Who's telling the truth?

[malohant]

Hi

Following my recent post healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... I have spoken to a different GP who has written a request on the prescription for a specific brand of levo - the GP still insists that they can't actually prescribe a specific brand, but pharmacies I've spoken to equally insist that the GP has to prescribe it. I'm off to the pharmacy now to try again to get the right stuff, but who do I need to convince to keep getting it? Thanks in advance

[SlowDragon Administrator]

GP can specify particular brand of levothyroxine on all future prescriptions

ALWAYS double check the brand before leaving pharmacy....they don’t always take any notice of the request

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

[malohant in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you! I also asked about testing - they didn't have a record of having tested for Thyroid antibodies, so I've asked that they can be checked at my next test and they've agreed to. They wouldn't check my T3 though (and never have done), as my T4 (16% of range in April) and TSH (36% of range, earlier this month) have come back ok. Should I have it checked to see how well I am converting? Also, my ferritin was at 1% of the range back in Feb (34ug/L, range 30-400), my blood pressure was high (160/70) and they didn't check Vit D - is it worth paying for a private test to get a full and up to date picture?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to malohant]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

When was dose last increased

Obviously ferritin dire.

Has GP done full iron panel test for anaemia

Vitamin D, folate and B12 need testing

NHS only tests TG thyroid antibodies, if TPO antibodies are high

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[malohant in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm on 100micrograms, have been for 2 months - increased in mid May, around 19th I think. Haven't had an iron panel. Folate was 15.8ug/L (3.9-20.0) and B12 was 465ng/L (>180) in Feb.

[NWA6 in reply to malohant]

Yes it is worth getting FT3 tested every time FT4 is. You may have to do this privately but we’ll worth it.

[malohant in reply to NWA6]

Thanks - GP said they wouldn't test it unless my TSH and T4 were consistently outside the range.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to malohant]

Hence over 109,000 members on here

Important to always test Ft3, Ft4 and TSH together

Vitamin D needs testing twice year

NHS will only test once every 2 years

See GP for full iron panel test for anaemia

[malohant in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. I'll get some tests done and link back to this thread when I post the results. I REALLY appreciate the information and advice given here, it's a wonderful community and I'm so glad to have found it. Have a lovely weekend x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to malohant]

Recommend getting FULL thyroid testing

TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

If want to include testing BOTH antibodies....

Blue horizon, Thriva or Medichecks

Plus separate vitamin D

vitamindtest.org.uk

[malohant in reply to SlowDragon]

Is Vit D from thriva not as good as NHS then?

[NWA6 in reply to malohant]

In what way do you mean ‘Is Vit D from Thriva not as good as NHS?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to malohant]

Cheapest way to test.... I think

Is to do full thyroid via one of three mentioned

And vitamin D from NHS

But it varies week to week on prices

[malohant in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragon and NWA6 - was just unsure why Slow said "separate vit d" test but now understand it's due to price.

[Wilky21]

Hi. Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble. I had the same problem. I spoke to the pharmacist who advised I had to speak to my GP to ask them to put it on the system that I require a certain brand which they did without any arguing. Good luck

[malohant in reply to Wilky21]

Thanks Wilky21! My normal GP wouldn't do it but I managed to speak to another GP at the practice who totally understood and put it on as a request. Think I'm switching to her if I can. My usual pharmacy didn't stock anything Actavis so I went through town to other pharmacies, eventually the Lloyds in my local Sainsburys had NorthStar (Actavis) in stock, so I've switched my preferred pharmacy to them - hopefully they'll be reliable!