Bennewitz online pharmacy

[elkewilliams]

Have been able to get my Henning Thybon 20 from this pharmacy in Germany but when I tried today they don’t seem to stock this article any longer. Has anyone had a delivery from then or experienced the same problem? Very worried that my supply chain has discontinued.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

No longer possible to order from Germany if based in U.K. due to Brexit debacle

It’s possible to get Thybon Henning from specialist pharmacies in U.K.

Not quite so cheap, but still significantly cheaper than U.K. T3

Will pm you

Your endocrinologist should be updating all their patients

[Supermisshelen in reply to SlowDragon]

Dear slow dragon Would it be to p.m me with information too on thybon henning as I also take this.

Thanks very much!

[Quokka]

I saw the same thing. I emailed them to ask if there was any hope but haven't heard back yet.

[elkewilliams]

I am not expecting any answers until Monday morning at the earliest. Will talk to them as well probably, I am German so no problems there although they speak perfect English anyway.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to elkewilliams]

Can you update us on situation, once you have spoken to them

this one - parcelmed.de/ - states that it is still shipping to the UK.

But Eurapon Apotheke have said no longer supplying due to Brexit

eurapon.de/

[helvella Administrator in reply to SlowDragon]

I think they do not accept prescriptions from the UK - only non-prescription orders. They state (via automatic translation):

We accept prescriptions from all EU countries, Switzerland and Norway!

parcelmed.de/content/rezept...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to helvella]

That makes sense

[BB001 in reply to SlowDragon]

Has anyone managed to buy thybon henning liothyronine from parcelmed.de recently? It looks attractive because 100 x 20mcg Thybon Henning is €31

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to BB001]

Not as fas as I am aware

Specialist U.K. pharmacies can now supply at £50 for 100 tablets

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

[helvella Administrator]

elkewilliams,

I confirm, Thybon Henning no longer appears on Bennewitz' website. However, many levothyroxine products do appear. That suggests to me that it is not a matter of brexit. (They might not be willing or allowed to supply the UK with any of these prescription-only products - but they are visible.)

If you go to Sanofi's website, and find the Thybon Henning page, you have the option of looking at the product information documents.

Open the PDFs and they all have an updated date of November 2020.

Could it be a case of a change of packaging (new pictures needed)?, or formulation (new documentation/description needed)?, or something else? All of which would imply an interruption while they get new stock and update their website rather than an end to them selling Thybon Henning at all.

(This potential explanation doesn't help UK customers one little bit, sad to say.)

The relevant web page is here:

mein.sanofi.de/produkte/Thybon

It might say something on the website, somewhere, but my German not good enough is.

[elkewilliams]

Thank you so much - that info is really helpful. Will go to website and talk to the guy at Bennewitz. I thought it was strange that the Henning Thryroxine range was there but no Thybon. If I get more info from Germany I will post this.

[jimh111]

I believe they can't supply it any more although this could change with minimal goodwill from the EU as UK doctors are more strictly regulated than many EU ones. There's no logical reason why they shouldn't sell abroad other than an ethical issue, it's easy to use the GMC website to verify a doctor's credentials.

I did try going on their website using a German VPN but still couldn't find Thybon so maybe there's some other change also.

[helvella Administrator in reply to jimh111]

The verification of prescribers' credentials needs to include all classes of prescriber - not just doctors. Otherwise you could end up with difficulties if you see anyone other than a doctor. (Less likely for liothyronine or even levothyroxine. But we wouldn't want a system which added even more complexity and confusion for the pharmacies.) The full set appears to be as below - though, obviously, some would be vanishingly likely to write any prescriptions that would need to be recognised abroad.

Doctors

Pharmacist independent prescribers

Physiotherapists independent prescribers

Chiropodists/Podiatrists independent prescribers

Dentists

Nurse independent prescribers

Independent therapeutic radiographer prescribers

Optometrist independent prescribers

Paramedic independent prescribers

Community practitioner nurse prescribers

Supplementary prescribers

There is no logical reason this issue was not addressed before 1st January 2021.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to jimh111]

EU pharmacies have never dispensed prescriptions from Non EU countries

[helvella Administrator in reply to jimh111]

It appears that Germany, like the UK, is going down the route of electronic prescriptions.

