Armour Thyroid: A few questions Are NHS GPs... - Thyroid UK

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Armour Thyroid

Aurealis profile image
20 Replies

A few questions

Are NHS GPs prescribing Armour now?

If so, how much does the NHS pay for Armour?

Some years ago, research started to provide a research evidence base for Armour. Does anyone know if anything has come from this? At the time the research started the price of Armour rose. It seems to be rising again.

Has anyone successfully made the transition from Armour to another NDT? If so, which one?

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Aurealis profile image
Aurealis
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20 Replies
Lalatoot profile image
Lalatoot

Aurealis NHS GPs are unlikely to prescribe any brand of NDT as it is not licensed for use in the UK. A GP who prescribes it must personally take responsibility for doing so so few are willing to take that risk

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

Aurealis 'Are NHS GPs prescribing Armour now?'

Nothing has changed, Armour is still an unlicensed medication in the UK that the vast majority of GPs and Endos will flatly refuse to prescribe. There are the handful of medics around the UK that might be persuaded, as has always been the case.

how much does the NHS pay for Armour?

helvella might know the answer to this.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to RedApple

No - I don't know! But I do know where to look!

Between £1.86 and £8.21 per one grain tablet. Note that it depends on factors like the CCG involved and the amount acquired. I suspect that any quantity that is not in the original 100 dose pack is likely to cost more.

openprescribing.net/nationa...

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to helvella

Just to note - that is May 2022.

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis in reply to helvella

Thank you

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis in reply to helvella

That’s quite a range isn’t it £1.86 to £8.21

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Aurealis

I do question its accuracy! But it is the only source I know.

Pharmacy2U says:

Size: 100 Tablets

£2.86

pharmacy2u.co.uk/armour-thy...

I assume that is the price per tablet. But it isn't 100% clear.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to helvella

US price would appear to be around USD 120 for 100 60 milligram tablets. But USA prices do vary and I might well not have found the least expensive. Unfortunately GoodRX does not allow access from the UK.

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis in reply to helvella

So I wonder how much profit Pharmacy2U are making on Armour - oh that sounds familiar - hiking the price of thyroid hormone replacement :(

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Armour - Number of prescriptions in England in last year - just over 2000. Typically that’s 6 prescriptions per person per year

openprescribing.net/analyse...

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply to SlowDragon

SlowDragon, 'Typically that’s 6 prescriptions per person per year'

Armour comes in 100 tablet bottles, so I'd say more likely 4 prescriptions per person per year.

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you. Yes I’ve been watching them rise but then they’ve started combining Armour and Liothyronine prescriptions haven’t they? I wondered if the increase in Armour price is linked to increased GP prescribing?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Aurealis

Liothyronine listed separately

59,000 in last year…up from 57,000 approx 2 years ago

openprescribing.net/analyse...

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you, I can’t be doing it properly!

jamesal0 profile image
jamesal0

re Transition from Armour to another NDT. Yes you just change. Maybe go down 30mg for a few days/weeks until you feel stable. Then slowly go up 15-30mg until you are optimal. ie you have the least amount of side effects from being Hypo/Hyper and you feel normal.

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis in reply to jamesal0

I’ve heard that before “just change”. The question is, will the sky fall in?

jamesal0 profile image
jamesal0

Maybe - but what choice do you have. And when it happens you just go back to basics - whats wrong, research it, ask around, try something, reducing dose for a few weeks, drinking more, splitting dose up, take with food, take without food, vitamins, exercise, change brands - bla bla.. This is the hypo life

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK

In many circumstances, we can plan a regression path.

For example:

Switch while you still have your original medicine.

Then, if the switch goes wrong, you can switch back.

Obviously, in the real world, that might not be possible, or can only last for a short time. But if you can do so, you can at least buy a bit of time.

Aurealis profile image
Aurealis in reply to helvella

I agree, except the older I get and the longer it’s been stable the less resilient I feel about joining the experimental hypo bus :) I’ve had enough of that!

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to Aurealis

There I agree - if doing well, then don't make major changes!

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