My local NHS Commissioning Group have decided to make T3 on the NHS a red drug and so my GP won’t prescribe it. My endo is happy to do so but I don’t think my GP is ‘allowed’. I had it previously but unfortunately things have changes (as we know).
What are my options? How can I get hold of T3?! Thanks.
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HashiFedUp
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the endo has written to my GP and my GP contacted me to say they can’t take over prescribing because in South Gloucestershire, the drug is on the ‘red list’!
First, get their definition of "Red Drug". There is nothing universal about such things.
Could mean absolutely anything and you simply cannot rely of guesswork and assumption. And if that was defined when T3 was almost five times the price it now is, it might not hold water. If necessary, put in a Freedom Of Information request to get that.
yes it means they are not allowed to prescribe t3. My nhs endo - who I saw just yesterday - confirmed it too 😞 and is not allowed to prescribe it either
It contains a link to 'report issues in your area' which will help them if you use it .
it also contains links to reports of which area is doing what ( or NOT).
I've followed what's happened this year by reading the minutes of meetings in my CCG / ICB area....... Lancashire and South Cumbria Medicines Management Group recently reviewed it's RAG ( red /amber/ green ) position for 'liothyronine for new patients' .. it is now 'Amber 0' (ie. allowed if initiated by secondary care after a trial) ..... previously it was 'under review' ( grey ) which effectively meant 'do not prescribe to any new patients'. healthunlocked.com/thyroidu.... (heads-up-for-patients-in-lancashire-and-south-cumbria-wanting-a-t3-trail-liothyronine-for-new-patients-now-allowed-by-lscmmg-review.)
Note~ not all areas use exactly the same key for their colour codes, so you always need to find details of exactly what red / amber etc mean for your area.
Wow lots of really good info here thank you. Will be forwarding to my GP, although I probably won’t get anywhere, and my current T3 tablets run out in a week 😞
I was but stopped ERFA NDT as dodgy batch made me quite poorly. Tried an old batch of T3 from my old endo and feel amazing ! Have endo appointment in January amazingly quick so hope to discuss things then.
I help run ITT Improve Thyroid Treatment, a Facebook group. We helped write the T3 Prescribing Report that tattybogle send a link to. Thyroid Trust, Thyroid UK, ITT and Thyroid Support Group Norfolk compiled that report together.
The CCG data was from earlier this year and could have changed a little.
Every ICB (used to be called CCGs) make up their own colour codes - whatever they fancy. Email your ICB and ask, or it's probably online. HashiFedUp what area are you on? I'll search for you.
Things should on theory be getting better as the T3 price has lowered greatly. And all national guidance says you should have it if you need it.
ITT has template letters you can use with all these details on there if you join us.
hi. I am currently taking t4 Levo Accord and my old t3 is Liothyronine brand not sure. Says morningside healthcare iraksin on packaging. How do I look it up? Thank you. X
I’m in South Gloucestershire. My endo has written a letter to my GP and said they are fine about prescribing T3 (they are in Bath, a different area, and do prescribe T3). But because I live in South Glos, the endo wrote to the GP and asked them to take over T3 prescribing, and my GP said they can’t because the drug is ‘red’ according to the commissioning board.
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