NDT Portugal

[ter1461]

Anyone know if I can get NDT and T3 in Portugal?

[abitsad]

You can't get T3, don't know about NDT.

[Kandahar]

I was told by doctor, when I’d left mine at home, that T3 was not available in Portugal. At least not in the Algarve.

[Hidden]

Do you have a prescription? In that case it can possibly be ordered from other EU countries where it´s available; Belgium and Germany come to mind.

Same for T3 - if you have a prescription, you can possibly get it from countries where it´s available. I know it´s available in Germany (prescription only), not sure about other countries.

If you don´t have a prescription and cannot get one, you can order Thai NDT online (although all suppliers currently seem out of stock) as well as T3 (several brands) . You can ask members to send you details in a private message.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Are you absolutely sure that all those possibilities are legal in Portugal?

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Well, if you have a valid prescription, it should be possible to get either NDT or T3 from another EU country. In the past, I got NDT sent from Belgium to another EU country (where NDT is not available) using my Belgian prescription. I just sent it the pharmacy and the NDT was then sent to me using DHL. I know there are people in the UK who order T3 from Germany.

[ter1461 in reply to Hidden]

How do I go about getting a prescription for it though as I’m in Spain and have private insurance. Do I need to see an endo?

[Hidden in reply to ter1461]

Not necessarily, any doctor could prescribe T3/NDT, even a GP. But you do need a prescription.

I´d advise against seeing an endo since most of them are obsessed with the TSH and dislike prescribing drugs that are likely to suppress your TSH. Hopefully, members in Spain can tell you if there is a good doctor open to prescribing NDT or T3.

[Hidden in reply to ter1461]

Sorry, why do you ask about Portugal if you are in Spain?

[ter1461 in reply to Hidden]

Moving there

[Hidden in reply to ter1461]

I remember seeing a post here a while ago by a member in Portugal who was seeing a doctor there trained by Thierry Hertoghe. This doctor prescribes NDT. But I cannot seem to find that post right now; I hope that member sees this post and can help you.

[Hidden in reply to ter1461]

The type of insurance you have may not matter when it comes to NDT. Not all health insurance providers will cover NDT; this applies both to the national health services and private insurance providers. The problem with NDT seems to be the fact that it´s unlicensed so lacks a specific type of code needed for drugs to be reimbursed...at least that´s the explanation I got in Belgium where NDT is NOT covered. If you want to make sure, you should contact your health insurance provider. Prescription NDT is very expensive.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

The same argument would apply in, say France. But desiccated thyroid is illegal in France and any attempt to import it could result in it being confiscated.

We are allowed to import from Germany because of the combination of Germany law recognising UK prescriptions and UK law permitting personal imports for self and members of household. (So far as I can tell, Germany and the rest of the EU will cease recognising UK prescriptions by the end of this year - possibly much earlier.)

[ter1461 in reply to helvella]

Would you have the address please?

[helvella Administrator in reply to ter1461]

Sorry - could you clarify what address you wish me to supply?

[ter1461 in reply to helvella]

Email or whichever that I can contact and ask? 🙂

[helvella Administrator in reply to ter1461]

I'd probably contact the embassy of Portugal. That is supposed to be one of their functions - to pass on information about their country. Might even be posted on their website.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Yes, but shipments from other EU countries don´t go through customs.

[ter1461 in reply to Hidden]

I’m in Portugal

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Even if they don't go through customs, it would be illegal.

I do not think it appropriate for us to advise anyone to do things which are illegal. Even if they are unlikely to get caught.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

I am not telling anyone to do anything illegal. I told the OP that if she has a prescription for NDT she could contact a pharmacy in Belgium or Germany (and Germany for T3). It would then be up to the pharmacy to tell her if they can or cannot send the drug to her. But asking them is not illegal.

[ter1461 in reply to Hidden]

Yes absolutely Chrissoe that’s how I meant it! Nothing illegal

[ter1461]

Could you please ok me where in Belgium or Germany I can get or web address?

[Hidden in reply to ter1461]

You need a prescription for NDT or T3 in order to contact pharmacies in Germany and Belgium to see if they can send it to you.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

This page has some information - if you have a prescription.

thyroiduk.org/treatment-opt...

But I still do not know if it is legal for Portugal.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Pretty certain T3 is illegal in Spain

Not sure how we stand if going on holiday or living in Spain, when prescribed T3

[StitchFairy in reply to SlowDragon]

I can't imagine that Spanish authorities can have any control over a medication that you get prescribed in your country of residence. That would surely be some sort of breach of human rights or something, wouldn't it? If you're talking about taking T3 with you to Spain that you've obtained without prescription, well how will anyone know? I haven't traveled abroad for many years now, so maybe I'm being naive here!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to StitchFairy]

If travelling to some countries (eg Saudi) you cannot take certain medication in, even for your own personal use, without lots of paperwork

netherlandsworldwide.nl/cou...

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, but that´s for religious reasons, right (islam)?

[StitchFairy in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes of course, Saudi have a very different attitude to lots of things. But Spain is in Europe and Spain relies on people from the UK going there for their hols so confiscating our meds doesn't seem like a sensible thing for them to do.

[StitchFairy in reply to SlowDragon]

I've just looked at the link you've given to a Dutch website. It talks about not being able to take medicines to Saudi that fall within the Opium Act. Do T3 or NDT fall within the Opium act? I wouldn't have thought so. If they don't you can take them.

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

I am a bit surprised by the term "illegal" used here by some to describe T3 and NDT...isn´t the correct term "Not available"?

[StitchFairy in reply to Hidden]

My thought too. Illegal makes it sound like heroin or something.

[Hidden in reply to StitchFairy]

Yes! This reminds me of posts I´ve seen claiming that human growth hormone is illegal in many countries. In my opinion, that is not true. HGH is available and legal when prescribed by a doctor to prevent dwarfism in children. What´s illegal, on the other hand, is to prescribe it for anti-aging purposes. So there is a distinction to be made.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Well, I'm afraid you're wrong. NDT is illegal in France, and HGH is illegal for adults - it can still be given to children in hospital. When I was on HGH - prescribed by my doctor at great personal risk, I had to drive to Brussels every three months to buy it.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Usually, yes.

It is specific to France that desiccated thyroid is illegal. greygoose has explained the background of this a few times. (I still have a copy of the story!)