Greece - T3 - has there been a change in its over the counter availability?

[debradee]

Greece - T3 - has there been a change in its over the counter availability?

Do we now need a prescription?

Is it still available OTC in Turkey?

Thanks 😊

[debradee]

Thank you. I’ve been told by someone (who lives in Greece) that we now can’t buy it over the counter in pharmacies other than with a prescription, so I’m just wanting clarification. I don’t know if they’re just worried about sending it to me (but don’t want to say that!) and just saying this, or if it’s definitely true.

[Hennerton in reply to debradee]

My friend just brought quite a pile back from Paxos, readily available in a pharmacy there. She has done this for the past five years and I think it is a very good T3 and much better than anything available in the U.K. I do have an NHS prescription for T3 but I consider this a way of saving NHS money and it costs me just a few euros. Customs have never bothered her.

[debradee in reply to Hennerton]

Thank you. Yes, I’ve been getting it via a friend’s mother in Greece for the past three years. I totally depend upon it and she’s done me a huge favour. I knew that her getting it for me wouldn’t last forever, but she’s now told me the rules have changed and a prescription is needed - just want to establish the facts before I ask friends who are going there on holiday!

[Hennerton in reply to debradee]

Maybe because Paxos is very small, it still manages to sell it without a prescription. I dread the year when my friend returns without it.

[ForHim60]

I have gotten T3 in liquid form for “scientific” reasons ONLY, if you know what I mean and you have to say that when you buy it, in Florida place called <redacted name> if it still going. It worked and someone else told me was safe so I ordered it.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to ForHim60]

Our guidelines prohibit identifying sources of prescription-only medicines. Hence I have edited your post.

Considering the problems people have even with legitimate thyroid medicines, the idea of trusting some anonymous supplier of a product which has never been tested for human use strikes me as extreme folly.

Further, although we in the UK are allowed to import medicines for our own use (other than Controlled Drugs), it is likely that importation of non-medicines which contain (or purport to contain) Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients is almost certainly illegal.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Is it not also illegal to get people to buy us OTC T3 from abroad?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

It is not illegal to purchase medicines from abroad solely for personal use - by us as individuals and members of our household. That would include liothyronine, levothyroxine and combinations including desiccated thyroid.

However, some medicines are Controlled Drugs and would not be legal. That includes DHEA, benzodiazepine and the obvious "street" drugs.

See here: gov.uk/government/publicati...

And there is a problem with products such as the one referred to here. When considering products like "research only" T3 liquid - we have next to zero idea what the products actually include. It might be what it claims but it might not be! Indeed, anything that isn't in an official pharmaceutical company's packaging is always going to be questionable.

And I absolutely wouldn't use "someone else told me [it] was safe" as a basis for choosing a product, buying it, importing it, and then actually taking it. Woefully inadequate evidence it is what it claims to be.

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

oh that’s very interesting! I hadn’t realised that personal use of OTC drugs from abroad wasn’t illegal! Always just assumed it was. Thank you so much for explaining that!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

See here:

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[grumpyold]

A couple of weeks ago, my friend tried several pharmacies on Kos and was refused T3 in all of them. They said she needed a prescription or anything from a doctor.

She didn't have either as they were not for her and the person she was buying them for, is self sourcing so couldn't provide what the pharmacies requested.

[debradee in reply to grumpyold]

Ah, thank you. So it does sound like the rules have changed 🙁

[grumpyold in reply to debradee]

It seems like things could be heading that way. 😞 Definitely on Kos anyway.Hope not!

[Fluffysheep]

I really hope it isn't changing. We went to Corfu at Easter specifically to get some T3. I managed to get 26 boxes, so should keep me going for a while!

[debradee]

Yes, that’s what I wondered too. I did say at the start that I was trying to get my Endo to prescribe (he supports me being on it and my need - but won’t/can’t prescribe!so frustrating ) so three years down the line I understand if she wants to draw a line. Someone above said they’ve had the same though - a pharmacy wanted a prescription- I just wish I knew for sure as my husband would plan a trip to Greece purely to get t3 if it was definitely available.

[humanbean]

Marz used to live in Crete. She said that T3 was no longer sold without prescription there, several years ago.

[Marz in reply to humanbean]

T3 seems readily available in Crete without prescription at the moment. Back in 2019 I did have to show my GP prescription. Now have to buy Tiromel on-line - sigh !

Sometimes I think refusals can be based on how they feel about someone !

[humanbean in reply to Marz]

I assumed that once a prescription was required that would be it for ever! I'm glad it can be bought again.

[cfft20021]

Can you tell me how you were able to order from Greece?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to cfft20021]

cfft20021

Please ask this in a private message to Woopy66, we cannot discuss on the forum how to obtain prescription only medication without a prescription.

You can send a private message to another user both from your inbox and from their profile.

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[shaws Administrator]

People and visitors from overseas used to buy over-the-counter T3 in Greece without prescription, but they may now have changed their rules .