Where can I get Aristo Levothyroxine?

[HarlesBarles]

Can anyone recommend where I can get Aristo brand Levothyroxine on prescription? My local chemists say it’s not available anywhere in the southeast of England because all the wholesalers don’t stock it. Is this true?

I have been on Teva since Hashimotos diagnosis in early March and am still under medicated, but have become increasingly unwell as I’ve increased the doses and wonder if it is the Teva brand which is making me so unwell.

Many of my hypo symptoms are improved, but I have become immensely stiff with weak legs that keep giving out underneath me and occasionally have pains shooting through my ankles. I’ve recently developed severe back pain and can barely walk. Blood tests have ruled out anything sinister. My TSH is 3.3 (which went up from 2.6 AFTER I increased from 50 to 75mcg). The GP says he managed to convince the lab to check T3 and I’m awaiting results.

I am severely lactose and gluten intolerant which is why I want to try Aristo. I tried switching to Mercury Pharma but was left so uncomfortably bloated from the lactose. I also looked nine months pregnant. If anyone can recommend a chemist that my GP can send the prescription to and I can ideally then have sent to me, I’d be immensely grateful!!!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

You could try asking Aristo. Companies vary hugely in how helpful they are to individual patients - some are much more helpful than others.

Aristo Pharma Limited

Address

The North Suite, Avro House, 49 Lancaster Way Business Park, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 3NW, UK

Telephone

[phone]

Medical Information e-mail

[e-mail]

WWW

aristo-pharma.co.uk

Medical Information Direct Line

01483 920754

Customer Care direct line

[phone]

medicines.org.uk/emc/compan...

You could trawl through the list of internet pharmacies in England contacting them until you find one which is helpful.

nhs.uk/service-search/other...

Alternatively, if your GP is willing, you could ask to be prescribed one of the liquid levothyroxine products - though not everyone finds even them tolerable. (The substantial amount of glycerol can be a problem for some.) If not long-term, at least until you can get Aristo sourced.

[HarlesBarles in reply to helvella]

Thanks so much! I’ll contact the manufacturers, great idea. My GP won’t deviate from Levo tablets, or refer me to an endocrinologist. The chemist attached to the practice said it would be impossible to get them to prescribe liquid or anything else.

[UB40Pug]

I wrote to Aristo who advised their is no wholesale issue it is always available. It is because it is generic and Pharmacies can chose their generic brands based on price and profit. So they are obviously not making profit on the brand Aristo. Its a Business that we unfortunately have no control over and are suffering as a result.