Does anyone know if there are particular supply chain issues with Mercury Pharma 50mg Levo tablets at present? I've been trying to ascertain this online but can find very little except some scary (possibly out of date?) info about Mercury and a large fine the company (or it's parent?) is trying to avoid. My pharmacist can only get 25's at the moment and since I am currently titrating up to 75mg this is causing me a lot of problems with prescriptions. They won't issue 50mgs of levo in 25mg packs without the doctor changing my scrip. It's really worrying me that I will run out as it seems very difficult to even get through to my doctors.
Has Mercury kept on producing but under a different name? If so I could perhaps ask doc to prescribe that one....
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We have seen numerous posts regarding availability of these products. A few notes might help - but possibly won't resolve the issue:
Mercury Pharma products are usually/often/sometimes listed under Advanz Pharma who own them.
Mercury Pharma Eltroxin is absolutely identical to Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine.
Medicine shortages are largely hidden - except when the systems declare them formally as shortages and declare a Serious shortage protocol.
My Vade Mecum has details about Serious shortage protocols in each of the four nations of the UK.
Have you tried any other products - which might be easier to find? We keep saying people shouldn't change once they find one they are happy with, but if they can't get hold of that, they have a problem.
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, an Appendix of links to many useful websites.
And do keep up to date. I edit it frequently- sometimes trivially, sometimes extensively. If your copy is more than a few weeks old, please download it again.
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.
It might not be much help in this case, several members have already called Advanz Pharma, but at least you will have tried!
When someone reports that a particular medicine cannot be obtained by their pharmacy, I always suggest they consider contacting the pharmaceutical company/manufacturer directly.
We have had many occasions when the information given by the pharmacy to the member has not been accurate.
Examples with good outcomes have included:
• There were issues, but they are now, or will very shortly be, resolved;
• There is no issue and it is not clear why the pharmacy said there was;
• The product has a new branding - and is now only available under the new name;
• Give the pharmacist some information and they will be able to get the product.
And examples with bad outcomes:
• The product is no longer available;
• There is an issue that will not be resolved in the time required;
• The product has been recalled.
Quite often, members have found that the pharmaceutical company/manufacturer can and will advise how a pharmacy can obtain stock. At the worst, you can find out from an authoritative source that there really is an issue that will not be resolved. With pharmacies, you will almost always have at least one extra company - the distributor - between the pharmaceutical company/manufacturer and the pharmacy, allowing confusion to enter.
Chain pharmacies can make things more difficult by preventing individual pharmacists ordering directly from companies. Even then, they can ring the manufacturer and pass on information to others in their organisation.
Some pharmaceutical companies/manufacturers have been extremely helpful to members who have contacted them.
The company name is not always the same as the brand name. You can find the company name on the packaging (though maybe in smaller letters and possibly on the back or bottom) and at the bottom of the Patient Information Leaflet. For example, Mercury Pharma is a brand name but the company is Advanz.
Contact details for most, possibly all, UK pharmaceutical companies/manufacturers can be found here:
Please do come back and let us know how you get on. It helps when members can see whether the shortage was just a very short-term problem, possibly due to a single pharmacy, or widespread and more protracted.
Thank you very much...the whole Mercury thing looks rather shady and I am wondering who has allegedly been fining them for overpricing. And whether the pharmacists have been told/ordered to use alternatives. I would be upset if my preferred levo supplier were involved in immoral practices but then so many people say they've had adverse reactions to other brands like Teva that it feels like a bit of a gamble to try them.
It is way beyond an allegation that they have been fined.
CMA fines pharma firm over pricing of crucial thyroid drug
The CMA has imposed over £100 million in fines after Advanz inflated the price of thyroid tablets, causing the NHS and patients to lose out.
Advanz increased the price of thyroid tablet packs from £20 in 2009 to £248 in 2017 – an increase of 1,110%.
Latest CMA fine “sends a clear message” to the pharma sector that breaking the law will not be tolerated.
Following an investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found that from 2009 until 2017 the pharmaceutical company Advanz charged excessive and unfair prices for supplying liothyronine tablets which are used to treat thyroid hormone deficiency.
They achieved this because liothyronine tablets were among a number of drugs that, although genericised, faced limited or no competition and therefore could sustain repeated price increases. This strategy, which began in 2007, involved an overall price increase for liothyronine tablets of more than 6,000%.
The CMA has fined the firms involved a total of over £100 million for the relevant periods in which they broke the law: Advanz (£40.9 million), together with HgCapital (£8.6 million) and Cinven (£51.9 million) – two private equity firms which were previously owners of the businesses now forming part of Advanz.