As that progresses it might be both easier and more difficult to implement EU recognition of UK prescriptions. On the one hand, if the accept UK electronic prescriptions, it should be trivial (and inherent in the system) that they are verified. On the other hand, it needs full agreement to recognise them and technological implementation.

[jimh111 in reply to jimh111]

To answer the three above comments in one go. I doubt EU pharmacies verified any of the UK (or EU) prescriptions they dispensed and equally doubt UK pharmacies carry out much verification. Certainly not the ones printed on NHS paper. There's no reason why EU (or any other country) shouldn't supply overseas other than making sure it is a genuine prescription (which I don't think they did) and making sure they don't export medicines that are needed in their home country.

Whether cross-border prescriptions are met would need consideration. We would not want to permit any country to supply prescription medicines because we couldn't guarantee the quality. There's no reason why we shouldn't share prescribing with some EU countries, it just needs agreement on both sides.

[helvella Administrator in reply to jimh111]

The no-deal preparations actually included the UK recognising EU prescriptions. I just haven't managed to find updated versions that apply with a deal.

Over the years, German pharmacies went from accepting scans to demanding the originals which rather suggests someone cared - at some level. Even if only those who inspect the pharmacies.

[elkewilliams]

Just had a reply from the chemist from Bennewitz. He said at the moment they are longer allowed to send prescription medication to UK because of Brexit. He hopes that this situation will change.

This will then probably be the same for all other German online pharmacies.

[helvella Administrator in reply to elkewilliams]

Vielen Dank.

I agree with your interpretation.

[Star13]

How does this then effect Sanofi supplying the NHS with Thybon? Boots are still doing so and have said there are no issues due to Brexit. If they can be imported for commercial supply why can’t they for private use?🤷‍♀️

[helvella Administrator in reply to Star13]

Because Boots import it (and any other such "foreign" medicines) through the part of their company which has the appropriate licence allowing importation.

An EU supplier can see a commercial transaction like that is not a prescription issue. It is all in the manufacturer/distributor/wholesale side of pharmaceutical trading. Not retail.

Whereas for personal importation, the German pharmacy needs to have a prescription they deem valid.

I think the only issue with the Boots route is actual delivery due to interruptions of transport.

[elkewilliams]

Have no answer to that but am surprised you get it from Boots. Did you ask for it and they come up with Thybon every time you have another prescription? Which part of UK are you in?

[helvella Administrator in reply to elkewilliams]

If someone writes a prescription expressly for Thybon Henning, or such that Thybon Henning is the only product that fulfils the prescription details, it can be dispensed in the UK if a pharmacy is willing to jump through the necessary hoops. These might well include the prescriber writing a letter to explain why it is deemed essential for the individual patient.

This can apply to both NHS and private prescriptions.

The cost could be considerably greater than buying directly from Germany - if that becomes possible again.

[Star13 in reply to elkewilliams]

Boots is the hospital pharmacy to which my Consultant sends my scrips direct. I can’t say it’s been plain sailing. I’ve had to contend with prejudice and the personal opinion of the pharmacy manager who made it clear to me that there was no evidence for prescribing T3 and it was too expensive! TH was prescribed due to allergies. After complaining about the attitude as they were over ruling the consultants instructions, things got better but has reared its head again recently. I don’t know where they get their supplies of it because it was obviously stock piled. All of this years scripts had the same end date on them. On the last script I refused to accept them because they were due to run out at the end of Jan. They then supplied end of Jan 22 so it will be interesting to see what next lot says. BTW on going through the German language PIL in the box there was some small changes between the two with the date batch changes. I have no idea what it means as I don’t speak German!

[helvella Administrator in reply to Star13]

BTW on going through the German language PIL in the box there was some small changes between the two with the date batch changes.

Well spotted - thanks for that.

[helvella Administrator]

Just to add that although Thybon is now back on Bennewitz' web site, they expressly say they cannot supply UK customers due to brexit.

bennewitz.com/scat/scatphar...

[NWA6]

elkewilliams, did you get your Thybon? I used to get mine from Bennewitz, now my Endo sends the prescription to Roseway labs. They then send me a link, I pay and they send out the Thybon.

My 6mth prescription used to cost around €70 now the same prescription costs £200. So 3times the price but still not as bad as it used to be. It’s roughly £1 per pill (20mcg tablet)