Hi, I’ve been on combo more than a year now and the last time I saw NHS endo two weeks ago, he sent the letter to my GP that I could be prescribed T3 through NHS, but I spoke with my GP today and she said it was refused.
My question is there anything I can do about it? Appeal or something? cause I don’t the see the reason why they refused it if it was recommended by NHS endo🤔 thanks
If NHS endocrinologist says you have clinical need for T3 ...and initial trial via endocrinologist has gone well then endocrinologist writes to GP to formally requests GP carry on prescription and care ...with annual review back with endo
Some CCG’s still try to refuse
Endocrinologist may need to initiate an individual funding request
Which CCG area are you based in, if in England. Scotland and Wales have slightly different guidelines
New NHS England Liothyronine guidelines July 2019 clearly state on page 13 that TSH should be between 0.4-1.5 when treated with just Levothyroxine
Note that it says test should be in morning BEFORE taking Levo thyroxine
Also to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin
sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...
Prescription rates in UK ....searchable by CCG
openprescribing.net/analyse...
Helpful GP
thyroidtrust.org/a-gp-write...
Should I send this letter to my GP or what should I do? Even though it says if it was adviced by NHS endo they have to approve it - it’s not the case here, where should I escalate it? I’m confused about their desicion tbh😐
Trial was over a long time ago and still they refused it. I’m in northamptonshire
Northampton...is Nene CCG area
openprescribing.net/analyse...
712 prescriptions in last year
Your need to print out guidelines
Plus open prescribing rates
Be a pain...don’t take no for an answer
Try improve thyroid treatment campaign on Facebook for letter templates
Try writing a formal complaint to NHS England. Although they don't have a lot of power they advise the CCGs and it will let the CCG know you mean business.
Yes appeal. The guidance on the prescribing of the T3/T4 combo is quite clear. Get a copy from NICE and use it to appeal. The CCG cannot force your Endo or GP to change /reduce your treatment and care if it’s working.
Yes - my gp can not prescribe but referred me to main hospital who do prescribe and I now collect from hospital pharmacy every four months - everyone is happy as my bloods are normal
It is your gp who is refusing to prescribe as it comes off their budget. Ask for refusal in writing and the reason for it. If they say it is a banned medicine that is untrue or because its too expensive (they cant refuse on cost) you need their reason so you can fight it. You will need to get individual funding from you local CCG it took me 10 months to fight the withdrawal of my t3 but it was reinstated. This will be a case of you gp not wanting to pay for it. Consider moving GP ask your endo to give you a 3 month prescription to tide you over till ccg fund you, you may find hospital dont want to fund it either. The reason they make us jump through hoops is because they know 9 out of 10 wont bother or are too ill to have the energy. When self sourcing was easy it didnt matter, self sourcing is now difficult so getting your prescription is worth fighting for.
Are you sure its the CCG and not the GP? I had a similar situation and it was the GP telling porkies. I went to the CCG who had no problem. It was an entirely different, very cheap and run of the mill medicine. The GP was just tight and difficult. So I left the practise.
I know that it's impossible right now but for future reference T3 can be bought over the counter in Greece for about £3 per 30 pills 25mg . I bought 20 boxes last October.
Gosh you were lucky. Last trip I made in May I only managed 4 boxes despite crossing the island for pharmacies & them calling around.
Hello, Just wondering...did you need to take a prescription with you, in order to buy the T3 in Greece? I know it's cheap to buy in France, but apparently you need a prescription from a French doctor.
I was on T3 and T4 in North America, for a few years...a year ago we moved to Spain...and I can't get T3 here....feeling I'll without it. Piled on lots of weight, brain fog, fatigue, hair loss etc...and I have a brain tumour, which does not help.
I really need to be able to buy some T3 legally, when life gets back to normal, to how it was, pre CoronaVirus lockdown.
Any advice from anyone who knows where, and, how to buy T3, please message me, thank you.
I do not understand why it's expensive in the UK, in other parts of Europe, it's inexpensive, but you need a prescription. Here in Spain, it's only possible to buy T4 over the counter...T3 was removed from sale in the 1960's, from what I understand. Thank you
Just buy T3 yourself online from a source recommended on here or go to Greece and stock up. Saves so much hassle for yourself and cost to the NHS.
It all seems very shady online, from what I have seen....paying with Bitcoin etc....
Am afraid that in current circumstances going anywhere to buy your own is about the worst possible advice and likely totally impossible.
Greece is on full lockdown at the moment. Far tighter restrictions than us
Yep i have friend there who got me 10 boxs in case for my stash but he is a local, they are getting tough with drug tourists in his area. There will be no travelling for months now anyway which will not help anyone hoping to do a holiday there. Amazed i got them in post 
france notorious for stopping parcels.
I was Island hopping for a month so plenty of opportunity
I got my t3 over counter in Turkey and I'm sure it was £5 for 100 pills 25mg each pill and can buy online also
Do you know of a reputable site please?
in greece and turkey you have to go into pharmacy, they are not online suppliers x
I have a great Doctor who treats me like an adult and after a chat happily agreed that to save the NHS money it was a good idea to give me a prescription to use in Greece. I didn't use it once. I was never asked for it in the 7-8 pharmacies that I visited. I was buying 1, 2 or 3 in each because at the time there was a bit of a shortage. If I were to go back to Greece specifically to buy T3 I would probably head for Athens in the hope that city pharmacies would be better stocked and there would be a lot of them to try. The make I bought is Uni-pharma btw.
Thank you....good advice...when life gets back to normal, virus free, a trip to Greece, will be in my plans. Thanks again.
P.S just before I went to Greece I successfully bought T3 online from here in the UK. Private message me to discuss further.
GP refusing to prescribe T3
NHS endocrine clinics that prescribe T3 Liothyronine
Private prescriptions from NHS GPs - and referring outside of CCG area - advice please
My doctor is refusing to prescribe T3
