Getting my T3 medication from gp: Hello everyone... - Thyroid UK

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Getting my T3 medication from gp

birkie profile image
15 Replies

Hello everyone ❤️

Please can somebody give me a bit of advise on getting my T3 medication from my gp.. First, my gp prescribed liothyronine teva brand(I'm lactose intolerent) they were 28 tablets in the bottle, I have increased my amount for the past few months, from 10mg to 15mg,20mg, 25mg I'm now on 30mg,i asked my gp last 2 months to up the amount as 28 tablets would not last me,he did not increase the script😒I rang for my new script 5 days ago he just put it to my pharmacy today they have rang to say they can't get it, I've rang around every pharmacy near me and no one can obtain it, I've now got 3 days worth left.. The script has been sent back to my gp, I've rang up but they just say they will let the doctor know!.. They know how many tablets I have left, apparently their is a problem with orders they can not fill them🙄 one lady at a pharmacy said if my prescription is electronic or repeat which it is, they should automatically be re-orderd for me when I pick my script up... How will this affect me I've got todays, tomorrows, and one for Sunday morning, will it be OK for a week without my T3 meds? I can't stomach T4, so no chance of going on them, 😔

Thank for any help with this.. Its really stressing me out, 😔

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15 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

No .....you absolutely must get T3 this weekend

Ring all pharmacies....the hospital etc

If they can’t get Teva T3 you will have to take different brand as emergency

This underlines why it’s so important to not be only prescribed on a “just in time” basis ....especially for relatively unusual medication

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to SlowDragon

Hi slowdragon ❤️Thank you for the reply, unfortunately I'm not able to get a hold of any T3 I've tried every pharmacy, chemist in my area and some 25 miles away its always the same answer "we can not get hold of it" as you say because I need this medication I should not need to wait for it, unfortunately in my area our gp system for re ordering our medicines is by phone, this system has become overwhelmed during covid, also if you try to order your medicines before they are due they decline them, you re-order meds about one week before they are due which for me is no good as my pharmacy has to order the T3 in. This is the second time this has happened, fortunately my pharmacy has been great at obtaining the meds but unfortunately this time its not worked out, I have some T4 medication left, I'm not good on it but would you suggest I use the T4 when my T3 runs out tomorrow? Also I'm due for my thyroid blood tests on the 22nd March, would changing the meds change ruin the blood test??

Thanks again slowdragon.

❤️❤️❤️

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to birkie

Yes test will be no good

Do you have any other brand T3 in back of cupboard?

Can pharmacy get you any T3 ....any brand?

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to SlowDragon

Hi slowdragonNo I have no T3 left😢 I will try to see if I can get another brand just to tide me over until the teva brand becomes available, is teva the only lactose free brand because one of the pharmacy ladies told me they could get another brand,?? Bit lost at what she meant by that, but that pharmacy was about 25/30 miles away, and I don't drive🙄.. Its a nightmare and stressful, at the moment my calcium has shot up its been rising since Aug last year when it was 2.61 then went back to normal, in Jan it was 2.58...range 2.10....2.60..now its 2.80...i feel very unwell and attributing this to my calcium level not my thyroid medication, I'm now on 30mg of T3 and we're doing OK until the end of January in to Feb got symptoms of hyperparathyroidism, had this condition before, so I really don't need all this hassle with my meds😢😢😢

Thank slowdragon ❤️❤️

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to birkie

The only U.K. brands of T3

Teva - lactose free

Not gluten free

Morningside healthcare

Advanz

Thybon Henning 20mcg tablets now available in U.K. on private prescription....not sure if generally available on NHS prescription

I shall see if I can find out

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to birkie

Re increased calcium

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

Are you also taking vitamin K2 as well

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to SlowDragon

Hi slowdragonMy last vitamin D was (52) I've been on vitamin D supplements for 3 months at 800iu with 2 sprays of better you with k2, 1000ui everyother day as I didn't want to over dose.. The vitamin D has lowerd the pth.. From 9.5 to 4.4,but my calcium has gone up again 🤷‍♀️.. I do know you don't have to have a high calcium and high parathyroid level to have a diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism, but I did have both raised in Aug last year, you can have high calcium and it can still be hyperparathyroidism also can be the other way around, my endo said the probability of me having hyperparathyroidism is high, I have a very croaky voice a slight swelling on the right hand side of my neck, and a pain on swollowing, I have all the symptoms of hyperparathyroidism, I'm hoping when my endo sees the calcium results he acts on this, I have ostiopeania, ostioperosis to.. 🙄

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to birkie

I hadn’t realised Thybon Henning 20mcg T3 is lactose free

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

Have you ever had this in past

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to SlowDragon

Hi slowdragonNo never had that particular thyroid medication, maybe I should try to get it, 👍👍👍

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to birkie

Can you read your private message.....

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to birkie

Have you tried all these who accept NHS prescription

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

Tollesbury might be able to help ...but not before you run out

I sent you a message too

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to SlowDragon

Hi slowdragonThe pharmacy I usually deal with did try several distributors he was really upset for me as we had this problem the month prior, he sent my prescription back to my gp, I would not have known this if he had not contacted me to let me know, as I said this was now yesterday to late to do anything but the pharmacist thought my gp would have made a script up for another medication, but he never nore did he get back to me on this matter, so am afraid the surgery will feel my wrath on Monday morning, 😠😠😠

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to birkie

Well there isn’t an alternative to Teva T3

That’s the ONLY option

If you find you get on with Thybon Henning 20mcg ok ....then that’s possible alternative, but it’s not got U.K. license ....so it’s not easy for GP to prescribe on nhs

birkie profile image
birkie in reply to SlowDragon

HiWell I'm just going to take my last dose on Sunday morning, then that's it, get in touch ASAP on Monday morning to see if I can get 2 weeks T3 another brand, and cross fingers... Its all wrong tho.. 😠

Thank slowdragon ❤️❤️❤️

Stourie profile image
Stourie in reply to birkie

Hi Birkie. I’ve pm,d you. Jo xx

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