Times Thunderer Opinion piece in full

[diogenes]

There’s a life-changing (if not life-saving) drug that is affordable and available over the counter pretty much everywhere in the world. But in this country, it is being sold at more than 5,000 per cent of its production cost.

A few years ago I developed an underactive thyroid: a low level of thyroid hormones (known as T4 and T3) which affects your ability to metabolise food, provide energy to muscles and carry out processes. About 15 in 1,000 women (and 1 in 1,000 men) in Britain suffer from it.

I had lots of symptoms: mysterious weight gain, despite an intense exercise regime and careful diet. I was exhausted and dizzy, several times nearly falling asleep at the wheel. Cuts and injuries failed to heal properly. My periods stopped. I had a total loss of libido and my hair started falling out. I went from being an athletic, energetic mum-of-two to a sluggish, miserable woman

The NHS test for hypothyroidism is to check for a hormone (TSH) that is released by the pituitary gland in response to low thyroid levels. My TSH levels came back normal and I was dismissed by my GP as being “of a certain age” (I was 44). Private blood tests, however, showed that my T4 and T3 levels were extremely low. I went back to my GP with my results and asked for a prescription for T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (liothyronine). My GP prescribed thyroxine with no question. T3, on the other hand, was a no-no.

I soon found out why when I tried to buy liothyronine with my private prescription. It was £1,600 for two months’ supply, and I was probably going to have to take it for the rest of my life. I was devastated. Then I found out that you can buy it overseas for £6 for two months’ supply. I called on friends in Paris and Greece, and they now regularly send me the T3 that I need.

Why is it so expensive here? It turns out that the NHS was being charged a price hike of 5,000 per cent for liothyronine by the drug firm Concordia, now rebranded as Advanz Pharma. It is no longer the only UK supplier but a few weeks ago a report for the Department of Health found evidence that, in spite of national guidance, local healthcare commissioners are refusing to pay for the medication.

My GP still refuses to prescribe it and the price is still prohibitively expensive. Drug firms maintain their stranglehold on the market, and I want to know why.

Fiona McGowan

[m7-cola]

Yes, it’s great to see this in the Times. Thanks for posting it on the site, Diogenes.

[sy28 in reply to m7-cola]

We should write to The Times letter page

[sy28]

At last, a newspaper editorial that has potential to hit the right desks - when I worked on monthly women's magazines, our first priority of the day was to trawl the papers, taking cuttings we'd go on to research for cover stories. Recent research confirms numbers of women diagnosed with thyroid disease is rising. More worrying still is the rising trend of autoimmune thyroiditis, Hashimoto's, and its wider consequence on our health.What's behind these rising figures? Why is Thyroid disease more prevalent in women. This subject really needs to be opened up and taken forward by good journalism. While the budget for diabetes has increased, thyroid health is overlooked by comparison. It's time to shout the loudest if we're to unravel and treat what's disrupted our energy and fundamental quality of life.

[sy28 in reply to sy28]

thanks for posting diogenes

[m7-cola in reply to sy28]

I absolutely agreed.

[overnighthearingloss]

Just be aware of revolving doors between many large corporations these days.

therefusers.com/why-james-m...

Son of Rupert Murdoch.

[SilverAvocado]

I particularly appreciate this description of thyroid disorder: "a low level of thyroid hormones (known as T4 and T3) which affects your ability to metabolise food, provide energy to muscles and carry out processes" Nicely avoiding the forwarded word 'tired'.

This is something I've only just realised myself. My current 'dinner party summary' of my illness is to say that my body can't make energy properly. Much more accurate reflection of how I feel than some of the other ways of describing it that stack the decks against us by being easy to dismiss.

Now I just need to get more invitations to dinner parties to try it out