Mercury Pharma update

[SarahJane1471]

Just to let you know my local pharmacy, who keep MP stock in supply for me, have run out! They had a box for me but said they have tried ordering more several times but to no avail. 🤷‍♀️

I’ll need to look at Hellevas list for a new supplier ( not TEVA) 🤦‍♀️.

However, the good news is HRT gel is back in stock 🙌

[RedApple Administrator]

SarahJane1471, This is a long shot, but ask your pharmacy to see if they can get Eltroxin, which is the other name that MercuryPharma sometimes use for their levo. Exact same tablets, just a different name on the box.

[SarahJane1471 in reply to RedApple]

Good idea but if MP make/supply it won’t there be the same problem if they have gone into administration?

[RedApple Administrator in reply to SarahJane1471]

The issue of 'going into administration' may not be true. We don't have definite proof of this and there seems to be some confusion over what exactly is going on.

[SarahJane1471 in reply to RedApple]

Ok thanks 🙏 I’ll give them a call

[Emj001 in reply to RedApple]

Why do you say that? Administrators have been appointed I’ve the company and it’s definitely in administration. Whether that means they will stop business I don’t know. What makes you think they are not In Administration?

[helvella Administrator in reply to Emj001]

Did you see my update on that?

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Some odd things are happening, I'd agree with that.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Emj001]

See post from the other day by helvella . healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Emj001 in reply to RedApple]

Thanks that’s really weird!

[Sparklingsunshine]

Hi

I had issues with my Accord Levo this week. I ended up getting the prescription back and going elsewhere. Plus my HRT was out as well. It's so frustrating. And concerning when you've settled on a brand. Hope you get it sorted out.

[SarahJane1471 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

I know! Makes me soooo 😡

[nat10]

Hi, today my pharmacist told me she cannot get north star 100, and has put MP aside for me as that is the only brand she can get at the moment .

[SarahJane1471 in reply to nat10]

😳so strange m. Do you think it’s different suppliers? Like the distributors?

[nat10 in reply to SarahJane1471]

It is a small independent pharmacy, don’t quite know what is happening as they normally have all the different brands so don’t know if I believe them or not, will see what they have when I collect next week, when I ask to change them for north star.

[helvella Administrator]

Just in case anyone doesn't know what levothyroxine products are available in the UK:

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

I have created, and try to maintain, a document containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines in the UK and, in less detail, many others around the world.

From Dropbox:

dropbox.com/s/wfhrlmb5983co...

From Google Drive:

drive.google.com/file/d/12N...

[SarahJane1471 in reply to helvella]

I’ve just had a quick look at your list Helvella! All I can say it WOW 😮 well done you 👏👏. That must have taken an age . What a ⭐️

[helvella Administrator in reply to SarahJane1471]

It keeps growing and getting updated. If anyone has a version that is more than, say, a month old, download a fresh copy. (Date should be on front page.)

The number of products is frighteningly huge!

[SarahJane1471 in reply to helvella]

I just don’t know where to start re getting an alternative to MP 🤦‍♀️

[helvella Administrator in reply to SarahJane1471]

First- I am not sure whether you mean that you can't decide which other make to try for, or where to get it.

Regarding which make, you have the modest list for the UK. All you can do is check for anything you know is a problem, then take a guess.

Regarding where, it can be a slog. My Vade Mecum has information on how to identify pharmacies in each of the four nations of the UK. It ends up doing a ring or email round possible pharmacies. Or using an online pharmacy.

helvella - Vade Mecum for Thyroid

The term vade mecum means:

1. A referential book such as a handbook or manual.

2. A useful object, constantly carried on one’s person.

Please don't get put off by the number of pages!

In particular, it is not intended that you sit and read the document. Just that you download it and know you can look things up.

Not everything is in this one document - my major medicines document is still separate!

From Dropbox:

dropbox.com/s/vp5ct1cwc03bl...

From Google Drive:

drive.google.com/file/d/1ZW...

[SarahJane1471 in reply to helvella]

Thank you. My pharmacy are brilliant and told me to go and research a new brand and get back to them to order it. I just don’t know which one to choose 🤷‍♀️Obvs not TEVA. I have a month to choose.

[tattybogle in reply to SarahJane1471]

have you tried 'Accord' previously ? it's worth a try if not .. i really don't get on with Teva , but find Mercury / Accord /Wockhardt are all 'ok'..(Wockhardt only do 25's though )

[SarahJane1471 in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you 🙏. I’ll go for Accord. I feel like I’m at a party do “lucky dip” 😂

[tattybogle in reply to SarahJane1471]

Lol .. Hope you get the gold earrings ... not the plastic ring.

[SarahJane1471 in reply to tattybogle]

😂

[helvella Administrator in reply to SarahJane1471]

Yesterday someone mentioned difficulty getting Accord!

[tattybogle in reply to helvella]

i got some Accord 50's a day or so ago ... they were boxed as 'Northstar' though .

**SarahJane , note:

Accord 100's and 50's are what is inside 'Northstar ' 100/50 boxes .

BUT 'Northstar' 25mcg boxes contain Teva 25mcg's

Clear as mud right ?

I was half way through asking the pharmacist to exchange the Northstar because they contained Teva when i realised it was the 50 's and it was ok after all .... fortunately i was asking nicely and not kicking off .. still felt a bit silly though .

[helvella Administrator in reply to tattybogle]

And Northstar is common in Lloyds. Similarly with Almus - but they are usual in Boots.

[SarahJane1471 in reply to tattybogle]

So go for Northstar unless I need 25s ? 🧐

[SarahJane1471 in reply to helvella]

Nooooo ! 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[helvella Administrator in reply to SarahJane1471]

Yes!!! Almus (isn't available in 25) and Northstar 100 & 50 are all Accord product.

The brand Northstar is owned by the company that owns Lloyds pharmacies.

The brand Almus is owned by the company that owns Boots pharmacies.

[SarahJane1471 in reply to helvella]

What! 😳😭don’t do this to me …….. Almus as well 😂

[Katrina999666]

Eltroxin

[helvella Administrator in reply to Katrina999666]

Eltroxin is the same product as Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine.

If Mercury Pharma are having problems, they are likely to affect the product whether it is packaged in Mercury Pharma Eltroxin or Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine boxes.

(The Product licence number is the same for both.)

[Katrina999666 in reply to helvella]

Hi Helvella there seems to be a supply still on the shelves of Eltroxin as I have been able to get that and not the packaged Mercury Pharma my small independent pharmacy was able to source 10 boxes for me which should last me until the end of the year thankfully

[helvella Administrator in reply to Katrina999666]

Yes - we do sometimes see one available when the other isn't. But usually a local or short-term issue.

[SarahJane1471]

I’ll try Eltroxin Northstar and Accord . Thank you all 🙏……. I think 😂

[SarahJane1471]

Just think how stressful it is if you’re trying to source NDT !!!!!!!!

[Sarrie]

I had this same problem they gave a different mercury one eltroxin it seems to be same so far

[helvella Administrator in reply to Sarrie]

Mercury Pharma Eltroxin and Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine in the UK are identical to each other - only the packaging is different.

(The Product licence number is the same for both.)