another fib ?

[Minimol]

having spent much time with Pharmacist & GP getting my Levo script to look the way my Pharmacist wanted it to look in order for him to be able to get me Eltroxin in future repeats a locum Pharmacist has just told me it’s been discontinued. Could this be another porky?

[Lalatoot]

If you type Eltroxin in Google you will find plenty of places mentioning it and indeed selling it.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Lalatoot]

Lalatoot, Unfortunately and annoyingly for us, the name Eltroxin is used by more than one manufacturer of levothyroxine. The Eltroxin we can (in theory) obtain with an NHS prescription through our UK pharmacies is the UK version of the brand name used by the company that also manufactures 'MercuryPharma' levothyroxine. (These two are in fact the exact same tablets, just in different packaging.)

Not all of the Eltroxin that comes up via search engines and being offered for sale is the one we are familiar with. The clue is in the packaging. In the UK Eltroxin is in our familiar boxed blister packaging. If you do a google 'image search' for Eltroxin, it will also bring up a variety of bottles and tubs from different manufacturers with the name and/or description Eltroxin.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to RedApple]

100% RedApple!

At least three companies us the Eltroxin brand:

Advanz Mercury Pharma/Amdipharm - (UK and Ireland)

Aspen (most of the rest of the world)

GlaxoSmithKline (Bangladesh & India)

There might be others - though whether or not they are legitimate, I don't know.

Further, across the industry (not just Eltroxin) what is under the same branding can be manufactured in different locations, even different formulations/markings/packaging.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

I have heard of pharmacist saying thinks are out of stock when it’s a company stock arrangement not manufacturing issue.

Companies also alter formulations & packaging labels so something to check.

I don’t know if that an issue in this case but it’s something you can investigate and contact producer direct to check if necessary. That way of they say its not in production, you can say if that accurate or not.

[Minimol in reply to PurpleNails]

I have done that in the past but it matters not one jot to the chemist who simply doesn't want to supply the Eltroxin brand

[Minimol]

I don't think I can cope with this nonsense anymore. Every repeat I get fobbed off with yet another brand change and another fib about what's not available and how expensive it all is.

If anyone knows how I can just cut this middle man out and buy Eltroxin for myself using my GP's prescription, please DM me.

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Minimol]

Minimol

You won't be able to buy Advanz/Mercury Pharma Eltroxin, the suppliers that offer Levo without prescription don't offer that brand but have you contacted Advanz to tell them of your supply problems

customercare-UK&[e-mail]

[Minimol in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes I’ve emailed today. Thanks SS

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Minimol

Eltroxin and Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine are exactly the same tablets and they are made by Advanz.

Ask for Advanz and you will get one or the other. Advanz is available, someone was offered it the other day when told Mercury Pharma was not available.

[Minimol in reply to SeasideSusie]

O I know they’re the same SS, the irony is that’s where this all started - I was taking Mercury and when that was ‘unavailable’ at all the local chemists I was advised to get my script changed to say Eltroxin instead of “Levothyroxine Mercury please”

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Minimol]

That is also ludicrous! They seem to be trumping each other for who can come up with the worst nonsense.

Eltroxin can be dispensed against a prescription written for "Levothyroxine sodium". The Patient Information Leaflet makes it quite clear that is an alternative name for Eltroxin.

Just needs to have (Advanz Pharma Ltd.) added to the same line and the pharmacy can give you either.

[Minimol]

I am offered only teva or north star or a combo of accord and wockhardt. I don’t want to mix brands in order to make my 125mcg up and I’ve tried them all in various ways over the past 25 years. I’m so done.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Minimol]

Hi

I get Accord as a named brand and when I was on 125mcg my GP specified 3 x Accord Levo 50mcg on the script. Is it just one pharmacy you use messing you about? If so could you change. The other alternative would be to ask for a paper prescription from the surgery and then physically take it to a pharmacy. More effort for you but maybe more fruitful.

