ELTROXIN 100mg availability

[hyporeb]

Does anyone know of an online pharmacy who stocks Eltroxin (specifically 100mg)? I have a prescription and I am getting desperate now.

Short story is I can only take Mercury Pharma or Eltroxin. I always used to have MP written on my prescription until there were supply issues (about a year ago) - so my prescription was changed to Eltroxin (GP refuses to put both names on).

Fast forward 12 months and my pharmacy is telling me there is no 100mg Eltroxin anywhere. They have asked me to get another prescription from GP so that they can dispense 50's instead, however my very helpful GP practice have said try phoning around other chemists first. Have tried all local chemists who are telling me there isn't any. Have phoned Advanz Pharma who state there is plenty everywhere and to get the chemist to call them BUT the chemists won't - they will only use their dedicated suppliers and if the computer says no....

Either I try and get Eltroxin 100mg from an online pharmacy or I queue for another 50 mins to get the prescription changed to 50's instead of 100'.

What's going on? or is this just a West Midlands phenomenon ?

[Buzcat]

it’s the same in Scotland MP is written on my prescription yet have to trail round pharmacies to try and get it there was never any supply problem with MP suppliers are not supplying MP they supply the cheaper ones it’s a disgrace what’s going on I am still waiting on a reply from our health minister about this and how can you keep to the brand that you do well on if you can’t get them pharmacists should be more educated on changing brands when I ask forMP they say that they are all the same it’s time something should be done about this the MP I have been able to get don’t have a long use by date and from what I know they start to loose strength over time.

[Simplyred57]

I’m in the northeast and couldn’t get Mercury this month , tried several pharmacies and nobody had it , I’ve reluctantly accepted Accord.

I mentioned Eltroxin and they could get it but would need my prescription changing to order it , I had so many problems getting Mercury named on my prescription I said let’s see what happens next month and I will make the decision. They said they could only get 50 ‘s so not sure if that the only one they do. Im so angry too as it’s taken me so long to feel well again.

5 days on accord and so far ok but let’s see how I feel when all the Mercury pharma has left my body 🤷🏼‍♀️

[hyporeb in reply to Simplyred57]

Both mercury and eltroxin come in 25, 50 and 100 but it seems it’s the 100 are in short supply even though the actual manufacturer denies this 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think Im going to have to try and get 50s then by the sounds of it.

Its such a nightmare trying to even speak to someone at the doctors, let alone get a prescription changed when they’ve already issued it 😩

And we have to avoid stress….🙄

[Trifida]

Me too in East Anglia - having changed name to eltroxin I thought I’d solved problem - then two days ago same trouble all over again - but have said they can get me 50’s today so we shall see - it’s beginning to make me really anxious as I’ve had other types and felt so ill.

[hyporeb in reply to Trifida]

Thank you for your reply - fingers crossed you get 50's, I'm still waiting but I think the delay is more from the GP side now, having to re-issue the prescription, rather than the pharmacist. I too feel absolutely awful on anything other than MP/Eltroxin, is weird isn't it.

[Trifida]

Also on Gov.uk it does say you should be able to stay on your brand as it is recognised you could become unwell on changing to another. But I’m unsure as to how to make that happen !

[Annajames]

I’m in the same position. I’ve been waiting a month for Eltroxin 100s. Boots is the only pharmacy where I live that can get it. I phoned them last week and they said it’s been out of stock at the manufacturer but will be available again after November 12th. I’m going to run out before then so will have to try to get more 50s.

[hyporeb in reply to Annajames]

I feel your frustration but at the same time it's nice to know that it isn't just my pharmacy fobbing me off!

[helvella Administrator]

As I have understood, the prescriber could put the company name Advance Pharma Ltd. on the prescription and a pharmacist could dispense either Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine or Mercury Pharma Eltroxin.

But the name must be put in the right place - the image below shows where (but says Teva UK Ltd).

Suggest you discuss with pharmacist to make sure they would be happy to do so. The Summary of Product Characteristics for Mercury Pharma Eltroxin products says:

1. Name of the medicinal product

Eltroxin 100mcg tablets

Levothyroxine 100mcg tablets

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

Which to me reads that it could be dispensed under either name.

Obviously doesn't help if the pharmacists can't or won't supply.

Do let us know what happens.

How to write prescriptions

[hyporeb in reply to helvella]

A very simple solution I agree, but not so easy to implement.

I have 'it' written in the right place - 'it' being one or the other. My GP practice will only write one brand of medication but refuses to write 'Advance Pharma'. On the flip side my pharmacy will not dispense anything unless it is written EXACTLY as is on the box (Mercury Pharma Levothyroxine or Eltroxin) so I'd never get anything if it said Advance Pharma Levothyroxine 😂

[helvella Administrator in reply to hyporeb]

What an awful combination of unhelpful practice and unhelpful pharmacy.

(I appreciate they might think they are being punctilious in adhering to the rules. But suspect they are going a step too far.)

I mean, the Eltroxin box does say Levothyroxine sodium on it!