T3 Henning Thybon

[Nerminebeshara]

Hello everyone, a friend doctor in Germany is willing to buy me my Henning Thybon T3 and post it to my address in UK. I’m afraid though that it’ll be seized. Any information in this regard? Many thanks.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

It is perfectly legal to have medicines such as Henning Thybon posted to you - so long as it is for your personal use, or for other members of your household.

At some point, we will see anything imported from Germany likely subject to VAT and customs clearance changes (currently Royal Mail charge £8, others charge more). But quite when and how that will be handled, we do not yet know.

(There would be difficulty with controlled drugs - which would not be legal. Some heavy duty painkillers, diazapam, etc. But thyroid hormones are Prescription-only Medicines - not controlled drugs.)

[Nerminebeshara in reply to helvella]

Thanks for the information. Would I need to have a prescription?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Nerminebeshara]

No.

The doctor in Germany would, obviously, have to obey German laws. (I guess that means he would have to go through some sort of prescribing process over there.)

But your receiving the Henning Thybon is perfectly legal within the UK.

[Nerminebeshara in reply to helvella]

Many thanks for the information.

[jimh111]

It is illegal to obtain a prescription drug for someone else. I would try and get a prescription from your doctor and order it from Germany. I wouldn't ask your doctor friend to post you the L-T3 as they will be struck off if found out. It seems too great a risk for someone to take. Alternatively you can obtain liothyronine from some internet suppliers, I don't know any but someone could private message you if you ask.

[Nerminebeshara in reply to jimh111]

Many thanks for the information and the advice. My friend doctor has the authority to buy them; she wouldn’t do otherwise. Can you provide more information on how I can get a doctor prescribe it for me? I just recently moved to the UK and am not familiar with how things work.

[jimh111 in reply to Nerminebeshara]

It is very difficult to get a prescription for liothyronine in the UK. If you are already being prescribed them from your previous home country then a UK doctor might write you a private prescription.

I assume the doctor is your friend and not your regular doctor. They would have to comply with the medical rules in the country they are in. Usually a doctor cannot write prescriptions for a friend or obtain drugs for them. The doctor would have to check the rules they have to follow. It's not really about being able to mail prescription drugs into the UK, the real risk is that your friend could lose their licence to practice medicine.

If you are able to get a prescription then it is easy to buy liothyronine from Germany. This may not be so next year depending upon how negotiations with the EU go. Most patients in the UK have great difficulty getting a liothyronine prescription.

[Nerminebeshara in reply to jimh111]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your advice and help.

[Hurtlocker in reply to Nerminebeshara]

Just go to your doctor hete and ask for a private prescription..send the Germany and. Hey ho...it arrives...you can even get direct from Thybon Henning mail order site...no problems with customs ir.post but prescrption must be very precise and state Thybon Liothyronine..it only comes in packs of 100 tans so if you have to take small dose...split them!!its how I get mine..good luck!!

.

[Nerminebeshara in reply to Hurtlocker]

Can the GP write the prescription? Or must I visit an Endocrinologist?

[Hurtlocker in reply to Nerminebeshara]

Your GP WILL WRITE THE PRESCRIPTION!!but you must ask for it...

!Assuming you are NH S and in UK he should do it...good luck...

[Nerminebeshara in reply to Hurtlocker]

Many thanks Hurtlocker...it’s just that I have recently moved to the UK and am not familiar with the procedures. Will ask my GP for a prescription in my next visit.

[Fluffysheep in reply to Hurtlocker]

Not necessarily. I asked my GP a few months ago if she would write a private prescription for T3 if it came to the point where I thought from my blood tests I needed it, and she said no. She said that as she isn't allowed to prescribe it on the NHS (unless requested from an NHS endo) she wouldn't write a private prescription for it either. She is the head Dr at the practice, so I assume the others would be the same.

[Hurtlocker in reply to Fluffysheep]

Think your doctor needs to get out more or go back to med school and do some intense learning on thyroid..they wont prescibe it as cost is astronomical here around £500.£600 !

Month...30 Euros in Germany.for three.months supply!!!,..case of big pharma getting rich at expense of ill patients..watch this space for costs on the virus protection if it ever comes...it will be mega bucks but we will pay it or else!!!!

[Fluffysheep in reply to Hurtlocker]

She definitely needs to learn more about the thyroid, but then don't most of them?

I bought some for 2 euros a box in Greece late last year in case I needed them. Haven't taken any yet, but it seemed like a worthwhile investment for "just in case" given how difficult and expensive it can be to get hold of!

[Nerminebeshara in reply to Fluffysheep]

Apparently I’m heading for one big fight 😒

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Nerminebeshara]

You might be lucky.

Especially if you can somehow demonstrate that you were prescribed liothyronine in Germany. And there should be no cost implication to the surgery if you are willing to accept a private prescription. (Or they trust you with an NHS one which will be sent to Germany.)

[Nerminebeshara in reply to helvella]

I have been on T3 for almost 3 years now. I just recently moved in here and am absolutely not ready for anyone to mess up my doses. I will definitely stand up for myself.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Thybon Henning is prescription only

Many members get Thybon Henning on prescription and order from Germany

thyroiduk.org/treatment-opt...

[Nerminebeshara in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you.

[Suki29]

I receive my prescription for T3 after a private consultation with an Endocrinologist a year ago who advised adding T3 alongside Thyroxine. My GP had refused a referral through the NHS...and have now just started buying Thybon Henning from Germany after the price of T3 in the UK is now exorbitant. No problem with supply from there so far and easy to order.

[Rita-D]

I buy my Thybon Henning from a pharmacy in Germany on an NHS prescription. Never been a problem for me.

[Nerminebeshara in reply to Rita-D]

Many thanks Rita....do I have to visit an Endo or can the GP write the prescription?

[Rita-D in reply to Nerminebeshara]

In the NHS only an endocrinologist can initiate a trial of Liothyronine because it’s extremely expensive in the UK. It took me a very long time to persuade the endo that I wasn’t converting T4 to T3 properly. I ended up getting a private test which showed I have a faulty gene which can slow conversion. One I showed him the evidence he accepted that I might benefit from T3 and agreed to advise my GP that I needed it. I then had a battle with the GP to prescribe it and it was only after a row and the fact that I said I would purchase from Germany that he agreed to give me a private prescription. I now get an NHS prescription and have never felt better.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and all through treatment I was less tired than I was when I was on T4 only!

I think I you will have a battle on your hands to get T3 prescribed.

[Nerminebeshara in reply to Rita-D]

Thank you Rita for the information. I’m aware it will be a battle...just hoping for the best...let’s see how it goes. My best wishes for your speedy recovery.

[Rita-D in reply to Nerminebeshara]

Good luck. xxx