Going to ask for a private prescription - what exactly do I ask for??

[sheenah]

Hello Everyone,

I haven't been here for some time. It was this site that saved me in the first place, and here I am again. I went to make an appointment with my doctors this morning to ask for a private prescription for NDT as I (and I am sure this applies to many of us) am fed up with the unpredictable situation with supplies. To my astonishment I got a cancellation for tomorrow morning or other wise it would be March!! The trouble is I don't know what to ask for. Which NDT? Certainly not American, as they are mostly having huge problems or are ridiculously expensive, so I would probably go for a European alternative, but to be honest I am not sure. Can anyone give me any advice? (or PM me if necessary).

Many Thanks

Sheena

[SlowDragon Administrator]

An NHS GP won’t/can’t write a private prescription

They would be unable/unwilling to write any prescription for an unlicensed medication that they have no knowledge of

You will need to see a recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologist or specialist private thyroid doctor

Email Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3 or NDT

...NHS and Private

[e-mail]

[pennyannie]

Hello Sheenah :

As far as I am aware there are still NHS prescriptions for NDT but for those long established patients who were on this option and their treatment settled prior to the restrictive practise and lack of treatment options we now face.

You'll have more chance of having NDT prescribed if you go privately to a endo /specialist from the recommended list held by admin at Thyroid UK head office, who are the charity who support this forum.

You could self medicate, many of us do ?

Other than the USA or Thailand I am not aware of any European sources for NDT.

If you go into analyseopenprescribing you can see by your CCG and or surgery if any NHS prescriptions for NDT are being written - just enter Armour as the drug.

[sheenah in reply to pennyannie]

Thanks pennyannie,

I have been self medicating for several years from both Thailand and the USA. Recently it's become more difficult and more expensive for both options. There are 2 other options which are German ((receptura) and Danish (Biofac) but as far as I can see they both require prescriptions. I am going to Turkey in a couple of months (Tiromel). Many Thanks for getting back to me.

Sheena

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Open prescribing data links here for Somerset CCG Can search by other CCG areas too

Somerset CCG Armour

openprescribing.net/analyse...

Somerset CCG liothyronine

openprescribing.net/analyse...

[StitchFairy]

I think only Armour and Erfa are available on prescription now. You will be very fortunate to get either of these whether on NHS or private script though. GPs can in theory do private scripts but as NDT is an unlcensed med in the UK, most won't.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to StitchFairy]

Only 343 prescriptions for Erfa in England in last year…..

So virtually impossible

openprescribing.net/analyse...

Approx 2,200 prescriptions for Armour in England in last year

openprescribing.net/analyse...