What happened to prescriptions for Liothyronine.

[Blot]

had it until a few years ago and suddenly stopped being given to me. Am allergic to something in the usual Levo-thyroxin

[shaws Administrator]

If you are in the UK - T3 was withdrawn instantly as the suppliers seemed to want to make some good profits.

So the cost escalated by 2,000% (yes that's correct 2,000%) so it was withdrawn from every soul who found it very beneficial, without warning. Instead of them going first of all to the providers of T3 and asking for 'proof' that increase was required.

There is a Petition before the House of Lords about the withdrawal of T3 and the Scottish Parliament has just confirmed that patients who need T3 or NDT or T4/T3 should be prescribed.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/campai...

If you wish to become a member of Thyroiduk because the more members the stronger our voices.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/campai...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/member...

[Blot in reply to shaws]

Thanks shaws. Do please include me in any petition. Just heard from my GP who refuses to prescribe T3 again. I have moved away from London and can't get it there either now. Had a rest from it but was in a crisis recently with dreadful hypertension because of the Hashimotos which can happen if T3 levels plummet.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Blot]

To become a member - the more the mightier - the link is below. They work in the background with just a few staff and at times they are overwhelmed.

They had to prepare all of the items for the Lords Debate. They also did for the Scottish Parliament which ruled - a few weeks ago that from now on patients can have the options of NDT and T3 if warranted.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/campai...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/member...

I do not understand why the 'professionals' seem to have no clue at all about T3 or its purpose. The removal, due to the 6,000% increase in cost, was a great opportunity to stop patients from having it prescribed - even though it restored many people to good health.

To be alerted of Petitions, I will give the link below - have we to become like the suffragettes? Have to put up a fight to have the good health we deserve. They already removed NDT through False Statements and never did respond to one of our Adviser's statement to them before he died, despite three yearly reminders. The fact is I doubt they could argue their case:-

drlowe.com/thyroidscience/C...

He was also of the opinion that in order to get levothyroxine to the 'top' of prescriptions that it was done through monetary incentives by Big Pharma to prescribers. He would never prescribe T4. Only NDT and T3 for patients who were thyroid hormone resistant.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/member...

thyroiduk.org/tuk/About_Us/...

[Blot in reply to shaws]

An altruistic practitioner obviously! I am thinking of going outside the UK to see if in France liothyronine is also discouraged. Yes l do feel that suffragettes seem to be necessary before we are heard.

[MaisieGray]

"Am allergic to something in the usual Levo-thyroxin"

It is possible that your reaction has been to one or other of the excipients added to the active ingredient to form the Levothyroxine tablet; but different brands will differ in their exact ingredients. Have you tried several different brands to see if one of them suited you better? Do you have identified allergies or intolerances?

Over the past couple of years, liothyronine has been withdrawn from many being prescribed it, or not newly prescribed to many asking for it, on the instruction of CCGs; although not uniformly in every case and in every CCG. It may now be prescribed only at the instigation of an Endocrinologist, and the link provides the positional statement and guidelines 'explaining' the current situation. The T3 situation is said to be down to cost - 28 tablets of Levo cost the NHS c£1.20 whilst at its peak T3 was costing in excess of £250, although it has more recently been gradually reducing to now just over £200 for 28 tablets - although cost is only one factor.

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

[Blot in reply to MaisieGray]

Downright immoral of these companies to charge so much. It should be challenged in Parliament that the influence of these companies is beyond bearing

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Blot

You had it until a few years ago? Then it was suddenly withdrawn?

Did you not qestion it at the time? What have you been taking instead?

[Blot in reply to SeasideSusie]

I wanted to try without for a bit and when I thought it a mistake it was then that the GP said it was no longer able to prescribe it. I took a combination of endocrine tissues which did help but that was in the summer when there is not such a demand on the thyroid but in the winter I began to be very unwell when I moved house. With all the stress my blood pressure went through the roof. No doctor prepared to help saying there was nothing they could give except Levothyroxine to which I have allergies similar to annaphylactic shock. You can appreciate I am not willing to try out other brands! Long term medication for blood pressure is not an option

[Hidden]

A very informative video which explains so much

Improving the Safety of Drugs - Munir Pirmohamed, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D.

youtube.com/watch?v=G7NvQwN...(Not working as expected?)

[Blot in reply to Hidden]

This is warfarin only

[Hidden in reply to Blot]

Warfarin, an anticoagulant is a part of the whole speech, which also included Genomics, statins & CY2D6---- The CY2D6 gene affects 25% of drugs in clinical use

The link is specifically about drug safety which did include excipients .

You said "Am allergic to something in the usual Levo-thyroxin"

Levothyroxine is the active ingredient and the rest of the ingredients are excipients i.e. binders, fillers, colorants.

I thought the video may help.

[Blot in reply to Hidden]

That was very kind of you to mention that. The additives are so often the fly in the ointment..... for me anyway - apart from the synthetic element - that guarantees a patent and profit for the manufacturers of course.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Blot]

I am pretty sure that neither levothyroxine nor liothyronine were ever patented in the USA or the UK. I have searched and never found any evidence of a patent.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

Levofloxacin

A typo maybe?

[Blot in reply to helvella]

Yes, l thought so too! I looked up the chemical constituents of levothyroxin and it is a kind of sodium isomer of thyroxin. .....l almost feel allergic looking at it the combinations!!!

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Removed confusing typo error.

Apologies all round.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

I am aware of Levofloxacin.

You said "Am allergic to something in the usual Levo-thyroxin"

Levofloxacin is the active ingredient and the rest of the ingredients are excipients i.e. binders, fillers, colorants.

What you posted (quoted above) looked like it was supposed to read as one sentence following the other and making less than perfect sense. I appreciate that if they are separated more forcefully the apparent implication of the first sentence does not then carry to the second.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Again, ouch! have amended typo