Levothyroxine shortage

[Patriciajanette]

Is anyone else having problems getting your usual prescription of levothyroxine medication dispensed? Boots are not able to get it until the end of October! I live in the Merseyside region.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Which brand and dosage

Request paper prescription back from Boots and try different pharmacies in your area

Ring around first.

Small independent pharmacies are often more helpful

[Patriciajanette in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for that I'll give that a try.

[DoeStewart]

I live on the wirral. I use an independant pharmacy. not had any problems getting my Levo at all so far. I know the pharmacist is having trouble getting stock of other medications as I was in conversation with him a couple of days ago. I dont know why there are stock problems. Presume its to do with Brexit as we bring much of our medecines in from other countries?. Slow Dragon has given you good advice, get your script back and search other pharmacies who can fill your prescription. Good Luck.

[Patriciajanette in reply to DoeStewart]

Thanks for your reply, I will give that a try.

[Hedgeree]

Hi Patriciajanette,

I've only fairly recently been prescibed levo. I'm also Merseyside. Had two prescriptions fulfilled with no supply issues.

Hope you get sorted soon.

[Patriciajanette in reply to Hedgeree]

Thank you

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There has been no previous mention of a general shortage of levothyroxine.

Is your prescription for a specific product? Or a dose other than 25/50/100 micrograms? Or a levothyroxine oral solution?

It appears from a previous post you might be getting levothyroxine oral solution.

There are many reports of shortages for such products.

Members have been ringing, emailing, physically visiting, pharmacies to try to find any. There have been a few successes - typically one bottle on the back shelf.

[Patriciajanette in reply to helvella]

I take levothyroxine 50 micrograms/5ml oral solution. I will try ringing independent chemist, fingers crossed I get sorted. The GP has prescribed levothyroxine in tablet form to put me on, but as I've never taken them before I'm a little nervous.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Patriciajanette]

It is unusual, indeed it is very unusual, to have been prescribed oral solution unless you cannot tolerate tablets for some reason.

If it is a matter of swallowing, most or all UK levothyroxine used to explain how to crush tablets and disperse in water. Taste isn't significant. And it works just fine.

If it is a matter of things like lactose, mannitol, etc., let us know and we can let you know.

[Patriciajanette in reply to helvella]

I'm am lactose intolerant

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Patriciajanette]

The reply I made on this thread has a chart of which tablets contain lactose, mannitol and/or acacia.

Aristo and Teva are both available and lactose-free. However, some cannot tolerate Teva (probably due to the mannitol) and Aristo is currently only available in 100 microgram tablets. (Other dosages expected later this year/sometime 2023.)

[Patriciajanette in reply to helvella]

Thanks for this

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Patriciajanette]

So you would need lactose free levothyroxine tablets

Teva widely available.

Doesn’t suit everyone as also contains mannitol.

Aristo - 100mcg dose only at moments

[Patriciajanette in reply to SlowDragon]

That's what the GP has prescribed to tied me over until the end of the month. Thanks for you help

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Patriciajanette]

I would suggest you phone (ideally independent) pharmacies to find out what they can source. It may be a different strength to what you usually have, in which case you will have to get your prescription rewritten for this occasion. It's scarse but it is out there if you track it down.

[HowNowWhatNow]

Could you ask your Boots branch to call around to their different branches in the U.K. and order some in?

My little Lewis Day / Day Lewis pharmacy is good at trying to track it down from other branches.

[Patriciajanette in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

Thank you for your reply, I will try ringing more independent chemist's.

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Patriciajanette]

Good plan. And try asking for an emergency packet or two or double dose.

If shortages are the new reality, we need to have some more to hand to tide us over.

[Patriciajanette in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

Will do, thanks

[Nutty56]

hi I did have some problems getting Levo ! I am in Liverpool and use boots ! I take 75 can’t take Teva and this was all boots could get hold of ! I had to get GP to change prescription to 50/25 because that was t a problem for them to source non Teva

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Nutty56]

Teva is the only 75 microgram tablet available in the UK. So it isn't just Boots who can't get any other make of them!

(Intermed product has not yet been seen to be available. It often takes a long time from licence to availability.)

UK levothyroxine tablet summary

[Nutty56 in reply to helvella]

thanks helvella that makes sense!

[Patriciajanette in reply to Nutty56]

Thanks for your reply

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Nutty56]

Hi

I take Accord as named brand when I was on 75mcg I used to get 42x 50mcg tablets a month prescribed by GP. And took one and a half a day. I found it better than mixing brands.

[Nutty56 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

thanks Sparklingsunshine I keep that in mind !