Where to buy T3

[Diblin93]

I'm about to book my appointment to see a private endocrinologist to see if I would benefit from T3. However, before I go down this route, I want to make sure that I can afford T3 if I need it. Can you tell me if, post Brexit, I can have UK prescription filled in say, Germany, Netherlands etc.., And what would be the monthly cost.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Diblin93

Monthly cost would, of course, depend on how much T3 you would take, everyone's dose is different.

However, it doesn't look like a UK prescription can be filled in Europe post Brexit. See helvella 's reply to this post (1st response)

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

It might be possible for a UK pharmacy to order Ace Cytomel from the Netherlands but you would have to discuss this with pharmacies directly in order to find out.

As a full member of the EU, UK prescriptions, NHS and private were recognised throughout the EU - and a few other countries - under the EU cross-border prescription regime. (NHS prescriptions were treated as private. The NHS doesn't pay for them even if you are usually exempt from prescription charges.)

This is the EU's webpage - which has no reference to the UK except a link to Brexit information:

Presenting a prescription abroad

europa.eu/youreurope/citize...

And this is their FAQ:

FAQs - Presenting a prescription abroad

europa.eu/youreurope/citize...

As we are no longer members of the EU and EEA, and transition arrangements have ended, I believe UK prescriptions will no longer be recognised by EU and EEA pharmacies. If they are written by a UK doctor, I don't think they will be accepted in the EU or EEA.

I don't think it make any difference whether they are private or NHS.

Indeed, I am not aware of anywhere in the world, other than the UK itself, that would recognise a UK prescription.

Despite the considerable impact of this, I have yet to find any official confirmation and am relying on interpretation of what I have found.

Though prescriptions written in the EEA and Switzerland might continue to be recognised in the UK (subject to some regulations and limitations). Currently I can only find the guidance which would have applied in case of no-deal (which did not come to pass):

Prescriptions issued in the EEA and Switzerland: guidance for pharmacists

Guidance for pharmacists that will take effect if the UK leaves the EU with no deal.

gov.uk/guidance/prescriptio...

Some medicines might be purchasable without prescription from, or in when visiting, some EU countries. (Medicines which are prescription-only in the UK might not be prescription-only everywhere.)

Other than that, there seems to be no other official way of obtaining prescription-only medicines from EU pharmacies without getting a prescription from an EU or EEA prescriber.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you optimally treated and high enough dose levothyroxine

All four vitamins need to be optimal

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Many people find once they get dose/brand levothyroxine fine tuned, all four vitamins optimal and often necessary to be on gluten free/dairy free diet.......then you may not need T3

Before considering seeing any thyroid specialist endocrinologist you need full testing

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Also vitamin D available as separate test via MMH

Or alternative Vitamin D NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk

[Diblin93 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon. My last blood test was on 16/12TPO antibodies 487 (lab range <34

TSH= 5 (lab range 0.2 - 5) this is down from 48 at previous blood test.

T4= 23.8 (lab range 9 - 24)

The Doctor says she requested T3 but the lab refused to do it.

That's all I have. Your opinion would be appreciated.

[Diblin93 in reply to Diblin93]

Forgot to say, been told to stay in 75mg of levothyroxine

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Diblin93]

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

Did you take levothyroxine before blood test?

Ft4 is high ....if you took levothyroxine before blood test this is false high

If last dose levothyroxine was 24 hours before test, likely very poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

Next step is to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing done

The aim of levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is UNDER 2

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks later

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

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Strictly gluten free diet frequently helps or is absolutely essential BEFORE considering adding T3

All four vitamins need to be OPTIMAL before adding T3 as well

[Lalatoot]

I would post blood results on here first and see what advice folks give. There are quite a few of us who have been down the route of looking at results and seeing if we need T3.T3 is not always a straightforward addition. You need to ensure an affordable and reliable source if you can't get it on the NHS. Then you need to monitor bloods including Ft3 once you begin to work out your dosages. And you need to work at finding the correct dosages of both levo and T3.

So post blood and vitamin results and see what we come up with.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Definitely don’t see a private endo without testing for key vitamins and thyroid (T3 and T4) first. I use Medichecks and tests are sometimes discounted on Thursdays. If you post results on here, it may be worth following advice to get key vitamins optimal before seeing an Endo. I’ve learned so much more on this forum than from any medics I’ve seen!

[Diblin93 in reply to Buddy195]

The endocrinologist is going to do T4, T3, ferratin etc... And then decided upon treatnent. My GP will only do T4 and TSH