IS LIOTHYRONINE and THYBON 20 HENNING the same prescription?

[GoldAugust]

Like many people I was removed from receiving Liothyronine 20microgram tablets by NICE and the NHS. My GP wrote a private script, and I was able to source Thybon 20 Henning from Germany. Can I ask the question -is the English drug and the German equivalent drug the same? I have spoken to two pharmacists in the UK and they advised me to ask Thyroid UK .... advice please.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

If the name written as Liothyronine, they are the same (though in Germany it might not have a trailing "e").

However, if someone goes further and write Liothyronine sodium - which is the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in every other make, then that does NOT include Thybon Henning. Thybon Henning uses Liothyronine hydrochloride (in Germany, it is spelled as Liothyronin hydrochlorid).

(Many members have found little, if any, difference due to the slightly different API. From time to time, we have had a member post that they do not get on with Thybon Henning - and think that is because of the different API.)

[jimh111]

I find Thybon just as effective but more gentle, possibly it is absorbed more slowly giving more even dosing. This is just my guess.

Are you still able to purchase from Germany now the Brexit agreement has ended?

[GoldAugust in reply to jimh111]

I haven't had to access any prescription as yet - I hadn't given it a thought!!! Will there be a problem? I think I had better contact the German pharmacy and find out pronto - thank you for raising the issue.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to GoldAugust]

Yes - German pharmacies not recognising UK prescriptions. And not being willing to sign up for VAT registration with HMRC. But some people appear to have managed, somehow.

[dizzy864 in reply to helvella]

I have a NHS prescription for Thybon Henning only. Tesco order it in specially for me on a named patient basis. I had no problems getting it pre brexit. Since Brexit I had a slight problem in February - I suspect their pre brexit supplies ran out. Tesco took almost three weeks to obtain it for me. I was told there was a problem but Tesco did not know what it was. Since February Tesco has got it in every month for me with out any problems. So supplies are reaching here some how.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to dizzy864]

I don't think there is a problem with importing it as a commercial commodity by licensed importers - even if there has been an increase in the costs of doing that and maybe taking slightly longer to arrive.

It is very much the personal imports that are affected - and, maybe, very small-scale importing by individual pharmacies, if that still happens.

[GoldAugust in reply to dizzy864]

Unfortunately Dizzy864 the NHS withdrew NHS prescriptions in 2019 - no longer willing to supply. There are many of us that know that it makes a difference and want to keep taking it to help our health - thus we have to resort to private prescriptions and pay whatever the cost is on a private basis. Hopefully your GP will keep issuing an NHS prescription for you. Thank you for your reply.

[dizzy864 in reply to GoldAugust]

It's so wrong that it's a post code lottery. I get it only because it was a lot cheaper years ago when I started on it.

[Angie10116 in reply to GoldAugust]

roseway pharmacy in London take private prescriptions and charge only 50p for that brand! You just send them the prescription and they send you the meds.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

My GP wrote a private script, and I was able to source Thybon 20 Henning

If this is still a private prescription you can now get Thybon Henning from specialist pharmacies in U.K. at £1 per tablet approx

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

You can no longer get prescription via Europe since Brexit.

U.K. doctors are no longer EU registered

[Gingernut44]

I obtained Thybon Henning on a private prescription with no trouble from a pharmacy listed on ThyroidUK. One word of warning - I took my first ever dose of TH before bed and woke up twice with excruciating cramp in both calves and ankles. The following day, both feet and ankles were swollen (like balloons). As I wasn’t provided with a PIL with the tablets I didn’t know what the cause was but decided that was my first and last dose of TH. Since then I have seen the PIL and, unfortunately, my symptoms were noted as an allergic reaction. Unfortunately, the only way you will know if they suit you is by trial and error.