My prescription states I must have Mercury liothyronine and this has worked well for years. Lately Boots have said they can’t get Mercury, so I asked them to look for Advanz on their computer ordering system and they were able to obtain my (yes, Mercury) tablets from their central distributing hub wherever that may be.
So, my point is, Boots appear to have changed the name of the manufacturer on their system. Be persistent.
Well done
Here’s post on same subject just know
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Good point …..
helvella …..if pharmacies say they can’t get Mercury Pharma….we should ask then to check for Advanz
Thank you - I suggested that as a possibility in my post earlier:
Advanz Pharma, levothyroxine AND liothyronine
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Good to have confirmation. 
Though I was not specific about Boots because it could be a more widespread issue.
I had this problem with boots but now sorted
This has literally just happened to me - my independent pharmacist tells me he will not supply me with Mercury Pharma even though my script says please only supply MP. It’s a price issue - £2:50 v £1. Apparently his problem is that it says this in the additional info part of the script and he needs it written in the first line instead. He also says it shouldn’t say MP Levothyroxine but Eltroxin Levothyroxine. So I’ve been back to the GP surgery and they’ve altered my script accordingly. Remains to be seen if it works. PS i am assuming Eltroxin is exactly the same thing as Mercury Pharma.
It’s a price issue - £2:50 v £1.
Pharmacist is being economical with the truth …..all brands of levothyroxine are the same price paid by NHS to pharmacy
However, different brands may be slightly cheaper at wholesale price.
So pharmacies can make slightly higher profit by supplying cheaper wholesale priced brand
Current prices paid by NHS to pharmacy per box 28 tablets
100mcg - 89p
50mcg - 90p
25mcg - 95p
I think that if the specific make/product is more expensive than the NHS Drug Tariff prices, the pharmacy can claim more from the NHS - provided the prescription is written correctly.
My Vade Mecum has a short section on how prescriptions need to be written to qualify for higher payments:
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!
Nor by the fact it is targeted at people interested in thyroid issues. Much of its contents could be of use to many involved in health issues. Things like abbreviations, lists, general reference information.
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.
If there is anything you'd like me to add, let me know.
Not everything is in this one document - my major medicines document is still separate!
From Dropbox:
dropbox.com/s/vp5ct1cwc03bl...
From Google Drive:
It also occurs to me to mention that Advanz Pharma was the organisation that were caught out price fixing Lioythyronine. Did they change their name to Mercury as a result of that bad press does anyone know?
No . it was mercury first , then advanz. but the change to advanz was a long time before the fine. ..... it's rather complicated ,
ADVANZ PHARMA LIOTHYRONINE 
TEVA + Mercury Pharma
