Problems getting 50mcg levothyroxine

[dj24]

Is anyone having a problem getting 50mcg levo that's not TEVA? I have had a problem for the last 3 scripts which are made up by Well Pharmacy. In spite of my records stating no TEVA for levo they still put TEVA in and say they can't get any other brand in the 50mcg dose. Each time I have to get surgery to issue another script to make it up using 25mcg. I take T4/T3 in combination which is endo authorised.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

dj24

I use Accord 100mcg and 50mcg, my surgery only issues 4 weeks worth at a time and I picked up my last prescription 2 weeks ago. I have never had an issue with the 50mcg being unavailable.

Do you usually always get the same brand of 50mcg Levo? If so what is it? I would contact the maker and ask if there is a problem or shortage, I expect the answer will be no and it's your pharmacy that just is trying to fob you off with Teva rather than trying to source your usual brand.

[dj24 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes I usually have Accord and Wockhardt. I take 75mcg levo and 20mcg T3. Until now I've been given 50mcg Accord and 25mcg Wockhardt which has been fine. I'm on my 3rd pharmacy because of attitude/supply issues in the past and have been with Well for about 2yrs without any problems until recently. I have noticed that they seem to be moving to Teva as a brand for a lot of medications so it could be their supplier. It's frustrating that having told them I can't take levo from Teva because I reacted to it, and them putting it on my records, they still dispense Teva, text me to say prescription is ready for collection and then we go through the whole cycle of checking contents of bag, saying 'I can't take Teva brand, them saying 'oh yes, we'll have to get surgery to issue additional script to make up with 25mcg' . Why don't they do that before telling me my prescription is ready?

Anyway I'm going to go back to them to see what the problem is (or if there is really no problem and they're trying to fob me off with Teva) and will contact manufacturer if necessary.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to dj24]

It is not impossible 50 microgram Accord-manufactured tablets are in short supply due to this:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Sparklingsunshine]

Hi

I'm in the same boat to some extent, my issue is my pharmacy who are excellent and far better than Lloyd's who were pants, are having problems with Accord 100mcg. They can get 50mcg in OK. Could be a temporary manufacturing issue. I hope so.

I like Accord and have issues with some other brands so am sticking to that one. It's named in the prescription. As my GP recently increased my dose to 150mcg I had to try a couple of different pharmacies before I struck gold. If I use my own pharmacy I then have to get my GP to change the prescription to 3x 50mcg and as the phones are jammed up constantly its not easy to get through. Will have to see what the situation is next month.

It might be worth trying a few different pharmacies to see what they can do. You can then either get all your meds from them or get a paper prescription, rather than the surgery sending it electronically. Then you can take it to a pharmacy of your choice. Or there are online pharmacies who send your meds through the post.

[bantam12]

No problem with getting Accord 50's from Boots.

[tattybogle]

i get 50' and 25's , and have asked my (new, helpful ) pharmacy to give me 'anything but Teva' .... they have had no problems doing this in last 2 yrs .... i get it every 2 months . on 3rd Sept i got mercury 50's and 25's.... yesterday i also got mercury 50's and 25's. (in July i got Mercury 50's /wockhardt 25's .. in may i got Northstar 50's (which are Accord) / Wockhardt 25's .

So no problem here .

We see a lot of 'supply problems' that magically evaporate within 24hrs when people go back and ask difficult questions at the chemist.

Many "supply" problems are actually "chemist can't be bothered to order something other than they were sent by head office ... and thinks anyone who wants to avoid a specific brand is making a fuss about nothing" problems.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

When someone reports that a particular medicine cannot be obtained by their pharmacy, I always suggest contacting the pharmaceutical company/manufacturer directly.

We have had many occasions when the information given by the pharmacy to the member has not been accurate.

Examples with good outcomes have included:

• There were issues, but they are now, or will very shortly be, resolved;

• There is no issue and it is not clear why the pharmacy said there was;

• The product has a new branding - and is now only available under the new name.

And examples with bad outcomes:

• The product is no longer available;

• There is an issue that will not be resolved in the time required;

• The product has been recalled.

Quite often, members have found that the pharmaceutical company/manufacturer can and will advise how a pharmacy can obtain stock. At the worst, you can find out from an authoritative source that there really is an issue that will not be resolved. With pharmacies, you will almost always have at least one extra company - the distributor - between the pharmaceutical company/manufacturer and the pharmacy, allowing confusion to enter.

Some pharmaceutical companies/manufacturers have been extremely helpful to members who have contacted them.

The company name is not always the same as the brand name. You can find the company name on the packaging (though in smaller letters and possibly on the back or bottom) and at the bottom of the Patient Information Leaflet. For example, Mercury Pharma is a brand name but the company is Advanz.

Contact details for most, possibly all, UK pharmaceutical companies/manufacturers can be found here:

medicines.org.uk/emc/browse...