Buying T3 abroad with prescription

[dolphin5]

Does anyone know if you can get a private prescription for T3, and get a friend to pick it up in Spain?

Does the fact that a prescription has been used make it legal for the friend to bring it back?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Not a lawyer, and even more certainly not a lawyer versed in Spanish law! But..

The exemption allowed in British law is strictly for members of your household to personally import, whether in person or by post. (I am not even sure if the exemption would cover a granny flat or your cat or dog.)

From memory, Spain is not a good country to obtain liothyronine. Have you thought of buying from Germany using internet ordering?

[Clutter]

Dolphin5,

Medicines imported should be for your own use or the use of someone in your household so it's not strictly legal to ask your friend to import it for you if s/he doesn't live with you.

UK prescriptions should be valid anywhere in the EU. The Spanish for Liothyronine is Liotironina.

If you can get a prescription for 100 x 20mcg Liothyronine you can obtain Thybon from versandapo.de/en/0/7498960/...

[EbonyEvans]

When I was in Barcelona I asked a few pharmacies. Several said it wasn’t available. The last one (I spent €200 on items) spent twenty minutes researching for me and informed me it needed to be imported. And needed a prescription. Two days (pre siesta) ordering needed approximately needed. In case your friend is only going for a weekend.

[dolphin5 in reply to EbonyEvans]

Thank you, that's really helpful. I have a friend who goes over regularly for a couple of weeks at a time, but there's not much point if they have to import it. I'll keep researching. I have a feeling that France might be a good place to try - and easy to nip over there.

[EbonyEvans in reply to dolphin5]

Ryan Air are having a sale so maybe grab a £12.99 flight. I know Amsterdam have them in stock. There’s a pharmacy at the airport. And it’s 40 minutes into Centraal where there are a fair few pharmacies. Even the outskirts can order in by two pm for same day collection. If you google airport pharmacies in France, etc send an email and see how long pre orders take and how long it takes. Also Eurostar usually has £29 single tickets about 8-10 weeks before travel. Prescriptions will get you far. Please remember to post an update for the rest of us.

Ebony

[dolphin5 in reply to EbonyEvans]

Thanks for this. Do you know the brand, strength and cost of what they sell?

[EbonyEvans in reply to dolphin5]

Europe is usually 20 or 25mcg. A few Euros for a 28-30 packet.

Tiromel - Turkey

Sanofil - France

UniPharma - Greece

I can’t remember Amsterdam but their English is good so they’ll translate it.

[dolphin5]

I already use Tiromel and Unipharma T3, but it would be helpful to know brands and prices for both Holland and France, as they are the easiest countries to vist. I use 25mcg tablets.

[EbonyEvans in reply to dolphin5]

Sanofil. I think is the French brand. Maybe google the Dutch one or I think they may be listed on the thyroiduk.org website.