[Minimol in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Thanks. Frustratingly this is what I’ve been doing before I got a chemist’s advice and an explicit instruction as to how the script should be worded to guarantee i would be able to get it at every renew. A locum at the only chemist willing to help has today just reneged on this and I am back to square 1

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Minimol]

Hi

Have you considered using an online pharmacy, there's quite a few on the Web. I used Pharmacy2U for a number of years, they are based in Leeds but your medication is delivered by Royal Mail.

It's the same procedure as any local pharmacy, ie elecronic prescription sent to them by your GP. Could be worth contacting them or any other online pharmacy to see which brands they stock.

[Mollyfan]

I have had a similar issue. My ( very helpful) pharmacist could not get mercury from his suppliers. Well, he got the 25s but not 100s! I contacted the manufacturer who told me the suppliers which stock Mercury…. But either the chemist did not have a contract with them or they did not list it.

Eventually he contacted a mate in Leeds who sent him 8 boxes down and then refused to charge me postage!

This is a real issue and not easy to resolve.

I got the following from Advanz….

Dear customer,

Thank you for contacting ADVANZ Pharma

Further to your query, we have sufficient stock for Levothyroxine 100mcg tablets x 28 UK (B) & Levothyroxine 25 mcg Tab,UK,28 Tab and is available with below wholesalers.

* Sigma Pharmaceuticals PLC

* Alliance Healthcare Ltd

* LAXMICO LTD

Please feel free to contact us if you require further more details.

Regards,

Pratik

Hope that helps someone!

I wonder if suppliers are avoiding Advanz because of the price or their previous behaviour with T3?

[Mollyfan in reply to Mollyfan]

On the phone they also mentioned Day Lewis as a supplier!

[Minimol in reply to Mollyfan]

Thank you for this, can I ask how recently was this response from Advanz Mollyfan?

[Mollyfan in reply to Minimol]

On 10 th August.

[Minimol in reply to Mollyfan]

I think in my area a single pharmacy wholesale group has pretty much taken over the purchasing and supply of all NHS meds and chemists. If they don’t list a drug you won’t get it unless the chemist is prepared to cover the cost over and above what they are reimbursed for Levo

[Citrine77]

I've been told the same thing, did you use Lloyd's pharmacy.

[Minimol in reply to Citrine77]

We used to have a Lloyds and a Day Lewis but they are no more, taken over and replaced by the same type of impersonal inflexible Penny pinchers

[Baobabs]

I believe Eltroxin made by Aspen is expensive, perhaps the reason why it's difficult to secure?

[waveylines]

Oh what a nightmare! Given one company has taken over all the chemists in your area......assuming no Boots either?..... you are probably best with an online pharmacy to get you away from the local area providers.....lol. I used Chemist4u for a while. If you look up on Thyroid uk they list the online providers. Id ring them and check they can pbtain it before switching or posting your script. The NHS are certainly 'streamlining' their meds options for sure......Ive noticed it.

[Minimol in reply to waveylines]

There is a Boots but even they have succumbed to the local pharmacy mafia

[waveylines in reply to Minimol]

Oh dear that is a shame.......unless its your local CCGs handiwork.....

[Minimol in reply to waveylines]

Very probably but I guess I will never really know

[turquoisea7 in reply to Minimol]

Hallo Minimol, not sure where in the UK you are, do msg me if you want to know where I am. Yesterday I managed to get both Mercury Levo (50mcg) and Mercury Eltroxin (25mcg) from the local independent pharmacist in my town. He says he always tries to keep it in stock so that suggests to me other people want it, too.

Just as an aside: and I'm not claiming any expert knowledge on this at all - but because I am hitting the wall with my GP at a very low dose, and it looks like I may not be able to get the dosage I need through them, we spent the weekend emailing online pharmacies to see if we could get Mercury/Advanz. None of them can specify what you'll get when you order (not that I found, anyway). I did however find that GSK Eltroxin, whilst not precisely the same formulation, does have the same ingredients as Mercury. I also found a site in the USA which has it in stock. It's not cheap and of course there would be import duty etc. Someone else may be better able to advise on the formulation and where you can buy it, if there is anywhere else cheaper, if you wanted to go that route. As I say we wanted to have a backup so that I can actually get to the dose I need if they stop me too low. Hope some of that may help.