Hi everyone I am new here.I would be really grateful if someone could msg me how one can get T3 online? I've been in it together with T4 and feel so much better.However I am not sure my GP will keep prescribing due to cost and ccg restrictions .Can you get it as a private script from your GP?
Thanks
If you have been prescribed T3 it should not be withdrawn if you've found it helpful. Two excerpts from the following link. We have to know our rights and many doctors or endocrinologists aren't aware of them, especially if they've been told to cut down on T3:-
In 2016 the British Thyroid Association (BTA) published a statement
endorsed by the British Thyroid Foundation and the Society for
Endocrinology on current best practice for the management of primary
hypothyroidism.
1
A decision to embark on a trial of L-T4/L-T3
combination therapy in patients who have unambiguously not benefited
from L-T4 should be reached following an open and balanced discussion
of the uncertain benefits, likely risks of over-replacement and lack of
long term safety data. Such patients should be supervised by accredited
endocrinologists with documentation of agreement after fully informed and
understood discussion.
L-T3 AVAILABILITY
Recently, many patients have been informed of a lack of L-T3 availability
on the basis of cost. The price increase in L-T3 has arisen because generic
products in the NHS are not price-controlled to encourage competitive pricing and keep prices down. However, this can have the opposite effect
where there is a limited number of suppliers for a product, as suppliers can
choose to increase prices unilaterally.
Several years ago, L-T3 became generic with a single supplier, Goldshield,
which became AMCo, and now Concordia. There has been a gradual price
increase, particularly in the last 3 years, and this increase appears to have
occurred more notably in the UK relative to other European countries.
The Competition and Markets Authority (the competition watchdog) has
investigated and is due to report shortly.
WITHDRAWING OR INTRODUCING L-T3
Sudden withdrawal of L-T3 therapy is not supported, as clinical need
should come before financial considerations. For patients who are long
established on L-T3 and are thought to be stable, a change to L-T4
monotherapy should not be implemented without careful discussion. In
such cases, change of treatment may result in significant instability of
thyroid status and potentially undesirable clinical outcomes, which may
prove more expensive than continuation with L-T3 therapy.
For patients with hypothyroidism who are not on L-T3 but wish to
be treated with L-T3, the principles in decision-making should be in
accordance with those outlined in the BTA statement and in line with
the best principles of good medical practice. Combination treatments
of L-T3 and L-T4 should only be initiated and supervised by accredited
endocrinologists.
In patients where it is agreed to switch from combined L-T3 and L-T4
treatment or from L-T3 monotherapy to L-T4 monotherapy, the transition
should be made cautiously and gradually, aiming to avoid under- or over-
replacement with thyroid hormones. The final L-T4 requirement is likely
to be around 1.6μg/kg. Any information about previous L-T4 dosage that
achieved a serum TSH within the reference range will be a useful guide that
predicts the individual requirement.
Because of the long half-life of L-T4 and the short half-life of L-T3, a ‘one-
step straight switch’ from L-T3 to L-T4 may result in a phase of under-
replacement, especially in those previously treated with L-T3 monotherapy.
Gradual reduction of L-T3 at the same time as introducing L-T4 may be
a preferable alternative. Frequent assessment of clinical and biochemical
thyroid status is recommended until stability is reached. Awareness of the
pharmacokinetics of L-T3 and L-T4 is important in interpreting thyroid
function tests during the transitional period.
In patients with thyroid cancer, where L-T3 is being recommended in
preparation for radioiodine therapy or diagnostic imaging, access to L-T3
is imperative and substitution with L-T4 is inappropriate. L-T4/L-T3
combination therapy is not recommended in pregnancy, patients over the
age of 60 or patients of any age with known heart disease, as additional
care is required to avoid over-replacement.
If you are prescribed T3 after seeing an NHS endocrinologist then you should not have T3 withdrawn. If they try to do so they MUST refer you back to an endocrinologist (that will take months, if not years)
Statement from British Thyroid Association on this
british-thyroid-association...
british-thyroid-association...
Prof Antony Toft, previous president of BTA has just published this in support of increased treatment with T3
HypoPot,
If T3 was recommended by a NHS endocrinologist you should challenge any attempt by your GP or CCG to withdraw T3.
I would write to your GP (cc your MP) and tell your GP that the CCG does not have the authority to tell GPs what not to prescribe and you believe your GP is in breach of GMS contract by with-drawing treatment you have been told you need. Say you have been well on Liothyronine and wish to continue taking it. Attach the BTA guidance for patients and GPs.
The BTA issued guidance that patients doing well on T3 should not have their prescriptions with-drawn. See FAQS for patients and GPs in british-thyroid-association...
CCGs do not have the authority to tell GPs what not to prescribe. Individual GPs, not CCGs, could be found in breach of the General Medical Services contract if they do not prescribe treatment patients have been told "they need".
bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j36...
The GPC has warned that GPs would be in breach of the GMS contract and could get into legal trouble by following the orders and refusing to prescribe patients treatments they have told them they need.
gponline.com/gpc-warning-ig...
CCGs are expected to do impact consultations with the public and stakeholders before implementing change. Failure to do so leaves them open to legal challenge so check whether your CCG did an impact consultation before advising your GP to withdraw T3.
mills-reeve.com/files/Publi...
A private script will cost £258+ for 28 x 20mcg Liothyronine. If NHS T3 is withdrawn write a new post and ask members to send you sources for T3 without prescription via private messages as it will be much cheaper than private prescription.
T3 or not T3
t3
t3 prescription 
T3 drama
T3
