Liothyronine

[stgenies34480]

Hopefully I will be successful in getting this post on air so that all can see this problem.

On Tuesday 21st November on the BBC 6p.m. news it was announced that NHS England had a problem with Concordia, the suppliers of T3 - Liothyronine so much so that the prescribing of this medication is in severed danger of being withdrawn. Everyone on this site knows how difficult it is to a doctor to prescribe T3 and no doubt none of us would like to see it removed.

It would appear that in the past 6 years Concordia has raised the price of T3 to NHS England by 6000% and no-one in the Procurement Section of NHS picked up on this and naturally continued to place the orders. NOW that it has come to light NHS England were told that they had 2 weekss to decide whether to stop the prescribing of this medication. No internal investigation as to how this has occurred in the first place just take the easy way out and remove the item with no thought at all to the thousands of people who are taking this drug or the thousands that need the drug and can't get it. I know there are some of you who are sourcing the medication from abroad but as far as I can gather those places are diminishing - probably due to Concordia raising the prices!!

I haven't been able to find out any more information as the news media are not reporting this again - of course it was broken on the eve of the Budget and the saying goes "its a good time to hid bad news" comes to mind. I am hoping that the Administrators and/or other members can shed some more light on this issue but I for one don't want to find that my prescription is just suddenly withdrawn from me. It has taken my 10 years to get this far. My GP surgery has NHS pharmacy attached to it and they won't supply it so I already have to take my prescription to a community pharmacy (high street).

I have written to MP who asked if she could forward message to Health Secretary - we said she could. Also written to Opposition Health Secretary and anyone who we think should be aware of what is happening. If I can think of anyone else I will make them aware also. Perhaps Thyroid UK members could also write to their MP's.

[shaws Administrator]

Many members have had T3 withdrawn without notice. I shall look at our past posts and link you to the information.

On the British Thyroid Associations Guidelines (now, for some reason removed) it stated that if patient was settled on T3 it shouldn't be withdrawn.

Those on T3 also signed a Petition and again I will search for this. Also you should make an appointment with your local MP and complain that you cannot function without T3 as you've been on it for 10 years.

Also last week the Scottish Parliament had a debate about T3/levo and I shall also search too.

[stgenies34480 in reply to shaws]

Thank you. I have only been on it for 2 years but it took me 8 to get it.

[shaws Administrator in reply to stgenies34480]

This is the Scottish Parliament's Video.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[shaws Administrator in reply to stgenies34480]

If it has turned your life around it shouldn't be withdrawn.

[stgenies34480 in reply to shaws]

Thanks. Just by coincidence a neighbour telephoned me and I explained about the issue and she said she read the article in The Eye or The Tellegraph

[shaws Administrator in reply to stgenies34480]

Has your T3 been withdrawn or do you expect it might be? If so, you could email [e-mail] for clarificiation.

[shaws Administrator]

If you look on the right-hand side of your post, you will see lots of info re liothyronine. plus The Scottish Parliament debate.

[stgenies34480 in reply to shaws]

This is not an old report as far as I can see but something which has just come to light.

[Clutter]

Stgenies34480,

It was widely reported in the press, radio and Tv and social media last week. The CMA decision was 'provisional' and a final decision is due this week so we should hear more soon.