Australia tightening up on prescribing T3

[Blossom13]

Hello there, I am new to this forum and have joined out of desperation. I belong to several Thyroid Forums for Australians and there is becoming a problem with GP's no longer wanting to prescribe T3 (Tertroxin) due to the threat of investigation. I have just learned that my own GP will not prescribe it anymore. I have had Hashimotos 16+ years and have been so sick over the years. After much research and completing falling apart the back end of last year and early this year where I could not even move, I found out about T3. My life has been restored and it has taken 4-5 months of dedicated recovery to get back to some normalcy. I genuinely feel frightened at this moment at the thought of returning to being sick. So my question is - I am looking for a supplier of T3 (similar to Tertroxin) anywhere in the world. If anyone has any information, I would be grateful to receive a PM from you. Thank you so much for listening!

[Nanaedake]

I expect the admins will close the post to allow for personal messages only as information on where to get medicines cannot be conveyed on the open forum and people will pm you instead.

However, you've probably read the posts on this forum advising people to have their vitamin levels tested so that in addition to T3 combination therapy you need to optimise all your nutritional levels. All thyroid hormone works best when vitamin and mineral levels are optimal. Have you had Vit D, Folate Ferritin and B12 tested? If not, ask your Doctor to do them and post the results here for best advice.

[Blossom13 in reply to Nanaedake]

Thank you Nanaedake for responding. Yes, I've had full tests of everything done and have been working on everything these past few months. My diet is very good as I am also coeliac and so have to be very careful. I have had significant improvement, which is why I don't want to go backwards. I was on Thyroxine only for over 16 years and was getting sicker and sicker. I am currently doing a T3/T4 combo and it has been suiting me really well, which is why I would like to receive info (by PM) re: any potential T3 suppliers. Thanks again.

[Nanaedake in reply to Blossom13]

There are people that can give really good advice on vitamins and mineral levels on this forum. If you want to post results here you will get really good suggestions. SeasideSusie is our vitamins guru. Here in the UK, doctors do not often give good advice on vitamin levels, don't know if it's the same in Australia but might be worth posting your latest results to find out what suggestions people here can offer.

[Blossom13 in reply to Nanaedake]

Will do, will have to dig them out first.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Nanaedake]

I'd rather leave it open, at least for a while, because there are many issues raised which could well do with discussion.

Please do not post sources. Send a PM if you wish to pass on information to the poster.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Are there any barriers to personal import of prescription medicines into Australia?

[Blossom13 in reply to helvella]

Not sure, am trying to source that information at the moment.

[GarryB]

The information is probably available but I'm too exhausted to look. What is with the witch hunt against T3? I just found a Dr. in Canada who isn’t afraid to prescribe it in larger doses and hate the thought of the current running more against T3. If the stuff should not be taken, why even make it? Who needs it if not thyroid patients?

[Blossom13 in reply to GarryB]

Exactly GarryB! I'm glad you've found someone in Canada for you.

[GarryB in reply to Blossom13]

I feel very fortunate to have met this Dr. I hope all works out for you.

[Blossom13 in reply to GarryB]

Thanks so much. Am still hoping to get a PM from someone regarding a supplier. So here's hoping!

[Judithdalston in reply to Blossom13]

You should have had one couple of hours ago!

[Blossom13 in reply to Judithdalston]

Thank you - received.

[GarryB in reply to Blossom13]

I'm sure you will.

[ThyroidThora]

Hi,

Please PM me because the system won't let me PM you.

TT

[Hidden]

Blossom I too have been so sick the last year and I too found a doc to try t3. It worked like a charm for about a month then the crushing fatigue is setting back in. I am on 75mcg T4 and now added 20 mcg T3. Did you have to tweak meds some? If you did tweak meds how long before you could tell a difference. I feel like I'm on the right path but not there yet!

[Blossom13]

Hi there, sorry to hear you've been unwell. I am still tweaking - like you I am better, but am not there yet as I still suffer from terrible fatigue too. Did you add your T3 in small increments? From my personal experience, T4 seems to take longer in the body which is why doctor's ask us to re-test after 6 weeks or so, so that a change in results can be seen. T3 (Tertroxin, not slow release) seems to be fairly immediate. I personally have tweeked T3 every 4-5 days at times to see how I felt. I recently became overmedicated on 50mcg T4 and 35mcg T3 - I knew because I was very trembly. Over 2 weeks I took my T3 back down to 20mcg and have been alternating my T4 with 50mcg one day and 75mcg the next to see how this goes. I encourage you to continue to read, read, read. Clearly with everyone's experiences, there is not a 'one fix all' that doctors try to use on all of us. It is very personal. Lastly, have you check things like iron, B12, vit D, C etc? My hair had been falling out since October last year, but I have been religious with my iron/vit C and others and my hair has finally come good this past month. I hope you find your path, if you want to ask anything further, please feel free to PM me.