Stranded in Turkey and medication running out - need help with brands and/or suppliers please!!!

[Beastie]

Hi please help! I'm from the UK but I'm in Turkey doing charity work and can't get home again - my medication is about to run out. I take Levothyroxine Teva brand and Greek cytomel. There are local brands but my body is very sensitive to different brands to I'm so scared to change over... I'm running out of options though. Can anyone help me with their experience of Turkish brands (I've heard their t3 is weaker how do we calculate the dosage) or pm with a supplier that I can try buy from. I'd appreciate any help, I can literally hear the clock ticking and I'm feeling very anxious about changing both T4 and t3 meds together. Thank you.

[helvella Administrator]

I suspect that your chances of getting Uni-Pharma liothyronine (I assume that is what you mean) or their levothyroxine within Turkey are pretty much zero. Can you cross to Greece? Even within Greece it can be difficult to find pharmacies willing to sell Uni-Pharma liothyronine without prescription, and often only one or two packs. (And I have no idea how Turkey's customs would view that!)

These are the two Turkish products I know of:

Tiromel Tablets

Endocrine and Metabolism » Thyroid Hormone

Form : Tablets

Active Substances : L-iodothyronine

Package Type : 20-100 Tablets in Blister

Licensor : Abdi İbrahim İlaç

Levotiron Tablets

Endocrine and Metabolism » Thyroid Hormone

Form : Tablets

Active Substances : Levothyroxine Sodium 100 mcg./ Tabl.

Package Type : 100 Tablets in Blister

Licensor : Abdi İbrahim İlaç

abdiibrahim.com.tr/en/produ...

If you follow that link, you can change language to Turkish. That might help if you need to show something to a pharmacist in Turkey.

There have been a variety of opinions about Tiromel over the years - some seeming to find it slightly less potent than some other products, others not.

You might find products other than Levotiron, for example Merck Serono Euthryox.

[waveylines]

Sorry to hear of your plight. Go to the local pharmacy, show them what you are taking and ask them for the nearest brand and strength to what you are taking. You cant go without so you have no choice! Personally I would stay at the same dose strength as what you are taking but buy a bit extra just incase.You maybe pleasently surprised! I understand T3 is much more essliy obtained over there than here! Good luck.

[shaws Administrator]

I believe the Turkish T3 is called Tiromel and many people like it. Take it exactly as the one you're used to and allow about a week to see if it is doing 'its job'.

That would be better rather than you worring about having none at all.

I am not medically qualified but would think a trial of 7 days would let your body know if is successful. You might need a small adjustment (up/down) according to how you feel.

I have taken the exact amount of Turkish T3 to what I normally take and had no problems.

Obviously you must give your body a little while for you to establish a diferent manufactured T3.

Just go to a local pharmacist and I would think they would also understand the English language. Some T3 is better than nothing at all.

Good luck.

[Beastie in reply to shaws]

Thanks

[EbonyEvans]

Can you get a family member to post your normal brand ?

If you order a repeat prescription.

[Beastie in reply to EbonyEvans]

Not really allowed.. But we may attempt it!!!

[WildDeer]

I find Abdi Ibrahim Tiromel is very similar to Cytomel. Their head office is in Istanbul

[Beastie in reply to WildDeer]

Thank you.

[Beastie in reply to WildDeer]

Thanks