Eltroxin & Mercury Pharma 100 mcg shortage

[SmallBlueThing]

Collected my prescription today and was told they couldn't source Eltroxin or Mercury Pharma levothyroxine (the same stuff, bar the packaging) in the 100 mcg dose. The 25 mcg tablets were available. With luck they'll be able to supply tablets that aren't Teva or Wockhardt. I'm in the East Midlands.

Update: Problem averted with thanks to helvella for the tip.

[helvella Administrator]

Contact the company (Advanz, formerly Concordia):

Capital House

85 King William Street

London

EC4N 7BL

United Kingdom

Direct: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Always best to ask them. Wouldn't be the first time the issue has been the pharmacy and the distributors they use rather than a real shortage.

Oh! And do post back with anything you find out, please.

[Summer64 in reply to helvella]

Thanks for that Helvella. I will ask them when the next batch of T3 is going to be available because my hospital can't fulfil all of my prescription because the batch they have expires in January.

[SmallBlueThing in reply to helvella]

Just been told it's in stock with them, so have passed that info to my pharmacy.

[helvella Administrator in reply to SmallBlueThing]

Quite. Doesn't surprise me one little bit.

The whole of the pharmacy system in the UK is failing us. If it is in stock, you should be able to get some, shouldn't you?

[SmallBlueThing in reply to helvella]

Success, at last!

Yesterday morning I was told there was the possibility of a delivery in the afternoon, but another member of staff said six suppliers had been contacted so they didn't hold out much hope. However, I was called in the afternoon as they'd received the delivery.

Thanks for the tip.

[Alma1960 in reply to helvella]

I've learned only Boots sell mercury pharma/Eltrloxin and they charge me £5 for deliver cos I can't collect them

[helvella Administrator in reply to Alma1960]

In my experience, Boots usually supply Almus for 50 and 100 microgram tablets. (The Almus brand is owned by Walgreen Boots Alliance - more or less like a supermarket own-brand). And, at my branch, they most often supply Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine as the 25 microgram tablets, if needed. This might not be the same everywhere.

If you wish to discuss any of these issues further, it might be a good idea to start a new post. This was over 11 months ago and things do change over time.

[Sybilla14]

What pharmacy are you getting it from? I’ve found that only boots is able to get it for me and other chains or independents can’t. I’m in E Midlands too.

[SmallBlueThing in reply to Sybilla14]

It's a Day & Night pharmacy, which is independent and not a limited company.

[Sybilla14 in reply to SmallBlueThing]

Do try boots instead. If they haven’t ordered it before they will say they can’t when they look online so tell them they need to ring the distribution instead. Last time i collected mine the pharmacist said a lot of people are asking for MP.

[MULLIONAIRE in reply to Sybilla14]

Two months ago Boots told me they could no longer supply Mercury without the GP specifying the brand on the prescription. Said it was to do with their new computer ordering system! Wondering if anyone else is having the same problem?

[Sybilla14 in reply to MULLIONAIRE]

I’ve been getting MP From boots for a couple of years and I was told around May that they couldn’t supply. The next time I went I was told that there was no problem just they need to ring as they cannot order it through the system. I’ve had them order a 1000 pot of 100mcg at my request last month.

[MULLIONAIRE in reply to Sybilla14]

Thanks for that, will ask my branch of Boots if they can deal.

[SmallBlueThing in reply to Sybilla14]

I moved from Boots a couple of years ago because they are close to the surgery and hence have long queues. Eltroxin is specified on my prescription, and this was the first time I was told it and the Mercury Pharma equivalent couldn't be obtained (though Advanz Pharma said otherwise, just now).

[Howard39 in reply to Sybilla14]

My boots can only get the 25.

Lloyd’s can only get teva.

Morrison’s favour activas.

My friend is really struggling too.

[Sybilla14 in reply to Howard39]

They have the 25mcg all the time as Almus/Actavis doesn’t do this strength. Maybe your friend could try a different boots as some of them can be more helpful than others. I have been told a couple of times that they need to ring to order, they often don’t have it on the shelf but get it for me for the following day.

[Howard39 in reply to Sybilla14]

Hi

She takes 200/300 so needs 100s. There is a Boots 10 miles away I will call them. Yes I am aware of the 25 mcg.

Thanks

[SmallBlueThing]

I changed pharmacy as twice they said they couldn't supply an item, which Superdrug and Lloyds could on the second occasion, but Boots couldn't on the first.

I decided to change to Lloyds mainly due to the easier access at that branch, and was told they could supply Eltroxin. However, they reneged on that