

[humanbean in reply to greygoose]

If the same thing happened in the UK, all they would find is a company they would say was lawfully trying to make a profit. The Establishment would think this was absolutely fine and there would be mild regret that people were being made to feel ill, but that's life, don'tcha know. Profit must come first!

[greygoose in reply to humanbean]

Yes, but to raid the offices like that, as if they expected resistance... At most they're going to take away a few computers and a bundle of papers. It's not as if they were expecting a shoot-out! lol Not like raiding a meths lab!

[humanbean in reply to greygoose]

I think going in mob-handed is a deliberate psychological ploy. It pushes people into a panic and reduces the risk of papers being shredded or files being deleted. People might manage to do some of these things but when panic sets in people don't always think or remember things.

It's like, you see those programs with car chases. When the police catch up they start smashing the windows with their truncheons, and it is supposed to confuse and disorientate the occupants. I imagine going in mob-handed into an office building is intended to achieve the same result.

(Says me who watches too much TV and too many detective dramas. )

[greygoose in reply to humanbean]

And, it's so much more fun! lol

[helvella Administrator in reply to humanbean]

But doesn't do anything to stop shredding if they are expecting a raid!

Merck confirmed that a search was carried out at its French headquarters in the eastern city of Lyon, saying it had been "expected" and that the company was cooperating with investigators.

[ For those with very long memories:

But at a time like this, my resistance is low ]

[humanbean in reply to helvella]

Okay, that is the bit that tells me, definitively, that the French are weird.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

It's really tiring to constantly have to fight the healthcare establishment just to avoid being mistreated-especially when there is financial gain involved. Just my opinion. irina1975