Importing NDT into the UK: Hi, I’m looking to... - Thyroid UK

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Importing NDT into the UK

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Hi,

I’m looking to import a product containing NDT into the UK and want to know if others have successfully done so in the past 3 months. I’ve contacted HMRC and it looks like it’ll be legal, but I have my doubts.

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17 Replies

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SeasideSusieRemembering4 years ago

LunaLu123

It perfect OK to import medication for your own personal use, but not distribute it, including NDT. But I suppose it depends on what your "product containing NDT" actually is.

Also, postal delays are affecting delivery from all over the world so it probably won't arrive very quickly.

in reply to SeasideSusie4 years ago

Thank you. This is the product I’m looking to import: nuethix.com/collections/sup...

Thankfully there’s no rush so shipping shouldn’t be an issue.

SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to 4 years ago

LunaLu123

Well, there's nothing there that's a problem for importing the product but it definitely is not NDT nor does it contain any.

Is this for your own use? If so, why do you want it?

Are you diagnosed with hypothyroidism?

"Thyroid support" supplements are not a good idea. They contain iodine and that should only be supplemented if tested and found to be deficient. Iodine solution used to be used to treat overactive thyroid before the current radioactive iodine treatment. It can make hypothyroidism worse.

in reply to SeasideSusie4 years ago

It’s for personal use but I’m not diagnosed with a thyroid issue. I’ve had bloodwork done and my T4 in on the low end of normal, and TSH high end of normal. Thank you for the advice though!

Jazzw in reply to 4 years ago

I could be wrong but I’m not sure that there’s any NDT in Thyro-Boost. Looks like a glorified vitamin tablet. Have you taken it before?

in reply to Jazzw4 years ago

No, I haven’t taken it before but I’m clearly mistaken in thinking that NDT and dried thyroid, pituitary glands etc. are the selfsame thing. Thank you for drawing my attention to this.

RedAppleAdministrator in reply to 4 years ago

Personally, I wouldn't touch it, much less pay the shipping costs to buy it from outside the UK.

'Thyro-Boost is an alternative to thyroid medication.' No, no, no! This is very misleading indeed. The ingredients do not indicate any thyroid hormone content whatsoever, so the product should absolutely not claim to be an alternative to thyroid medication.

'It is all natural and contains no substances banned by any sports organizations.' Therefore, it has no thyroid hormone content and cannot be an alternative to thyroid medication.

As we diet our thyroid regulates downward as part of a survival mechanism. Thyro-Boost may keep the thyroid operating at an optimal rate, so that your dieting efforts are rewarded.* What utter claptrap! Don't waste your money on this product.

in reply to RedApple4 years ago

Thank your for your response. I don’t suffer from thyroid issues and are therefore not wanting to use a thyroid medication. I was under the impression that NDT and dried thyroid, pituitary, adrenal glands etc. were the selfsame thing. I was clearly mistaken so thank you for enlightening me. I’ll review my decision in light of your advice. Kind regards.

RedAppleAdministrator in reply to 4 years ago

LunaLu123, If you don't suffer from thyroid issues and don't want to use a thyroid medication, why would you contact the MHRA about importing it? After all, it's an OTC supplement, not a medicine.

And why would you make a 'further inquiry' that resulted in your receiving 'lab reports from a third party tester'?

The problem with the marketing of this product is that it's claiming to be something it isn't, and then contradicting that claim. It's also trying to capture a slice of the hugely profitable 'diet / weight loss' product market at the same time. This alone makes me distrustful of both the product and the company that's selling it.

If you want to waste your money on ineffective OTC 'thyroid support' supplements, you'll find an assortment of brands to choose from right here in the UK. You don't need to import any from another country.

humanbean4 years ago

The only drugs it is illegal to import into the UK are controlled drugs e.g. morphine, tramadol, anabolic steroids, heroin, cocaine.

Thyroid hormones in any form are not controlled and therefore not illegal to import.

You can see the list of the most common controlled drugs that people try to import :

gov.uk/government/publicati...

You won't find levothyroxine, liothyronine, natural dessicated thyroid or dessicated thyroid extract in the list.

in reply to humanbean4 years ago

Thank you for your help.

helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK4 years ago

The website boldy claims that none of the ingredients have been banned in sports.

I suggest that a truly ethical company would be submitting their products to a third-party testing organisation such as:

informed-sport.com/

We probably have few, if any, Olympic athletes here but even over-65 bowls is subject to the rules!

4 years ago

I appreciate your concern, but as I don’t compete in any sports, it isn’t an issue. Upon further inquiry, I did receive lab reports from a third party tester, which confirmed that ingredients were as stated.

humanbean in reply to 4 years ago

I'd be interested in knowing who your third party tester is, if you wouldn't mind sharing.

I looked for a lab to test something I'd bought last year that I was dubious about and couldn't find anyone to do it for me. I was probably using the wrong search terms, but I still have no idea what the right search terms would have been.

In the end I bought something that was allegedly the same thing from a different manufacturer that turned out to look the same, smell the same and taste the same, so I thought my original purchase was probably okay and I'm now using it without any problems. But obviously this isn't a safe way of testing something if the product(s) had been genuinely dangerous.

humanbean in reply to humanbean4 years ago

I wasn't wondering whether the product I bought was safe for sport. I just wanted to know if it contained what it said on the packaging.

helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to 4 years ago

My point was not really whether or not you would be breaking some sporting body's rules. Rather, that any ethical company making such a claim really should be able to point at independent testing which proves their claims. Otherwise some athlete, somewhere, might well trust them and could come a cropper at a drugs test. After all, the proper testers make sure they test every batch to avoid athletes inadvertently taking a batch that is "bad". I suspect that the ability to back up the claim would be required by advertising regulations in the UK.

If the company if not ethical enough to do so, I end up questioning their whole branding. "New ethics"? Or "No Ethics"?

Abi-Abster4 years ago

Hi, I'm not sure if this is relevant to your situation, but I've used Nutri Thyroid on and off for years. It really works, but you have to take breaks every few months before restarting again.

It was first recommended by a nutritionist who was working off my blood test results at the time, so it may not be appropriate or advisable for you. I was on Levothyroxine back then too, so already medicated for hypothyroidism (although it was unsuccessful: I realised since that I needed T3 too).

Nutri Advanced is an excellent brand, the supplements are iodine-free (and not suitable for vegetarians!), but I often go back to Nutri Thyroid when I'm struggling with my thyroid medication. I'd take it more often but it's expensive:

nutriadvanced.co.uk/nutri-t...

Hope this helps!

Good luck,

Abi.

PS: While I'm at it, these adrenal support pills are also excellent, but again expensive. Suggest you start slow and build up slowly. This works!: nutriadvanced.co.uk/categor...

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