Can chemist prescribe ANY brand?

[Tessica]

in addition to my levothyroxin I also take 20 MCG of liothyronine each month. Last month for the first time I was given Teva by my chemist. I find this difficult to break in half I have to take 10 MCG twice a day. Even with a pill cutter the amounts aren’t even. So I contacted my chemist earlier in the week to say I had put in a prescription and I do not want Teva. He told me he would order Morningside. My prescription was delivered today and when I opened the bag I found there again was a pack of Teva. Contacted the chemist and to cut a long story short he said that the chemist is not obliged to give any particular brand. Also he cannot substitute the one he has already given because a chemist is not allowed to take back a med once handed over to someone.Does anyone have any experience of this? I suspect GP is prescribing 20 mcg rather than 2 x 10 because that would be more expensive.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I am not aware of anything that would force the chemist to dispense one brand rather than another - unless there were a specific medical reason.

I appreciate there could be many reasons to get the medicines delivered, but one of the advantages of picking it up yourself is that it can be checked before you even move from the counter.

Taking back medicines is an issue - it is true that they cannot be sure how the medicines have been stored even in the brief time they have been out of their hands. For example, and I am not suggesting you have done anything of the sort, being placed on a hot radiator, or on a window sill in full sun.

[Lalatoot]

My local high street big name chemist gets morningside for me so that I can stick to the same brand each time.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Lalatoot]

Some of the large chains have branches which are more different from each other than different companies.

In one place, Boots was the absolute last place I would ever choose to go. In another place, they are very helpful and friendly.

[Lalatoot in reply to helvella]

I live in a small town in the far north of Scotland and the local Boots is so helpful.

[Summer64]

My GP has written Mercury Pharma on my prescription for my levothyroxine as I get on better with that. My T3 comes from the hospital and is always Mercury Pharma as they only get that particular brand any way. I've never had Teva but I know there is a difference in some of the ingredients which can make a difference to how you feel.

[SarahJane1471]

I live in a small town and my local independent chemist place Mercury Pharma on my script. They CAN use the brand of your choice, by saying they can’t is about them wanting to save money. If you can find a chemist who will order the brand you want that would be best. I always check inside the bag when they hand it to me 😬