T3 liothyrinine mercury pharma unavailable

[katherine107]

Ordereded my prescription for liothyrini e T3 last week. Mercury pharma brand, which always take but boots said unavailable. They could only offer Teva. I react with other brands and make me ill. Does anyone else know if this is a problem everywhere?

[lynmynott Partner Thyroid UK]

Please try and take your prescription to another pharmacy. I've heard Boots say this before but it is available elsewhere.

[katherine107 in reply to lynmynott]

I have been to 3 now and they all say same

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to lynmynott]

When I see this reported, I very often suggest people contact the company (in this case, Advanz). This is sometimes helpful as people then know if there really is an issue everywhere or just one distributor, or whatever.

Address

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Medical Information Direct Line

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advanzpharma.com

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[phone]

Medical Information e-mail

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Medical Information Fax

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medicines.org.uk/emc/compan...

mischa

[mischa in reply to helvella]

I have been in touch with several chemists and they cannot get the Mercury Pharma brand. However, Boots have told me they source Advanz Liothyronine but isn't that Mercury Pharma? You have given the details of Advanz to source Mercury Pharma.

My pharmacist has phoned me to say that they are charging £10.00 over what the government will pay for it and this extra cost will have to be payable by me and if I agree, he can get it today.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to mischa]

We keep getting told how expert pharmacists are about medicines. Then they make stupid, ignorant mistakes - which is what this appears to be.

Mercury Pharma was acquired by Concordia International several years ago. Concordia International have since renamed themselves as Advanz. Unless something else has happened which I am not aware of, it will be the same product.

Have a look at the Patient Information Leaflet here: medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

You can see it has the brand Mercury Pharma and the company Advanz.

I am just an ignorant fellow patient on some internet forum. Don't believe what I say, check, and double-check.

And ask the Product Licence number of the product the pharmacist proposes to dispense. I suspect it will be exactly as on the PIL I have linked to and on your previously dispensed product. PL 10972/0033

I am shocked that a pharmacy believes it is OK to charge a patient as you describe.

I completely understand why you would be willing to pay in order to get what you need. But make sure you get a receipt which describes EXACTLY what you are being charged for. I hope that it is wrong and is not allowed and you can complain and get it refunded. Though I do not know the details of pharmacy contracts.

[mischa in reply to helvella]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean - what stupid, ignorant mistake has the pharmacist made? Boots said they have Advanz and I asked you if they were the same as I am finding it confusing.

I wanted to clarify if Advanz and Mercury Pharma were the same. That's all.

No I have no intention of paying £10.00 extra for an NHS prescription and my pharmacist was advising against this but as I was pressing him for Mercury Pharma and he is having difficulty sourcing the same, this is what he was told by a source. He is honest and was trying to get what I wanted if I desperately wanted Mercury Pharma. His suggestion was to use another brand.

Incidentally, there is nothing on my leaflet with T3 that mentions Advanz only Mercury Pharma but with the same address as you have given for Advanz.

It's very depressing to find during these times that our medication is undergoing shortages - it just causes more anxiety.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to mischa]

I am saying that the pharmacist not being able to explain to you that Advanz is Mercury Pharma appears to be a mistake of ignorance.

We have recently seen another company change name and that too is confusing.

Check the PL number and if it is the same, the product will be the same.

[lynmynott Partner Thyroid UK in reply to mischa]

I don't think they are allowed to charge you any extra! I would definitely try a different pharmacy and take on board what helvella has told you

[mischa in reply to lynmynott]

Yes I may well do that.

[katherine107 in reply to lynmynott]

I have tried 3 pharmacies

[katherine107 in reply to lynmynott]

Ok, just read the change of name. Will try again. Thankyou

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Never hand over prescription without having it confirmed they will definitely supply brand you need

Small independent pharmacies tend to be more helpful

[mischa]

I am having the same problem. I have just written a post.

If I have to use another brand I would like to know what other brands people are happy with.

[Babette]

I picked mine up a few weeks ago from Asda. It wasn't on the system so they called the supplier.

[katherine107]

I still cannot get my prescription for mercury pharma or advanz.