Has anyone had any problems bringing back packets of T3 from Europe in cabin luggage?

[Efoula1980]

Will over 5 packets look suspicious? I need to stock up.

[Barrett582]

I have brought 7 (50 tablets per box) boxes of Tirosint back to the US from Italy (I connected through Heathrow). I did consolidate the boxes as much as I could, so that I only had 5 boxes. No one said a word. All 5 boxes were in my carry-on. Good luck.

[Efoula1980 in reply to Barrett582]

Thanks

[Hidden in reply to Barrett582]

Hi, where did you get your tirosint from in Italy? Did you have a prescription? Thanks so much!

[Barrett582 in reply to Hidden]

I started by taking my US Tirosint box with the prescription label affixed into a pharmacy. I asked for the pharmacist. No one asked any questions and I bought the first box. I did this in Venice and Florence. The Tirosint is tablets not gel caps. I then started writing on a piece of paper Tirosint 50 mcg. I had no problem buying a box at any pharmacy. Italy now has liquid Tirosint that I have bought it the same way. The tablets are €2.60 for 50, and the liquid is €8.80 for 30. Italy doesn’t have generics so you have to know the brand name in Italy. You should always pay cash and be very polite. Sometimes you get a discount for cash. It also helps to know a little Italian, but not mandatory. No one has ever turned me down, even with the drug name and strengthen written on a post-it note. You can tour the pharmacies of Italy. Good luck.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Barrett582]

Do you mean Tiche gel caps from IBSA?

[Barrett582 in reply to helvella]

I have the Tirosint gel caps in the US (Akrimax, IBSA). The Italian is Tirosint tablets (IBSA) and oral solution (IBSA). I quoted the prices from memory and I was a little off. Tablets are €2.74 for 50, and the liquid is €8.25 for 30. Here in the US the Tirosint gel caps are approximately $179.00 for 28. All of my prices last year’s prices. I can fund my trip to Italy with Tirosint for myself.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Barrett582]

I was checking that you really meant liquid rather than gel caps! Trying to find the cost of Tiche gel caps. I am actually a bit surprised you don't get them?

[Barrett582 in reply to helvella]

In Italy you have to know the brand name and all I knew was Tirosint. It was before I knew about this wonderful forum. I am going in October and I will check on Tiche. I do well on the Italian tablets.I also do well on the liquid Tirosint, but it takes up more space in luggage. All the pharmacies don’t have the liquid and it needs to be in checked luggage. Do you know how much the liquid t3 is in Italy? I am going to try to buy some this year. I take 15 mcg a day of Mayne t3. It costs me $46.00 a month with insurance. Thanks, I will report back after my trip.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

In legal terms, I can't see a problem. However it is always possible that security or customs might look and be suspicious. For that reason, keeping all in original packaging is probably a good idea.

The legal limitation for the UK appears to be that they must be for your own use (or members of your household). I have never found any limit other than vaguely worded statements without specific legal references.

(Of course, I am not a lawyer or in any other way qualified to give advice. Best of luck.)

[Efoula1980 in reply to helvella]

thanks.

[Efoula1980 in reply to Efoula1980]

do you know how i reply to everybody saying thanks for their answers?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Efoula1980]

Reply to one and add everyone else as @ Helvella (without the space). That displays the name in a list. Click.

[MissFG in reply to helvella]

This never works for me don’t know why 🤷🏼‍♀️

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to MissFG]

MissFG - it works for me on a Windows PC but is a real pain on a phone or tablet.

[MissFG in reply to helvella]

That’s what it is I’m always on my iPhone

[Efoula1980 in reply to helvella]

hi there aren't any options to add other people when i reply. i am on a pc

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Efoula1980]

In the reply box, simply start typing @ h e l v e l l a (but without any spaces). that should make a short list of members appear. It can take several seconds, even minute or more, for the list to appear.

Efoula1980

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Efoula1980]

Here is the Help for it: support.healthunlocked.com/...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to MissFG]

Here is the Help for it: support.healthunlocked.com/...

[Efoula1980 in reply to helvella]

thanks

[look_at_the_big_picture in reply to helvella]

I seem to recall a limit in terms of an amount relating to a certain period of time. Think it is 3 months of tablets is allowed. Therefore you could make out your daily dose is higher to brink back more pills. Just do the maths so you are prepared to state you daily amount which will coincide to what you are bringing back.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to look_at_the_big_picture]

I think there might be a limit like that in the USA but have never found one in the UK.

[look_at_the_big_picture in reply to helvella]

Just found this- although things may now be a little different a few years one: tpauk.com/main/article/mhra...

basically: There are no formal restrictions on an individual importing medicines into the UK provided they are strictly for use by that person or a member of their immediate family.

and..

