I've only been diagnosed this year with hypothyroidism and it has occurred me only recently about unexpected situations which might mean you don't have access to your thyroxin medication. For instance if you were talen ill or been in an accident, gone on holiday and forgotten to take your medication with you. You can see where im going with this. What would you do if you were in a situation like this?
What do you do?: I've only been diagnosed this... - Thyroid UK
What do you do?
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Pottypotter
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You keep a few tablets cut off part of a blister pack in your bag. If you are a lucky hypo like some of my friends you can miss several days without any effect. It all depends.
SeasideSusieRemembering
If you were taken ill and in hospital then the hospital should provide the Levo as long as they are told you take it. Make sure that any relatives know what medication you take so they can take it to the hospital or provide the information to the staff if you're not in a situation to do so.
As for going on holiday, you make absolutely sure it's on your list of things to take with you, and double check you have it.
.....and, if flying, keep it in your hand luggage just in case any hold bags go awol!
In some countries it is possible to buy Levothyroxine over the counter.
helvella has been collating prescription requirements for different countries in this document :
Further to humanbean and helvella 's list, I bought levo OTC in France in November when I forgot my tablets - and very cheap it was too!
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK
It is perfectly legal for a pharmacy to dispense a small quantity of, say, levothyroxine in an emergency.
The NHS in England has this page:
Where can I get an emergency supply of medicine?
nhs.uk/common-health-questi...
Although anywhere outside the UK is not covered by those words and rules, it is common for countries to have some sort of emergency get-you-by arrangements.
I had to see an emergency doctor first and get a prescription was surprised the pharmacy would (could?) not issue me with a couple of tablets to tide me over.
That info implies they could have done that, instead of causing a load of hassle getting a prescription In a strange city when I was still really ill and not optimised. Some of them must have zero common sense 🙄 and a lack of empathy and compassion - it was very stressful in my condition at that point. It is hardly a drug to get off on. I even had my exemption card I think It may have said hypothyroid on it...what’s the world coming to?
It is odd how people have hugely variable experiences even when exactly the same rules are supposedly in force.
The only difficulty, as I see it, is that they might not be able to process it as a normal NHS prescription and get paid in that way. I think they can ask you to pay - but for levothyroxine tablets that is so little as to be forgettable for most of us. Especially if they only let you have a few.
I doubt anyone in the pharmacy has the feintest idea how a hypothyroid person feels when their hormone levels are too low. So they may not even consider it to be an emergency.
The pharmacists I know are extremely knowledgable about all sorts of conditions - isn’t that part of their job? They undergo a long medical training. I don’t see them as being in a mere shop assistant role. Only the dispensing pharmacist would deal with emergency medications anyway. A now deceased relative trained as one in the days when they mixed up the raw materials from scratch - they had a very extensive medical knowledge. He found modern pharmacy a bit disappointing, counting out pills instead of making them. It is probably safer that way. Given how common the condition is someone in these pharmacies must have relatives with it or even first hand experience of it. I got the impression they knew it was important I obtained the tablets I needed but only done via a gps prescription.
I went on a week-long business trip and was horrified to realize that I had forgotten to pack my set of pills. I wasn't having any luck with local drug stores or with my HMO. My husband sent my pills via an overnight delivery service. Love that man!
Thank goodness he got them to you - it is bad no one would help in pharmacies etc.
It was really bizarre. The HMO would authorize the local drug store to give me a few day's supply, but my records at the HMO pharmacy would reflect that I had received a (full) refill of those drugs.
Yes, I have only had one panic associated with "forgetting" my thyroid meds. I went on a trip, opened my suitcase to put my pills on the bedside table (the very first thing I do) - and my pills weren't there! My heart went in my mouth since I was going to be away 2 weeks. I distinctly remember putting the pills in my suitcase in the usual spot, but they simply were not there. Throughout my real panic I kept telling myself that I knew I had packed the pills. Then I started a second layer of panic thinking that I was going crazy or getting dementia and I only "thought" I was remembering. I shook the contents of my suitcase onto the bed - and there they were, they had rolled into a far corner of the surtcase, how, I do not know.
Oh and yes, the HMO. I thought I would have to drive there and ask for another batch but I tried that before and I was told that it was too early to get another prescription refill filled and to come back next week! In that case it didn't matter very much, I was just at the hospital for a blood test and was trying to avoid two trips into town. I was out of town to work, not keep driving up and down the freeway to the pharmacy.
For holidays, i always pack extra in case of delays coming home.
I carry a little tin with 3 days worth of thyroxine and cardiac medication in my handbag/work bag just in case.
You should have your health issues/medication listed in your cell phone in case your unable to respond to Doctors, Police or EMTs. Keep all medications with you when flying (never check bag).
In the UK see an emergency doc who will prescribe enough tablets to keep you going. Levothyroxine has a long half life c6. weeks so you’d survive ok for a week or two but clearly that is not ideal. Not sure if overseas chemists would help.
there is a new system coming in early next year to the South West where patients notes will be accessible to all health care settings ie hospital can see gp etc so that if someone is admitted as an emergency and isnt able to tell them medical history or medication it can be checked.
About time i say, having worked as a nurse in A and E for 9 years this could have been a real game changer
Seems like a no brainer, its should be available nationwide!
Totally agree
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