Medication

[Labby1955]

Just a quick question, what does everyone think about the Doctor v Pharmacist on knowing what is the best medication to be given to the patient.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Very much depends on the context.

A pharmacist in a typical high street pharmacy will not have access to patient records. That could be a critical difference - or not.

After that, I suspect it comes down to the individual. We have seen some reports of excellent pharmacists who seem absolutely on the ball. While others have been, shall we say, less satisfactory.

But it also matters what you mean. For example, which make of levothyroxine? Or, whether levothyroxine or liothyronine?

Make of levothyroxine - quite likely pharmacist.

Levothyroxine or liothyronine - you'd be lucky if either of them really knew much and the pharmacist would be unlikely to be able to prescribe it under any circumstance. Even if they work within a GP practice.

[Labby1955 in reply to helvella]

Totally agree! I have had some great advice from mine.

[crimple]

Labby1955 I think pharmacists are generally much better at understanding drug interactions. So they will know if you can prescribe Drug A alongside Drug B without harm. Some GP's make dreadful mistakes when patients are on many different drugs.I wouldn't be happy dealing with a pharmacist for my Thyroid medication if they were looking at my TSH levels, ( well below range ) or trying to fob me off with the cheapest levo or lio. My scrips state quite specifically what I can have, Actavis/Almus/Accord levo and Sigma Pharma lio.

[Labby1955 in reply to crimple]

Thanks for that. I am now on 50mcg tablets but I have not felt any benefit yet. Being over 65 I started on 25mcg. But now on 50mcg it is the one that nobody likes! But it as not made any difference to me. I have bloods on Monday and doctors on Wednesday so am keeping my fingers crossed.