Advice please

[Ann-Simpson]

I wonder if anyone has had experience of a brand of T3 not suiting them. I was happily taking timoril for two years when my gp said I could start having a nhs prescription which of course I was delighted to accept the supplier is called Ascot laboratories in Watford. For some reason ever since changing the make I have been feeling very unwell, great fatigue and muscle weakness. I am being tested for other complications but just wondering if it is the change of T3 that is not agreeing with me.. would be pleased if this rings a bell with anyone Thank you Ann

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Never heard of Ascot laboratories

What dose tablets?

Usually T3 is Morningside Healthcare, Mercury Pharma or Teva (lactose free)

There are a few non standard brands if not 20mcg

List of different brands available in UK

thyroiduk.org/tuk/treatment...

Though in last month Morningside has produced 5mcg and 10mcg tablets

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Ann-Simpson in reply to SlowDragon]

Checked the list and cannot find ascot laboratories either. All a bit of a mystery. Am tempted to go back the the Timorel even though I pay for it and have to rely on friends visiting Turkey to bring it back to the UK

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

They appear to be a "specials" company.

ascotpharma.com/

What are you actually getting? Are they tablets? Do they have any markings? Or are they capsules with powder? Or something else?

[Ann-Simpson in reply to helvella]

They are tablets 25mcg and contain the following. Lactose, sodium, starch, glycolate, magnesium steatite, egg, yellow lake, talc, gelatine, starch maize, silicon dioxide, colloidal. Seems rather a lot of ingredients, Ann

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Ann-Simpson]

Any markings?

[Ann-Simpson in reply to helvella]

What do you mean by markings.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Ann-Simpson]

Letters, numbers, or lines imprinted into the surface of the tablets?

[Ann-Simpson in reply to helvella]

No markings

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Ann-Simpson]

I assume you are reading the ingredients off some piece of paper. Is there any further information? I am just trying to be sure I understand what it is..

[Ann-Simpson in reply to helvella]

The ingredients are on the paper label round the plastic tub.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Ann-Simpson]

The ingredients and descriptions would appear to match UniPharma Liothyronine from Greece.

Many here have experience of that and, generally, they find it acceptable. But that means absolutely nothing - you might not be doing well on it.

[Ann-Simpson in reply to helvella]

Thank you. It is a bit of a mystery. And do you think if I am having problems with it, will I become able tolerate it better as time goes on? I am finding the fatigue and muscle weakness hard. But maybe the answer would be to back on the timorel for a few weeks and see if I get back to normal.

[Beverleyb in reply to Ann-Simpson]

I was given a trial of t3 by the nhs a few years ago . I felt great , but then after a few months symptoms as you describe came back , I had a faulty batch . My GP gave me another prescription and I felt ok ..If I remember a few people had the same problem ,I reported it but sorry I can’t remember the name ..

[Ann-Simpson in reply to Beverleyb]

Thank you for your message with an interesting point I have had about four months of the nhs T3 but as there are not many prescriptions given out maybe mine are all from the same batch. Perhaps I should go to another chemist. Ann

[loueldhen in reply to Ann-Simpson]

Yes. Batch number will be on the pot. Never heard of them and haven’t been given them. Tell the pharmacist youtr health has deteriorated and you want to try morningside or mercury pharma. I will only accept those two. We have enough trouble without adapting to different formulations.

[Ann-Simpson in reply to loueldhen]

Thank you for your message and I will investigate the batch and go from there. Ann

[Beverleyb in reply to Ann-Simpson]

I remember a few of the members compared batch numbers..Good idea to try another chemist .After my experience I always took the batch numbers with me , I think the pharmacist wrote down the numbers ..

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Beverleyb]

There might not be a batch number on a pot of liothryonine imported as a special. If they are UniPharma, they have already been decanted (whether from a bulk pot, or a blister pack, or just an alternative packaging). The batch number might not have followed them.

[Ann-Simpson in reply to helvella]

Thank you and there is no batch number on the pot. I will continue to see which manufacture they are.

[Marz in reply to helvella]

Are you thinking what I an thinking ? Wonder what the NHS is being charged ?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Marz]

I am indeed.

I also find it utterly unacceptable that someone gets decanted medicines like this - regardless. At the very least, the documentation (PIL, batch number and expiry date) should follow ALL medicines.

We go to supermarkets and see best before and use by dates on products.

Even when sold loose (e.g. deli counter), there will be indications of how long the products can be kept for. Many products you can actually ask them to check what it says (e.g. slicing sausages). And you can ask for ingredients to be identified.

How much more important for medicines?

[Marz in reply to helvella]

So true. Is there any way we can find out the cost to the NHS - would contacting the company be worth it do you think ? I would ask them if it is widely available in the UK ...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Marz]

I'd always support people contacti8ng companies. The worst they can do is ignore you!

I think it might be difficult to follow through but definitely worth a shot. Play the innocent?

[Marz in reply to helvella]

Thank you ! Will do ! Wot me Gov?