Up to a 3 month supply of a medicine is considered to be an acceptable quantity for personal use, HM Revenue and Customs can prevent importation if large quantities are being imported and/or they have suspicions that the product is not being imported for personal use

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to look_at_the_big_picture]

I was aware of that statement but am not convinced it has any legal standing. Why would the customs effectively require you to go on four holidays a year?

Quite possibly someone asked the customs for rules and they came up with that off the tops of their heads. But the law that lets us import says absolutely nothing about quantity.

The advice supplied with liothyronine is that if you need smaller quantities than full tablets, you should disperse in water, measure off what you need, and chuck the rest. Potentially that quadruples the amount you would need for three months, doesn't it.

[look_at_the_big_picture in reply to helvella]

T3 isn't an opiod medication, so it could be well worth people stocking up whilst on holiday in Turkey or elsewhere. Bearing in mind the use by dates. I would probably bring back some boxes and also send some back to myself via the postal system if the use by dates were long.

[Paula101 in reply to helvella]

I've just started taking Thyroid S and never seen a GP about my thyroid problems. How easily could I travel with NDT in a suitcase & hand luggage with no paper work proof of having thyroid problems?

I'm guessing different countries have different laws. We're hoping to travel to the States sometime.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Paula101]

Afraid I simply do not know - it could go either way.

[Paula101 in reply to helvella]

Thank you for replying 🙂

[MissFG]

I recently in June brought back 5 x 100 tiromel from Turkey with no issues at all. Tiromel only has a short shelf life ie feb 2019 but the pharmacist said as it doesn’t contain sugar they would last for 3-6 months after the use by date so I bought a approx a 10-12 month supply.

I ensured I took a copy of my prescription meds and old packet of levo showing I had a thyroid issue just in case (as I no longer take levo) but it wasn’t necessary.

I had no issues whatsoever and will be doing it again next time I go abroad. Most they’ll do is confiscate them if found but I don’t think they’d even do that as even with that amount it’s obviously only for personal use and at €8 it was worth the risk!

[rosserk in reply to MissFG]

Can you buy T3 &T4 in other Countries without prescription? Sorry to sound dim but I’m new to this.

[MissFG in reply to rosserk]

I bought T3 (tiromel) from Turkey over the counter without prescription in any pharmacy.

Personally I’d check as it varies from one country to another. I think in France you need a prescription but others on here might help if you state where your visiting or google it

[greygoose in reply to MissFG]

You do need a prescription in France. And in Germany. Not sure about Italy, but I think they only have liquid T3, anyway, which is expensive. I don't think there is any T3 in Spain or Portugal. Belgium is prescription only, but I don't know about Holland - probably PO. Greece/Crete is now prescription only.

[rosserk in reply to greygoose]

Thanks GreyGoose, what about Holland?

[Jigglypuff in reply to greygoose]

Just left Belgium this morning and I had a long chat with a pharmacist there, apparently they only sell t4 - t3 is not even in their formulary???? Good job we were travelling back through France! 25 packets purchased😝.

[greygoose in reply to Jigglypuff]

You bought 25 packets of T3 in France without a prescription? They don't even normally have it in stock! And it's certainly prescription only.

[rosserk in reply to MissFG]

Thanks MissFG, it’s Holland I’m interested in.

[Efoula1980 in reply to rosserk]

Yes I ask my sister and other relatives to buy T3 for me in Greece, you don't need a prescription.

[rosserk in reply to Efoula1980]

Holland not Greece ? Lol

[T3sortedme]

If it’s for personal use, it’s not a problem, especially in that quantity.

[Howard39]

Hi

Personally I’d split it up day two in handbag and the rest in your case.

I am a belt and brases girl so take a bag of meds( covered by script/ letter from specialist) in my handbag and both suitcases. Not been questioned about them or injections just powder ascorbic acid lol!

Have a lovely time

[penny]

I split mine up when taking it out and bringing it in, mostly in case a bag gets lost. I can’t say that I’ve ever been questioned about it. I don’t have a prescription and take 8 pills of T3 per day.

[LindaC in reply to penny]

HI Penny - yes, I have my ways of sourcing too I'm intrigued that you take x 8 T3 each day - which strength is that? Thanks!

[Baobabs]

Never had problems and I travel through Europe frequently and have carried up to 6 months supply. For some reason I always appear to have my hand luggage opened and searched so the boxes have been seen.

[penny]

You must look suspicious, Baobabs.

LindaC, I take 200mcg per day of T3 and seem to be about optimal. I reduce my dose periodically just to check but find that my brain stops working within the day. My bp and pulse are very slightly elevated but fine with age adjustment and do not cause me any problems. I have not seen a GP about my thyroid since 2015 when my GP stopped my T3 without notice as, according to him, I was not hypothyroid.