Out of date thyroxine

[Billie42]

Hello, hope you are all doing well ... my local chemist/pharmacy is possibly the worst in the universe, every time I collect my prescription, I have to ask them to correct the brand or the amount or something. Even though it’s actually noted on the system. I literally dread going in there. However... they have taken the biscuit this time, my 25mg tablets have an expired date of May 2018 .. I’ve had enough of their rubbish service and attitude (the list is too long to mention here) who can I make an official complaint too. They are taking the proverbial and should not be allowed to continue.

Thank you

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I can see two routes to make complaints:

england.nhs.uk/contact-us/c...

pharmacyregulation.org/rais...

I do not know whether there are local options as well.

You are right that a complaint needs to be made. Make sure you take photographs of everything - as well as keeping original bags, boxes, etc.

[Billie42 in reply to helvella]

Thank you. I’ll check these links out and see which one to go with, or maybe just both ..

[waveylines]

Wow thats terrible!! Ive no iidea who you complain to but I would tell your GP and move pharmacy if it were me.

[Nanaedake]

This has happened to me before too. I would certainly make a complaint. It is known that levothyroxine deteriorates after its shelf life has expired so it could affect your health.

[knitwitty]

I don't want to worry anyone unduly, but I think there are some serious problems going on within the supply of many medications in this country at the moment, I don't think we are being told the whole story by our "honourable" members of Parliament, they are too scared of the repercussions of admitting we actually have a problem.

I have heard doctors saying they are worried about the supplies of drugs, but they are being told by the NHS not to comment to patients.

I fear that things are going to get even worse after October regardless of whether we get a deal or not.

Sorry to be so gloomy.

[RedApple Administrator]

Billie42,

Levothyroxine with an expiry of May 2018? Really? That's 15 months past expiry!

What brand is it?

Did you check the expiry before you left the pharmacy, and complain there and then on the spot?

If you didn't do that, I don't know how you can prove it's not a packet that's been sitting in your cupboard for the last couple of years.

[Billie42 in reply to RedApple]

Hi... it won’t be hard to prove it to them it has their sticker on the box with the date filled on it, and they have cut the first tablet off with the expiry date on the foil, to cover the fact .. also all my prescriptions go through them...but not for much longer 😐

[knitwitty in reply to Billie42]

That's very underhand, but as I said before I think there are lots of things going on behind the scenes that we are unaware of at the moment, good luck when you go back to get it changed.

If they are uncooperative maybe suggest you will air the story with the Daily Mail ( I wouldn't usually support this paper in any way !) they have had rather a lot of stories about thyroid problems recently.