NDT AND TAKING IT ABROAD

[Lavender-Blue]

Hi

I am taking NDT and am travelling to Greece in April.

Does anyone know if this is ok, to carry ndt in hand luggage to another country?

Are there any restrictions?

I would greatly appreciate any knowledge and advice?

Thank you in advance.

[Aurealis]

I travel with a copy of the prescription,the delivery note from pharmacy and latest letter from consultant. Best not to take excessive amounts, enough for your holiday but not enough so there are doubts you are selling it. I think you can find out more details from consulate for country you’re visiting. I’ve been to Greece with NDT and T3 but I wasn’t checked.

[Lavender-Blue in reply to Aurealis]

Thank you foe this information. It's very helpful.

[Alliand in reply to Aurealis]

Hi Aurealis, Excuse my ignorance, but what is NDT?

[Aurealis in reply to Alliand]

Apologies Alliand, it’s Natural Dessicated Thyroid, which is a preparation made from sheep thyroid (yuk, I know) which provides a combination of all of the thyroid hormones T4, T3, T2 and T1, but mainly the first two in that list. It was the earliest type of treatment for thyroid under activity before the treatment was replaced with artificially prepared Levothyroxine. Many people find it to be a superior form of treatment but it isn’t available on the NHS, I understand.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Aurealis]

Umm, most desiccated thyroid is from pigs. A few products are from cows. I know of none that are made from sheep.

(The very first documented use of thyroid did indeed use sheep thyroid.)

Desiccated thyroid can be available on the NHS but there are many difficulties put in the way between a patient wanting it, a doctor willing to prescribe it and actually getting it.

[Aurealis in reply to helvella]

Ah, thank you, wrong animal!

I meant to also give some names of brands eg Armour etc

[mistydog]

Greece is in the EU so there are no restrictions. You can buy T3 over the counter very cheaply there.

[helvella Administrator in reply to mistydog]

mistydog,

That is not the case. There ARE restrictions within the EU. One example is that a medicine which is Controlled in the UK cannot readily be brought into the UK. Another example is taking desiccated thyroid into France. Non-medicine examples include firearms which are very tightly controlled in the UK. The general freedom to move things between countries of the EU doesn't translate into total freedom regardless of what is being being moved.

Also, you can no longer buy T3 over the counter in Greece.

[mistydog in reply to helvella]

Oh, thanks for that update, helvella ,

[Lavender-Blue]

Is it ok to bring t3 back to the uk?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Lavender-Blue]

Yes - for the use of you and your household only.

Just don't expect to be able to buy liothyronine in Greece. Now requires prescription.

[Lavender-Blue in reply to helvella]

Thanks Helvella.

Had a nightmare thought iof being locked up like the girl taking tramadol into Egypt!

I understand that Greece isn't a Muslim country, I suppose ndt would be a problem then?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Lavender-Blue]

You simply cannot make assumptions. There are Muslims who take porcine desiccated thyroid. You can buy pig meat in the United Arab Emirates (at least, some of them). An individual Muslim country might, or might not, allow you to carry desiccated thyroid with you. Nevertheless, it might (or might not) be possible to get it prescribed within that country!

It is vital to check each and every country individually.

[Aurealis in reply to Lavender-Blue]

When entering Australia I pretended I knew nothing about NDT being of animal origin, just declared I was taking in prescription medices for personal use. It’s a nightmare. I didnt find it easy to find restrictions out except by asking here. But if you go on a multiple destination trip it’s complicated to sort out. I always used to take double amount I needed in case I lost my supplies somehow, used to pack one supply in hand luggage and the other in suitcase. Now scared I’ll get locked up for trafficking if I do that. On last holiday I miscalculated and had the exact amount of T3 except for one tablet as I miscalculated. When you’re cutting tablets up you never know how many turn to dust at different temperatures or if you might drop one on the floor etc, so you need to take extra for the trip. Used to lock supplies in safe as they were as important as my passport, well more so.

[Lavender-Blue]

Yes, it's important not to make assumptions.

I know a few people who are practising Muslims and they say that they cannot take it.

Being mindful that one doesn't fit all.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Lavender-Blue]

If you do a good search you can find some examples who do take it. The attitude seems to be partly based on the importance of it to their lives.

And it might be of some interest to read the parallel thoughts of Jewish Rabbis!

stopthethyroidmadness.com/j...

[mistydog in reply to helvella]

If you are a muslim you could take thyrogold, which is bovine based. Presumably suitable for Jewish people also.

[helvella Administrator in reply to mistydog]

I don't know of any claim that it is Kosher - for those who adhere to that requirement. (Or Halal, for that matter.)

[mistydog in reply to helvella]

Ah, yes, hadn't thought about that, was more the pork/cow aspect.

[jgelliss in reply to helvella]

helvella ,

Just to clearify NDT . I am orthodox of the Jewish faith and the Rabbi had no problem with my dosing with NDT as long as I swallow the NDT upon dosing since it's vital to our health .

[trelemorele in reply to jgelliss]

High five to your Rabbi. Good man!