Liothyronine Prescription - GP no longer able to provide prescription to send overseas for Thybon Henning

[Essexmum]

My NHS Endocrinologist wrote to my GP last year to advise I need Liothyronine prescribed by the practice.

Since then, my GP has been providing a prescription which I send overseas and I pay for the tablets, Thybon Henning. These are the only tablets that I feel well on. I do not feel well on the tablets provided by the nhs, they do not have the same effect. I feel calm and relaxed on Thybon Henning.

I have spoken to the drs surgery this morning and they have said to request my prescription this week as from next month they will not issue any prescriptions. All prescriptions will be sent to a chemist electronically. There will be no facility available to print and post a prescription to me. There is no facility to email a copy of the prescription to me.

The prescriptions clerk has said I am the only one in the surgery who has a prescription that I then send abroad.

She has suggested I contact the local CCG, although I don't believe I will receive much help from them as I have tried speaking with them in the past (East of England)

My question is, has anyone else heard of this happening and is anyone in the same situation as me? Has anyone found a work around?

I would be grateful of any help.

Thank you

[jimh111]

I haven't heard of this and feel sure they are breaking some rule, at least check with the CCG. As a short term option, if you have other medicines that you collect from a friendly local pharmacy perhaps they might agree to recieve the prescription for you and let you collect it.

[Essexmum in reply to jimh111]

Thank you, yes I will check with the CCG before I do anything.

[Lalatoot]

The NHS prescriptions don't have to be one brand - there are others to choose from. They won't get Thybon but they can get several other brands so maybe you could try some of the others. I have had several brands supplied from Boots on my NHS prescription on my request.

[Essexmum in reply to Lalatoot]

Thank you, it may be that I will need to go through a period of time trying various brands. I'll speak to the chemist in preparation, in case this is the way it has to be and can at least check the brands available, check those I have tried and take it from there.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Yes ...Covid has prompted them to drive all patients onto electronic prescriptions

Have you tried Morningside T3?

Or Teva T3

Both are UK alternatives to Amco

Obviously come December, if Brexit ratification happens, access to Thybon Henning may cease

[Essexmum in reply to SlowDragon]

That was my understanding that all prescriptions must be electronic now with no other options available.

I haven't tried Morningside or Teva. The chemist said at the time I could only have the generic liothyronine sodium tablets. There was no branding and they were just tablets loose in a pot with MercuryPharma on the label. Not sure what brand they were.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Essexmum]

That’s because Mercury Pharma can’t be bothered to package their T3 up in proper blister pack....and often has very short use by date

As soon as new different brands were licensed I changed to Morningside Healthcare T3 ....blister packed and long shelf life

Haven’t tried Teva (it’s lactose free)

[Essexmum]

Thank you SlowDragon for advising.

I did think it was odd that the tablets were loose. Blister packs would be better.

I have emailed the CCG and I will enquire at the chemist as well as I wonder if my GP would need to specify the brand, Morningside. It may well be worth trying the brand and as you say I may not be able to obtain Thybon Henning come the end of the year anyway.

Thanks again

[Lalatoot in reply to Essexmum]

I manage fine on either teva or morningside. Teva lio is not 'dodgy' like its levo is.

[crimple]

Hi Essexmum, I used to have to do same as you, get private scrip from GP and send to Germany. Then was told they couldn't issue private scrip. I was lucky my CCG agreed I could have NHS scrip. Local Boots couldn't supply me with T3 that didn't cause me problems. I have various intolerances to foods. So I used TUK info about pharmacies and after phoning around I found Springfield Pharmacy in Richmond and they now receive an electronic scrip from my GP and supply me through NHS and send meds in post. (They do also fill private scrips.) Hope you get sorted

[Essexmum]

Thank you everyone for your messages, they are really helpful. I will look into various options and take it from there.