Asking friend to bring T3 medication from Paki... - Thyroid UK

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Asking friend to bring T3 medication from Pakistan for me

Naadi profile image
19 Replies

Hi awesome people,

My friend is coming back to Uk from Pakistan ( he lives in UK , gone on holiday) and he will be bringing T3 tablets hopefully with him.

It will be an year worth of tablets. Does anyone know if the customs has any issue with this? I am sending him a picture of letter from Endocrinologist ( pic attached) that i need t3 from abroad. Also if someone can please shed some light on this Endocrinologist letter. Is he asking GP to give me a trial version of t3?.

Also, should i maybe ask my GP to write a private prescription and send a pic of that too to him? Does GP write a private prescription and do i need an appointment for it?

My friend is coming back this Friday.

Many thanks,

Naadi

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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Naadi

Be aware that it is legal to bring prescription only medication into the UK for personal use and immediate family only. It has been mentioned that 3 months worth is an acceptable amount.

HM Revenue and Customs can prevent importation if large quantities are being imported and/or they have suspicions that the product is not being imported for personal use.

If you or your friend decide to go ahead it would be safer for your friend to post them back to you, maybe in 2 or 3 small packages.

Naadi profile image
Naadi in reply to SeasideSusie

Thankyou for the information much appreciated!:)

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK

The legal situation appears to be that we are only allowed to import prescription-only medicines for ourselves and members of our household. I have copied and pasted the part of The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 which I think applies.

Note: I am very far from being a lawyer and all such things are complex.

That is, you could go to Pakistan, buy T3 and bring it back for yourself. Or those who live with you. But not for anyone else.

If you search around the internet, you will probably find that there are supposedly restrictions on quantities allowed. Often you will see that you can only bring in sufficient for three months. I have never found any basis in law for this. However, if you are standing at a customs desk at an airport with a vast quantity, you might find it somewhat awkward to say the least. I doubt many who are involved with assessing what is being carried will know anything about T3 dosing – after all, most endocrinologists seem to have little idea. It might be treated as “one tablet a day”, “three a day” or any other arbitrary quantity.

The legal issue seems entirely a matter of whether the person are thought to be supplying others, most especially if someone is doing so for profit.

I suspect that one of the worst things someone coming back with T3 for someone else, not a member of their household, could do is to lie. Admitting to having made a mistake and co-operating with confiscation might be a better course of action.

Manufacturing of medicinal products

17.—(1) A person may not except in accordance with a licence (a “manufacturer’s licence”)—

(a)manufacture, assemble or import from a state other than an EEA State any medicinal product; or

(b)possess a medicinal product for the purpose of any activity in sub-paragraph (a).

(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to paragraphs (3) to (5).

(3) Paragraph (1) applies in relation to an investigational medicinal product only—

(a)if the product has a marketing authorisation, Article 126a authorisation, certificate of registration or traditional herbal registration; and

(b)to the extent that the manufacture or assembly of the product is in accordance with the terms and conditions of that authorisation, certificate or registration.

(4) In paragraph (3), “marketing authorisation” means—

(a)a marketing authorisation issued by a competent authority in accordance with the 2001 Directive; or

(b)an EU marketing authorisation.

(5) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a person who, in connection with the importation of a medicinal product from a state other than an EEA State—

(a)provides facilities solely for transporting the product; or

(b)acting as an import agent, imports the medicinal product solely to the order of another person who holds a manufacturer’s licence authorising the importation of the product.

(6) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a person who imports a medicinal product for administration to himself or herself or to any other person who is a member of that person’s household.

legislation.gov.uk/uksi/201...

Naadi profile image
Naadi in reply to helvella

Thanks alot for all the information!

Skylane2 profile image
Skylane2 in reply to Naadi

The only problem with self prescribing T3, is how will you know it is helping with out a blood test? How will you know the dosage is correct? Take some kelp ( from the. Sea) the iodine from kelp will help your thyroid gland also selenium is vital for a healthy thyroid gland

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Skylane2

Taking Iodine is a bad idea unless you test first and then only take it if found to be deficient, then it should be supplemented under the guidance of an experienced practitioner. Iodine used to be used to treat hypERthyroidism so can make hypOthyroidism worse.

Here in the UK Iodine deficiency is rare. We can get Iodine from milk, yogurt, cod, haddock and scampi. There is also iodine in Levo so if we take that we get a fair amount.

Naadi profile image
Naadi in reply to Skylane2

Im not really self prescribing cause my Endocrinologist hs asked me to take it but he won't refer it cause of cost involved by NHS. I have attached pic of letter. I already take Selenium. Hopefully things will get better:)

Skylane2 profile image
Skylane2 in reply to Naadi

Good to know. Iodine from food is good for you

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

As explained on previous posts you are not at stage on needing T3 yet until Levothyroxine is higher and vitamin levels optimal

Naadi profile image
Naadi in reply to SlowDragon

Oh ok. I thought if i get it just in case for future. Im going to GP this Friday for a higher dose:)

BadHare profile image
BadHare

Perhaps your friend could wrap it well & send you an early/belated birthday present by registered post just in case of issues with customs.

Naadi profile image
Naadi in reply to BadHare

Good idea

in reply to Naadi

I’d say the same —- ask your friend to split the meds into 3 separate presents. Could someone in Pakistan post the other 2 a couple of weeks apart ? Less likely to draw attention than 3 posted together.

I hope whatever meds you get and try, they help you.

Naadi profile image
Naadi in reply to

Thankyou dear.

Serendipitious profile image
Serendipitious

Naadi,

I’d also recommend you look into Myoinositol for PCOS. It has helped so many patients with PCOS symptoms and increased their fertility. It doesn’t interfere with medications like Metformin. Also helps with weight loss and managing stress.

restartmed.com/myoinositol/

Naadi profile image
Naadi in reply to Serendipitious

Oh thanks for letting me know. Thanks God my fertility is ok and i have a baby but i do have alot of hair loss. God bless :)

Lora7again profile image
Lora7again in reply to Naadi

Your hair loss will stop once your thyroid levels are correct mine has after 3 years of losing about a hundred a day. I even got Lucinda Ellery to put extensions in which cost me £800 luckily I could afford it but I think there are cheaper places that glue in hair extensions. This helped me cope with the stress of hair loss.

Serendipitious profile image
Serendipitious in reply to Naadi

Naadi,

Same here hair loss has accelerated in the last 6 months and I’ve tried everything hope you sort it.

Myoinositol can help balance your hormones overall. All hormones interact with one another, including the thyroid.

Lora7again profile image
Lora7again

Get your friend to post them ... I had no trouble getting Thyroid S from Thailand and customs didn't stop them. I ordered a 1000 tablets btw and they took about 9 days to arrive and were delivered by hand by my postman who knocked my door because the package was too big too post.

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