Levothyroxine - is Mercury Pharma brand still available

[elainepy]

I have my usual prescription for Levothyroxine 50mcg, and I've always managed to get Mercury Pharma brand up to now. But no local pharmacy now stocks it - has it disappeared altogether? Many thanks, Elaine

[lynmynott Partner Thyroid UK]

As far as we are aware Mercury Pharma is still being manufactured. However, it’s more than likely that due to the cost pharmacies are obtaining the other brands because they are cheaper.

If you find that you don’t do as well on the other brands, you need to shop around so see if you can find a pharmacy that does stock it. You could also try asking your GP to write “Mercury Pharma” on the prescription if you have a special need for that particular brand. Might be worth a try.

[elainepy in reply to lynmynott]

Many thanks for replying. It's more for reasons of consistency that I'd prefer to stick with the same brand. Locally all pharmacies have are Actavis/Almus or Teva. The current box just has Mercury Pharma as the brand, not Concordia or Eltroxin, but presumably all MP brands are the same ingredients?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to elainepy]

Mercury Pharma Eltroxin and Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine are the same product

Best to try small independent pharmacies

The large chains don't tend to stock it

[Jphill49 in reply to SlowDragon]

Can you tell me if Advanz Pharma is the same as Mercury Pharma? I asked my local Lloyds who didnt know but only had advanz Pharma on their system.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jphill49]

Yes it is ...always changing owners

Advanz is Mercury

[Jphill49 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jphill49]

I have created, and try to maintain, a document containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines in the UK and many in other countries.

I hope it is clear about the company names (such as Advanz) and the brand names (such as Mercury Pharma). Sometimes the corporate structure has retained named subsidiaries but I have tried to make sure the over-arching company is identified.

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines.pdf

This document has information about the available thyroid hormones in the UK and, in less detail, around the world.

dropbox.com/s/shcwdwpedzr93...

[Jphill49 in reply to helvella]

Thank you, that’s very helpful.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jphill49]

Please report how it goes. Maybe a new post rather than on a three-year-old thread?

[Olivua in reply to lynmynott]

Put. . Mercury pharmacy. . . DNS. . . Do not substitute!!!!! . . . . And they will then have to source the eltroxin at a reasonable price for them. And especially you. . . Hope this helps. X

[Sybilla14]

Hi elainepy. I have been taking eltroxin only for months. My local Boots gets it for me but an independent pharmacy couldn't when I tried some time ago as access to distributors seemed to be limited for them (I had posted about this before when having issues getting MP).

[elainepy in reply to Sybilla14]

Thanks for replying (and Slow Dragon too). I actually got it from Boots for ages, they had a tub of 1000 rather than blister packs, but have now said it's not economic for them to get a tub, implying that I'm the only person requesting it which I doubt. They seem to be tied to Almus. There are no independents locally, so I'll see what I can turn up when I'm away next weekend, but it's such a pain...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to elainepy]

Rather more than just a tie. The Almus brand is owned by Walgreen Boots Alliance!

The Almus product is just Actavis packaged in an outer that says Almus.

Some Boots branches offer Mercury Pharma 25 microgram tablets (as Actavis do not make that dosage).

[Sybilla14 in reply to elainepy]

Maybe another boots would be more helpful, if you can get to it? I did ask at two Boots first and they just said they had none in stock an could not order it for me. Then the local one to me, which is mostly a very busy dispensing pharmacy were very helpful and said they'd get it for me. They put it on my file and allegedly order in batches to hold stock for me. I suspect it may be a case of getting the right individual/pharmacy manager who is willing to respect your request.

Good luck.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I urge everyone who is having problems getting Mercury Pharma levothyroxine to contact the company that owns the brand:

concordiarxinternational.co...

If nothing else, you should find out if there are any supply difficulties.

Sybilla14

[Sybilla14 in reply to helvella]

Thank you helvella🙂

So far I've been fortunate to get 100mcg and 50mcg Eltroxin (never MP generic) from my local Boots since the problems last year. I did contact Concordia in May 2017 and i did get a message back saying there were no supply issues at the time. They did suggest the below - maybe following this advice may also help:

I have liaised with our customer services and they have confirmed Levothyroxine 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets are all available and in stock. Our customer service have also confirmed that our medicine is supplied by AM , AAH or Alliance.

We advise you to inform your Pharmacy to contact our Customer Service Team on [phone], who will be happy to assist them in ordering this medication.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Sybilla14]

And we regularly see AAH delivering to Lloyds, Asda and many other pharmacies. (AAH are part of Celesio who own Lloyds...)

Contacting the companies always seems like a good idea. You might not get what you want but it often serves to clear up some absolute nonsense that has been put about by some companies.

[Kazbe]

Hi I live in the uk and boots pharmacy always have Mercury Pharma and they will order it in for you too 😀 any problems like someone has already mentioned ask gp to put Mercury Pharma on the prescription and they have to give you that brand

Kazbe x

[Silverlady5]

Hi Our local Asda pharmacy gets me Mercury Pharma 25 and 50 Levo OK at the moment (I'm almost afraid to say that!). There was a problem getting them I think it was last year but their pharmacist phoned round and sourced a good supply for me it was a relief as I don't do well on Actavis.

Good luck in finding some 🤗

[Huddy1234]

Hi Elainepy,

I also only use that brand - Boots the chemist told me that they do not do in 50's so I have to get 25's but obviously double the quantity - hope this helps.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Huddy1234]

That is exactly what I believe to be the case. As Actavis do not produce 25 microgram tablets, any prescriptions for 25 microgram tablets have to come from another company. (Boots usually dispense Actavis in their own Almus packaging.)

It is possible that Boots sometimes supply another make of 25 microgram tablet, or even another make of 50 or 100 microgram tablet, especially if there have been any issues with supply.

It would be unusual for a pharmacy to offer twice as many 25 microgram tablets instead of 50 microgram tablets.

[Huddy1234 in reply to helvella]

I was given the Actavis brand when my Levo was increased from 25 to 50!

Had terrible side effects (think I’m very sensitive to increase) but at the time I also thought it might be changing from Mercury Pharma to Actavis.

My Boots chemist ordered Mercury Pharma 25’s for me and my doctor increased quantity........

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Huddy1234]

Ah! yes - if the prescription states it - but just occasionally someone gets two lots of 25 instead of 50 out of kindness or due to lack of stock of 50s.

[elainepy]

Many thanks to all, I really appreciate the replies. Have found an independent pharmacy 90 miles from home (where we're going for a weekend away) with a couple of boxes they're putting aside for me, which gives me a bit of time to find a better solution. All the best, Elaine

[paigelondon]

Thank you so much @elainepy I didn't know I could ask my GP to state Mercury Pharm DNS. I have luckily got a GP appointment tomorrow so will ask for this! It's been a roller coaster ride having been on other brands that I reacted badly to and I , for the first time, have felt really vulnerable as I undergone Radioiodine treatment, and will have to rely on this medication until I die. Really depressing and feeling sad but could be the fact that these are side effects I am suffering from taking other brands Levothyroxine. Thank you so much - there seems to be hope. I will go and ask my GP tomorrow for a new prescription stating Mercury Pharma, DNS xx

[Carolpritchard]

Is there brand name just Pharma?Not Mercury pharma