Private prescription for 3x5mcg of T3 - what is the cheapest way of buying it?

[TiredDad]

The subject of the post says it all - please can anyone advise me on how to fulfil my prescription for 3x5mcg of T3 for the cheapest price possible?

I hope the recent fine imposed by the CMA will lead to T3 becoming affordable from British pharmacies. There doesn't seem to have been much commentary about the implications of the fine for future pricing of T3.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Private prescription for 20mcg tablet is by far the cheapest

Most people cut 20mcg tablets into 1/4’s

Thybon Henning 20mcg tablets are £1 per tablet

So that’s about £22 a month approx

Available from specialist pharmacies in U.K., eg Roseway or Springfield

5mcg tablets

Sigma Pharma 5mcg are around £120 for 90 tablets

Morningside healthcare 5mcg tablets are £90 for 28 tablets on NHS. Might be more expensive as private prescription

[TiredDad in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks. It sounds like Thybon Henning 20mcg tablets are the way to go. The only problem I can see is that pharmacies probably won't be willing to dispense 20mcg tablets if my prescription is for 3x5mcg.

I'm going to see my GP today and will ask her if I can have an NHS prescription. Hopefully it's being looked upon a bit more generously by GPs after the CMA verdict on price gouging. Do you have any advice for talking round a GP?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to TiredDad]

You can’t get Thybon Henning on NHS prescription (or not without immense difficulty) and possibly at vast mark up in price. As a “special prescription “, an off licence medication has no price regulation

NHS won’t generally agree to take over prescription if you initially saw endocrinologist privately …..though there are exceptions

NHS 20mcg tablets are currently £101 per 28

(Down from £268)

Correct- pharmacy will probably want prescription to read

100 x 20mcg Thybon Henning liothyronine

They might dispense in 50 tablets at time

[TiredDad in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks. Just to clarify, are you saying the NHS won't prescribe any 5mcg tablets? I'm not particularly wedded to one manufacturer or another.

I seem to be in a bit of a pickle because my endocrinologist is unlikely to want to give me a prescription for the incorrect dosage of T3 (20mcg tablets). I don't think I can afford to pay £120 for 90 5mcg tablets of the Sigma brand every month.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to TiredDad]

NHS can prescribe 5mcg

There’s only one brand licensed

Morningside healthcare 5mcg

Price to NHS is £90 per 28 tablets

£270 per 28 days at 3 doses per day

So, many of us who take 3 x 5mcg are prescribed 20mcg tablets and cut them into 1/4’s as cost to NHS is then reduced to £70 per 28 days

A member on here got Morningside healthcare 5mcg T3 on private prescription, but had to pay higher price than NHS pay

Suggest you explain to endocrinologist there’s vast difference in price between 5mcg and 20mcg tablets

Private prescription for 20mcg tablets by Thybon Henning at 50p per tablet works out at £10.50 per 28 days

Whereas 5mcg tablets would be

£120 if get Sigma Pharma brand or at least £270 for Morningside healthcare brand

[tattybogle in reply to TiredDad]

see this post and links on it .. looks like somebody found Thybon Henning 20mcg's at 50phealthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Pretty sure GP's are not allowed to initiate NHS prescription unless they are continuing a prescription initiated by an NHS Endocrinologist.

I doubt the CMA judgement will have much, if any ,effect on current T3 pricing to NHS .. the judgement related to a period between (forgotten the dates.. ? up to 2017 ? ) and since then 2 other manufacturers are now producing it and the NHS price has already fallen significantly to about £111. from a high of something like £248 ?

Call me cynical , but i doubt the price will ever go back to what it 'should be' . ie about £30 ?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to tattybogle]

Was just about to add the same link for Thybon Henning at 50p per tablet