Self funding for drugs unavailable on BUS.

[Lollypop2]

I read today that a drug called liothyronine is being withheld from patients by the NHS. because of the cost. I would like to know if I could fund the drug myself.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Lollypop2

Are you already taking liothyronine prescribed by the NHS? If so and you have a clinical need, they shouldn't take it away from you.

If you're not already prescribed, do you need it? Do your thyroid test results show this? If so, and you can find a private doctor willing to presribe, you can get a private prescription. It is currently cheaper to send that to Germany where liothyronine is much cheaper than that available with prescription in the UK.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you on Levothyroxine? Are you adequately treated?

Very Often patients are simply not on high enough dose of Levothyroxine and/or have low vitamin levels

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

if antibodies are high then, low vitamin levels are especially common

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

NICE guidelines saying how to initiate and increase. Note that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

TSH should be around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

Add your most recent blood test results and ranges if you have any