Wockhardt Thyroxine tablets...

[majbak29542]

Had underactive thyroid since 1988 majority of time getting Wockhardt, other brands do cause problems...had Wockhardt last 9 years from local chemist, no problem but this month been told I cannot have them again as chemist not stocking them as too expensive and my surgery will not pay. Thought of just trying natural product from health shop...any suggestions?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Majbak29542

You will not get any over the counter product that contains thyroid hormone replacement which will be a substitute for levothyroxine.

Best thing you can do is ring round other pharmacies and find one who will get Wockhardt for you, then take your prescription there.

[majbak29542 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you problem now is that Lloyds can stock Wockhardt but they say they have contacted my GP who is taking the trade name from my prescription as they have told have told him this product is more expensive so he says he is not standing the cost. My GP has not as yet told me but this conversation was by a sales assistant in Lloyds ..I thought my GP should not discuss me with other people....privacy???

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to majbak29542]

He may not have discussed you personally, but just said that he wont bear the cost of Wockhardt.

[llawleht]

Hi majbak29542

I had the same problem last month with my usual pharmacy. I did manage to get them from a small local pharmacy but I’m sure this will be an ongoing problem. My repeat prescription states Wockhardt brand only as i had problems with other brands, the worst was Teva (new formula) in 2017. I am starting to feel a little nervous about this now, it is all about cost and unfortunately Wockhardt only do 25mg so need a lot more packs to get the daily mg needed. I would be interested to know if there are any natural products.

[majbak29542 in reply to llawleht]

Had this for years... Lloyds do stock it but now told my GP its more expensive than other brands and they say he is not going to stand the cost..So..if he deletes it from my prescription I have to have whatever the chemist give me!!!

[llawleht in reply to majbak29542]

I think we all know now it is about cost not our health.

I am so grateful for the information on this forum, i dread to think where i would be now if i had continued on the Teva brand.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Trying lots of different small independent pharmacies

It's utterly wrong that pharmacy will not help. It's well recognised that many patients can not change brands of Levothyroxine

Perhaps try contacting Wockhart direct for list of suppliers

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

[majbak29542 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you have contacted Wockhardt..but they supply only to warehouses and will not discuss or give any information as different pharmacies use different warehouses. So, waiting now for GP to contact me as Lloyds sales assistant has said she has contacted my GP, told him Wockhardt are more expensive and says he is not standing the cost. Guess the word Wockhardt will be deleted from my prescription then I will have to accept whatever the chemist give me...this will create problems with muscle cramps and lack of sleep etc....

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to majbak29542]

Large chains like that are often hopeless. Disinterested in helping the patient, because Government won't pay for the cost of using different wholesaler

Try small independent pharmacies

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

The British National Formulary now appears to list all suppliers/distributors - from which you might be able to glean some idea as to who is likely to supply. For example, AAH is part of the same Celesio group as Lloyds pharmacies:

bnf.nice.org.uk/medicinal-f...

Note that the cost of Wockhardt is shown as £2.91 against an NHS Tariff price of £1.70. (MercuryPharma/AMCO is shown as £3.05 for their 25 microgram tablets.)