The price increases were not driven by any meaningful innovation or investment, volumes remained broadly stable, and the cost of producing the tablets did not increase significantly. NHS spending on the tablets in 2006, the year before the implementation of the strategy, was £600,000, but by 2009 had increased to more than £2.3 million and jumped to more than £30 million by 2016.
Eventually the drug was placed on the NHS ‘drop list’ in July 2015. This led to patients being faced with the prospect of having their current treatment stopped or having to purchase liothyronine tablets at their own expense. That is particularly concerning, given that many patients do not respond adequately to the main treatment for hypothyroidism, levothyroxine tablets – and instead rely on liothyronine tablets to alleviate symptoms such as extreme fatigue and depression.
Andrea Coscelli, Chief Executive of the CMA, said:
“Advanz’s decision to ratchet up the price of liothyronine tablets and impose excessive and unfair prices for over eight years came at a huge cost to the NHS, and ultimately to UK taxpayers. But that wasn’t all – it also meant that people dealing with depression and extreme fatigue, as a result of their thyroid conditions, were told they could not continue to receive the most effective treatment for them due its increased price.
“Advanz’s strategy exploited a loophole enabling it to reap much higher profits. This fine of over £100 million, and our work in the pharma sector to date, sends a clear message that breaking the law has serious consequences.”
As well as imposing substantial fines, the CMA’s decision makes it easier for the NHS to seek compensation for the firms’ behaviour, by way of damages, should it choose to do so.
The investigation into these firms is part of the CMA’s ongoing work in the pharmaceutical sector. Recent action includes securing an £8 million repayment to the NHS after companies took part in illegal arrangements relating to the supply of fludrocortisone, and fining firms £260 million for competition law breaches in relation to the supply of hydrocortisone tablets. A number of other CMA investigations are continuing.
For more information, visit the Liothyronine tablets case page.
I’m afraid I cannot help as I use 100 & 25s but after a recent prescription I can say I’ve had no Robles with the supply. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.
Sorry i can't help. I'm in Scotland. Was on levo 50 + 25(different brands) and recently my doctor told me I can get the 75mcg (to keep to the same brand) with Teva. Not sure why they never said before? Also not sure if im better or worse as my hair fall was crazy vefore I changed brands and sleep rubbish & it's never changed much but I've started taking magnesium and I see an improvement in my ability to cope through the day. Also using ASEA Redox gel & thinking that's also helping. Bit of a journey to go still early days, but will post if theres a shift in any issues in a few months. Hope you can resolve your issues soon.
My hair shed has been appalling too...eyebrows particularly. But I recently started on the Thorne Basic B Complex recommended on this site and feel loads better on it in terms of mood. I struggle to metabolise vitamins but these ones are pre-methylated and contain biotin so I am hoping they will help the hair too. Good luck with yours.
My eyebrows are gone at the end too. Its just awful. And I should get myself some more B complex vits. Thanks for the info. I've heard that British Supplements are also clean and free from fillers etc. I just got some magnesium L-Theronate from them. Hadn't heard of Thorne before. Thank you for sharing and good luck with yours too.
I get 75mcg on prescription as 3x25mcg. My regular pharmacy won’t give me 1x75mcg as doctor has stipulated (goodness knows why) but it’s handy if I want to split doses. My pharmacy is within Asda, looks a bit like Lloyd’s branding but doesn’t actually say. Good luck finding 🦋💚🦋
There is only one make of 75 microgram levothyroxine tablet available in the UK - Teva. (We hope another will be on the market sometime.)
If they do not regularly stock Teva, that might be why. But they must supply what the prescription states - I don't think they can change the dosages of the tablets without getting the prescription re-written.
Thanks all. I have been lucky enough to get a scrip for 3 x 25's so can continue on same brand for next few months at least. After reading experiences here, I changed my pharmacy to an independent one some months ago as my local Boots and Lloyds told me they could no longer get it. And I have taken your advice and had Mercury detailed on my repeat prescriptions. But even the good pharmacy has had trouble getting hold of Advanz or Mercury supplies this time. I wonder if, having been fined, they have significantly reduced production or whether the pharmacies have been told not to buy from them? Anyway, safe for a few months personally at least. I don't know where I would be without your help! Such a scandal how thyroid patients in this country are treated.
"Thank you for contacting ADVANZ PHARMA.Further to your query, we have stock available for the enquired product and is distributed via below wholesalers.
Phoenix Healthcare Distribution Ltd
LAXMICO LTD
Ethigen Ltd
Day Lewis Medical Ltd"
I use a local independent pharmacy (Glasgow Southside) and am going to email them with this info in case they can get it for me from one of these suppliers. Unfortunately most chain pharmacies are restricted to ordering from specific suppliers.
I’ve also been struggling to get hold of it for the last two months. I’ve never had this problem before. I have to be prescribed liquid levothyroxine in the meantime but I only want to take the mecury Pharma.
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